2 Kings 10:12b-17
"On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah, and we came down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.” 14 He said, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them.
15 And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. 16 And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah."
The terrible purge goes on. Jehu is nothing if not thorough in his work. His action with the brethren of Ahaziah seems extreme, but we must remember that it was a time when the hand of the Lord was heavy upon Israel, a time when men should have been walking softly, and in fear of His judgments. These men ought to have been afraid to do what they did, in coming to associate themselves with the corrupt royal family of Israel. They had seen what had befallen their brother through his association with Joram, and yet they brazenly continued that association. This was how Jehu looked at it, and they paid dearly for their folly.
Jehu's attitude to Jehonadab shows us that he was actuated by principle, not by blind savagery. Here was a man whom he sensed to be at one with him in his dedication to the cause of the Lord in the land, and how willing he was that he should share his zeal. It is good that this incident is recorded for our learning, for it absolved Jehu from the charge of having surrendered himself to blood-lust in this terrible programme of execution throughout Israel. It is easy for us to criticise him, but we must remember that there were no law-courts in Israel to see that justice was done and evil punished. The king was the judge, and as such the minister of God to punish the evildoers. Such was Jehu's calling.