Nimshi is best known as the grandfather of Jehu, who was anointed king over Israel. Although little is written directly about Nimshi himself, his name is closely linked to Jehu's dynasty, and Jehu is often referred to as 'son of Nimshi' in the Bible. Nimshi was the father of Jehoshaphat, who in turn was the father of Jehu, the king who destroyed the house of Ahab.
3Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; do not wait."
14So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,
20The watchman reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman."
1Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Tuck in your cloak, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
3Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; do not wait."
Jehu, a descendant of Nimshi, led the revolt against King Joram of Israel, killed him, and thus fulfilled the prophecy concerning judgment on Ahab's house.
14So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,
15but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him in the battle with Hazael king of Aram. Jehu said, "If this is truly your will, let no one slip out of the city to carry the news to Jezreel."
Jehu's dynasty, which descended from Nimshi, ruled over Israel for four generations, just as God had promised Jehu because he carried out judgment against Ahab's house.
30The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all that I had in mind, your descendants to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel."
Jehu, son of Nimshi, is also mentioned in the Books of Chronicles in connection with his confrontation with King Jehoshaphat of Judah and his actions against Ahab's house.
7Ahaziah's downfall came from God through this visit to Joram. For when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.