Problem: In 2 Kings 9:6–10, we find the commissioning of Jehu by the Lord to strike down the house of Ahab. According to 2 Kings 10:30, God commended Jehu for having destroyed the house of Ahab. However, Hoshea prophesied that God would “avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu” (Hosea 1:4). How could God condemn Jehu for shedding blood when it was God who had commanded him to do so?

Solution: God praised Jehu for obeying Him in destroying the house of Ahab, but condemned Jehu for his sinful motive in shedding their blood. Although 2 Kings 10:30 states that God told Jehu that he had done right in killing the relatives of Ahab, the previous verse observes that Jehu “did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam ... from the golden calves ... ” and verse 31 states that Jehu “took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart.” Obviously, since Jehu worshiped other gods and did not walk in God’s Law, he did not destroy Ahab’s family out of any devotion to the Lord.

Objection:
A common question arises regarding Hosea 1:4, where God condemns Jehu for the bloodshed at Jezreel, compared to 2 Kings 9:7, where God seemingly commands Jehu to strike down the house of Ahab. Why did God condemn Jehu for following His command? Was it merely Jehu's "bloodthirsty" attitude, or is there more to this apparent contradiction?

Answer:
In carrying out judgment on Ahab, God commissioned Jehu to destroy Ahab, the king of Israel, and his family.

> You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free. (2 Kings 9:7–8)

So if God commanded Jehu to wipe out the house of Ahab, why did Hosea prophesy that God “will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu”?

2 Kings 9–10 explain Jehu’s zeal in eliminating Ahab and his line, including the notoriously wicked Queen Jezebel, Ahab’s wife (2 Kings 9:33). He even went so far as to kill King Ahaziah of Judah (2 Kings 9:27).

However, when he came to Jezreel, Jehu exceeded his mandate by killing “all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining” (2 Kings 10:11). Although God did commend Jehu for wiping out Ahab and his line (2 Kings 10:30), Jehu was never praised for his excess. In fact, Hosea 1:4 seems to indicate God was upset with Jehu’s bloodthirstiness.

Jehu also slaughtered a large gathering of Baal worshipers and essentially “destroyed Baal from Israel” (2 Kings 10:28). Yet, as far as we know, God never commanded Jehu to do this, even though the Lord despised the worship of Baal. Jehu was never commended for this action either.

Although Jehu fulfilled God’s command to exterminate the house of Ahab, he didn’t have the right motives for doing so. Here is a summary of some of the good and bad done by Jehu.

> However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. And the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. (2 Kings 10:29–31)

Jehu’s actions provide an example for Christians today. There are many people who think they are serving the Lord and they work with great zeal in trying to accomplish God’s work. Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul, was the same way before his conversion (Philippians 3:4–6). However, in the case of both of these men, their hearts were not right before the Lord. Even though Jehu was zealous to end the worship of Baal in Israel, he allowed idolatry to continue in Bethel and Dan. Saul was so zealous in trying to accomplish God’s work that he persecuted Christians.

We must learn a lesson from these people. It doesn’t matter how hard we work for the Lord if we aren’t truly obedient to His Word. May we always be careful not only to do the Lord’s work, but to do His work in His way and in His strength.