2 Kings 10:1-7

1Since Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria, Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons, saying:

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.

4However, they were terrified and reasoned, “Look, two kings couldn’t stand against him; how can we?”

5So the overseer of the palace, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think is right.”

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.