Jehus

Jehus (also spelled Jehu) was a prominent biblical figure who reigned as the king of Israel during the 9th century BCE. According to the Hebrew Bible, he is primarily mentioned in the Books of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, as well as in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) accounts. Jehu’s reign is notable for both its violent consolidation of power and its religious reforms.

Jehu rose to prominence as a military leader under King Ahab of Israel, the husband of Jezebel, who was associated with the worship of Baal. After Ahab’s death in battle, Jehu orchestrated a coup against the royal dynasty. He killed Ahab’s son, Joram, and subsequently assassinated Jezebel, fulfilling a divine prophecy from Elijah the prophet. Following these acts, Jehu eliminated many of the Baal-worshipping priests and adherents, though he himself continued to practice some forms of idolatry, leading later biblical authors to critique his partial reforms.

Jehu’s reign lasted approximately 28 years, during which he maintained a fragile alliance with Judah by marrying Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, to King Jehoram of Judah. This alliance was short-lived, as Athaliah later sought to overthrow Judah’s royal line, only to be executed by Jehoiada the priest. Historically, Jehu’s actions were seen as a necessary purge of Baalism but were not fully endorsed by later Jewish tradition due to his continued religious compromises.

Archaeological evidence for Jehu’s reign is limited, but some scholars link his era to the decline of the northern Kingdom of Israel and its eventual destruction by the Assyrians. His story remains a subject of theological discussion, illustrating themes of divine judgment, political intrigue, and the complexities of religious reform in ancient Israel.