2 Kings 10:2-9
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 10
2And now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses, and a fortified city and the weapons, 3select the best and most capable of your master’s sons and seat him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.' 4But they feared greatly and said, 'Behold, the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?' 5And the one who was in charge of the household, and the one who was in charge of the city, and the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, 'We are your servants, and everything that you tell us we will do. We will not appoint any man king; do what is good in your sight.' 6Then he wrote them a letter a second time, saying, 'If you are on my side, and will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel about this time tomorrow.' Now the king’s sons, seventy men, were with the great people of the city, who were raising them. 7When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8When the messenger came and informed him, saying, 'They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,' he said, 'Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.' 9Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, 'You are innocent; behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?King James Version
Chapter 10
2Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour; 3Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.
4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
5And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.
7And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
8And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
9And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 10
2Your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, so when this letter arrives 3select the most qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying: If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master’s sons at this time tomorrow at Jezreel. All seventy of the king’s sons were being cared for by the city’s prominent men.
7When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.
8When the messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king’s sons," the king said, "Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate until morning."
New Living Translation
Chapter 10
2The king’s sons are with you, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons. As soon as you receive this letter, 3select the best qualified of your master’s sons to be your king, and prepare to fight for Ahab’s dynasty.'
6Jehu responded with a second letter: 'If you are on my side and are going to obey me, bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.' Now the seventy sons of the king were being cared for by the leaders of Samaria, where they had been raised since childhood.
7When the letter arrived, the leaders killed all seventy of the king’s sons. They placed their heads in baskets and presented them to Jehu at Jezreel.
English Standard Version
Chapter 10
2"Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master 's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons, 3select the best and fittest of your master 's sons and set him on his father 's throne and fight for your master 's house." 4But they were exceedingly afraid and said, "Behold, the two kings could not stand before him. How then can we stand?" 5So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes." 6Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master 's sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time." Now the king 's sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up. 7And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king 's sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8When the messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king 's sons," he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning." 9Then in the morning, when he went out, he stood and said to all the people, "You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck down all these?New International Version
Chapter 10
2"You have your master’s sons with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons. Now as soon as this letter reaches you, 3choose the best and most worthy of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne. Then fight for your master’s house."
6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, "If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow." Now the royal princes, seventy of them, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them.
7When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
New King James Version
Chapter 10
2Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, 3choose the best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?”
5And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.”
6Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying: If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them.
7So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.
