The answer is: Jezebel and Ahab

2 Kings 9:7 - Ahab and Jezebel had shed the innocent blood of God’s servants, particularly persecuting the prophets, leading to their house’s downfall.

In the dramatic story of Jehu's rise, we see a stark picture of God’s judgment against rulers who shed innocent blood. Ahab and Jezebel’s reign was marked by moral corruption and blatant disobedience to divine commands, especially in their cruel persecution of the prophets. Think of Elijah, who famously faced Jezebel's wrath after triumphing over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. This was a major cultural and spiritual showdown, emphasizing the tension between polytheism and the worship of Yahweh, the One God.

Jezebel's intensity was legendary. She introduced Baal worship to Israel and even prized the prophets of Yahweh as her enemies. Notably, she manipulated situations, as seen in 1 Kings 21, where she covertly had Naboth killed to take his vineyard for Ahab. Their horrific deeds didn't just resonate through their personal histories; they had ramifications for the entire northern kingdom of Israel.

The plot twist comes with Jehu, anointed by a prophet in secret, bound by God’s command to eradicate the house of Ahab. Jehu's alliance with zeal for justice became a potent imagery of hope for the oppressed. This echo of cleaning up due to bloodshed persists throughout the Bible, suggesting that while humans can err grievously—often consuming one another in ambition—there lies the potential for righteousness at last to triumph. The stories remind us that actions have consequences that ripple through history, challenging rulers and common folk alike to maintain just and compassionate lives.