Editing Jehu (section)

=== Reign ===
Other than Jehu's bloody seizure of power and tolerance for the [[golden calf|golden calves]] at [[Dan (biblical city)|Dan]] and [[Bethel]], which was criticized as a "heretical" interpretation of Yahwism, little else is known of his reign. He was hard pressed by [[Hazael]], king of the [[Arameans]], who defeated his armies "throughout all of the territories of [[Israel]]" beyond the [[Jordan River]], in the lands of [[Gilead]], [[tribe of Gad|Gad]], [[tribe of Reuben|Reuben]], and [[tribe of Manasseh|Manasseh]].<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2 Kings|10:32}}</ref>

This suggests that Jehu offered tribute to [[Shalmaneser III]], as depicted on his [[Black Obelisk]], in order to gain a powerful ally against the [[Arameans]]. ''Bit-Khumri'' was used by [[Tiglath-Pileser III]] for the non-Omride kings [[Pekah]] (733) & [[Hoshea]] (732),<ref>Kitchen, K A (2003) ''The Reliability'' of the [[Old Testament]], Cambridge, Eerdmans, p. 24</ref> hence House/Land/Kingdom of [[Omri]] could apply to later Israelite kings not necessarily descended from Omri. According to others, this description should be taken very literally, as in this period Assyrians were very closely following the events in this area, with control slipping in later years.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290995545| title = Balancing evidence about Jehu and Joash in ancient near east texts - Critical reassessment}}</ref>

The destruction of the house of Ahab is commended by the author of 2 Kings as a form of divine punishment. Yahweh rewards Jehu for being a willing executor of divine judgment by allowing four generations of kings to sit on the throne of Israel.<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|2 Kings |10:30}}</ref> Jehu and his descendants Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zachariah ruled Israel for 102 years. Nonetheless, according to the [[Book of Hosea]], God punished the [[House of Jehu]] through the hands of the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Assyrians]] for Jehu's massacre at [[Jezreel (city)|Jezreel]],<ref>''Bible'' {{bibleverse|Hosea|1:4–1:5}}</ref> and some Biblical commentators reasoned that this was because Jehu's motives may not have been entirely pure in his massacre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hosea 1:4 Commentaries: And the LORD said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. |url=https://biblehub.com/commentaries/hosea/1-4.htm |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=biblehub.com}}</ref>