亞哈之子約蘭也像他父親一樣，企圖從亞蘭人手中取回基列拉末，因為該城本來是屬於以色列所有。約蘭的父親在第一次基列拉末之役戰亡（王上22：3~4、34、37）。多年以後，約蘭也受了傷，但他回到耶斯列療傷。就在此時，上帝興起耶戶作祂審判的器皿，要應驗先知以利亞的預言：亞哈因殺害拿伯和敬拜巴力，他的全家必被滅絕（王上21：21~22）。上帝也揀選耶戶來除掉亞哈和耶洗別引入以色列的最惡劣的巴力崇拜。

        以利亞曾被任命膏耶戶作以色列王（王上19：16），但他把這項任務交給以利沙，以利沙又派「一個先知門徒」去完成使命，所謂先知門徒就是以利沙先知學校的學生。年輕的先知門徒忠心的完成他的任務，他到了基列的拉末，找著了以色列的軍長耶戶，便膏他作王。耶戶的父親也叫約沙法，但不同於猶大的好王約沙法。耶戶一定很適合上帝所託負的這血腥工作。他很熱心、堅強，又有鐵石心腸，正是能夠完成上帝命定降於亞哈家之審判的人。

        耶戶在他士兵的支持下，向耶斯列進軍；以色列王約蘭正在那裡養病。耶戶先指責他母親耶洗別的惡行，然後就將他射死了。耶戶繼續他潔淨罪污的工作，射殺卅二歲的猶大王亞哈謝。亞哈謝不效法他的先祖大衛，反而行他外祖父亞哈所行的惡事。耶戶接下來擊殺聲名狼籍的耶洗別，她要為以色列中的巴力敬拜負最大的責任，此外，她還殺了許多上帝的先知和祭司。耶洗別知道自己大難當頭，還把自己裝扮得像個皇后。當她看見耶戶逼近，她稱耶戶是像心利一樣謀殺主人的人。她的慘死也應驗了以利亞的預言。耶戶完成了他的工作，也展開了一個新的朝代。

        耶戶又用巧計殺了所有巴力的信徒和祭司，然後摧毀巴力的柱像、拆毀巴力廟，如此就將巴力邪教從以色列中除滅。上帝很滿意耶戶徹底的執行審判的計畫，但耶戶沒有廢除耶羅波安的金牛犢崇拜，也沒有遵守上帝的律法。如果耶戶能用同樣的熱心來榮耀上帝、行祂的道，他一定可為上帝作更大的事。

        上帝在歷史上的作為常令人驚異。祂用一些人和國家來執行祂的審判，雖然他們離上帝的標準也很遠。我們常很難瞭解上帝在舊約的一切殺戮，但上帝是聖潔、公義的，祂必須懲罰罪行。這也應使我們更加感激主耶穌在十架上背負我們的罪，使我們悔改認罪、跟隨祂的人不被定罪（羅8：1）。

        主耶穌基督，您為我們而死。您完成了舊約，並帶進一個更美的新約。上帝，謝謝您，現在您對待人的方式不同了。賜給我們真正的悔改和新的生命，好叫我們真能榮耀您。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Joram, the son of Ahab, had, like his father, attempted to take Ramoth Gilead from the Syrians, since that city had once belonged to Israel. His father had been fatally wounded in his attempt (1 Kings 22:3-4; 34, 37). And now, years later, Joram had also been wounded but had returned to Jezreel to recover. At that very time, God was raising up Jehu to be His instrument of judgment, in the fulfillment of the prophecy of Elijah, whereby the family of Ahab was to be exterminated because of Ahab's wickedness in killing Naboth and worshipping Baal (1 Kings 21:21-22). Jehu was also chosen by God to eradicate the vilest cultic religion of Baalism that Jezebel and Ahab had introduced to Israel.

        Elijah had been commissioned to anoint Jehu as king of Israel (1 Kings 19:16), but he transferred this responsibility to Elisha, who in turn gave it to "one of the sons of the prophets" (9:1), the name given to those students of the prophetic guild of which Elisha was a teacher, as Elijah had been before him. This young man faithfully carried out his task by going to Ramoth Gilead and finding Jehu, a commander of Israel's army, and anointing him king. His father's name was Jehoshaphat (9:2), but he is not to be confused with the godly Jehoshaphat who had been king in Judah. Jehu was certainly suited for the bloody job that lay ahead of him. He was zealous, strong, and merciless, but he was just the type of person required to fulfill God's pre-ordained punishment upon Ahab.

        With the support of his soldiers, he marched to Jezreel where Joram, the king of Israel, was convalescing. After condemning the wickedness of his mother Jezebel, Jehu slew Joram, and in fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy, the punishment of Ahab came upon his son (9:22-26; 1 Kings 21:19, 29). Jehu, continuing his campaign of purging, slew Ahaziah, the twenty-three-year-old king of Judah. Ahaziah had not walked in the ways of his forefather David, but in the ways of his maternal grandfather Ahab (9:27; 8:26-27). Jehu then slew the notorious Jezebel, who had been mainly responsible for bringing Baalism into Israel from Phoenicia and had killed many prophets and priests of the Lord. Knowing the fate that awaited her, she adorned herself to die as a queen (9:30). When she saw Jehu approaching, she called him a traitor, a murderer of his master, like Zimri (9:31; 1 Kings 16:9-10). Her gory death was also in fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy (1 Kings 21:23). With more blood on his sword, Jehu completed his task, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah and ushering in a new dynasty (1 Kings 21:22).

        By a shrewd trick, Jehu was able to kill every worshipper and priest of Baal. Then he destroyed the pillars of Baal (objects of worship), and tore down the temple of Baal, thus eradicating this false worship from Israel. The Lord was pleased with Jehu's thorough execution of His plan of judgment, yet Jehu failed in that he did not abolish the calf-worship that Jeroboam had established, nor did he obey the law of God (10:29, 31). What great things Jehu could have had done for God if only his zealousness had been directed to glorify Him and walk in His ways.

        It is amazing to see how God acted in history. He used people and nations to bring about His judgment, although they were far from what they should have been. In our New Testament era, it is often hard to understand all the killing of the Old Testament, but God, who is holy and just, must punish sin. This should bring us to have even more gratitude for the Lord Jesus who bore our sins upon Himself on the altar of the cross that we, who have repented of sin and are following Him, might not be condemned (Romans 8:1).

        Lord Jesus Christ, You died in our place. You accomplished a fulfillment of the old covenant between Cod and man, and then You ushered in a whole new covenant. Thank You God that Your dealings with man are different now. Grant us true repentance and lives which truly glorify You.