Jehu

Jehu, king of Israel (r. c.842–815 B.C.). An officer in the army of King Jehoram, Jehu was anointed king by a disciple of the prophet Elisha after Jehoram began promoting the worship of Baal. Jehu murdered Jehoram, Queen Jezebel (Jehoram's mother), King Ahaziah of Judah, and other members of the royal family. After ordering all the followers of Baal into their temple, Jehu's soldiers slaughtered them. Jehu restored traditional Jewish worship and began a dynasty that ruled for another century.

See also: Israel.