1. Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the captains of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying,
2. “Now as soon as this letter comes to you—since you are with your master’s sons, chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons—
3. select the best and most fitting of your master’s sons, put him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”
4. But they were extremely afraid and said, “Two kings could not stand before him. How can we stand?”
5. So he who was over the house, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians sent word to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and everything you say to us we will do. We will not appoint a man king. Do what is good in your eyes.”
6. Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying, “If you belong to me and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me at Jezreel at this time tomorrow.”Now the king’s sons, seventy men, were with the great men of the city who brought them up.