When the lettercameto them, they tookthe king'ssonsand slaughtered[them], seventypersons,and puttheir headsin baskets,and sent[them] to him at Jezreel.
"You shall speakto him, saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"Have you murderedand alsotakenpossession?"'And you shall speakto him, saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"In the placewherethe dogslickedup the bloodof Naboththe dogswill lickup your blood,evenyours."'"
"Behold,I will bringevilupon you, and will utterlysweepyou away,and will cutofffrom Ahabeverymale,both bondand freein Israel;
Then he wrotea letterto them a secondtimesaying,"Ifyou are on my side, and you will listento my voice,takethe headsof the men,your master'ssons,and cometo me at Jezreeltomorrowabout this time."Now the king'ssons,seventypersons,[were] with the greatmenof the city,[who] were rearingthem.
When the messengercameand toldhim, saying,"They have broughtthe headsof the king'ssons,"he said,"Putthem in twoheapsat the entranceof the gateuntilmorning."
Now in the morninghe wentout and stoodand saidto allthe people,"You are innocent;behold,I conspiredagainstmy masterand killedhim, but whokilledallthese?
When Athaliahthe motherof Ahaziahsawthat her sonwas dead,she roseand destroyedallthe royaloffspring.
Now when Jehoramhad takenoverthe kingdomof his fatherand madehimself secure,he killedallhis brotherswith the sword,and someof the rulersof Israelalso.
