1 And Ahab H256 had seventy H7657 sons H1121 in Samaria. H8111 And Jehu H3058 wrote H3789 letters, H5612 and sent H7971 to Samaria, H8111 unto the rulers H8269 of Jezreel, H3157 to the elders, H2205 and to them that brought up H539 Ahab's H256 children, saying, H559
2 Now as soon as this letter H5612 cometh H935 to you, seeing your master's H113 sons H1121 are with you, and there are with you chariots H7393 and horses, H5483 a fenced H4013 city H5892 also, and armour; H5402
3 Look even out H7200 the best H2896 and meetest H3477 of your master's H113 sons, H1121 and set H7760 him on his father's H1 throne, H3678 and fight H3898 for your master's H113 house. H1004
4 But they were exceedingly H3966 H3966 afraid, H3372 and said, H559 Behold, two H8147 kings H4428 stood H5975 not before H6440 him: how then shall we stand? H5975
5 And he that was over the house, H1004 and he that was over the city, H5892 the elders H2205 also, and the bringers up H539 of the children, sent H7971 to Jehu, H3058 saying, H559 We are thy servants, H5650 and will do H6213 all that thou shalt bid H559 us; we will not make any H376 king: H4427 do H6213 thou that which is good H2896 in thine eyes. H5869
6 Then he wrote H3789 a letter H5612 the second time H8145 to them, saying, H559 If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken H8085 unto my voice, H6963 take H3947 ye the heads H7218 of the men H582 your master's H113 sons, H1121 and come H935 to me to Jezreel H3157 by to morrow H4279 this time. H6256 Now the king's H4428 sons, H1121 being seventy H7657 persons, H376 were with the great men H1419 of the city, H5892 which brought them up. H1431
7 And it came to pass, when the letter H5612 came H935 to them, that they took H3947 the king's H4428 sons, H1121 and slew H7819 seventy H7657 persons, H376 and put H7760 their heads H7218 in baskets, H1731 and sent H7971 him them to Jezreel. H3157
8 And there came H935 a messenger, H4397 and told H5046 him, saying, H559 They have brought H935 the heads H7218 of the king's H4428 sons. H1121 And he said, H559 Lay H7760 ye them in two H8147 heaps H6652 at the entering in H6607 of the gate H8179 until the morning. H1242
9 And it came to pass in the morning, H1242 that he went out, H3318 and stood, H5975 and said H559 to all the people, H5971 Ye be righteous: H6662 behold, I conspired H7194 against my master, H113 and slew H2026 him: but who slew H5221 all these?
10 Know H3045 now H645 that there shall fall H5307 unto the earth H776 nothing of the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which the LORD H3068 spake H1696 concerning the house H1004 of Ahab: H256 for the LORD H3068 hath done H6213 that which he spake H1696 by H3027 his servant H5650 Elijah. H452
11 So Jehu H3058 slew H5221 all that remained H7604 of the house H1004 of Ahab H256 in Jezreel, H3157 and all his great men, H1419 and his kinsfolks, H3045 and his priests, H3548 until he left H7604 him none remaining. H8300
12 And he arose H6965 and departed, H935 and came H3212 to Samaria. H8111 And as he was at the shearing H7462 house H1004 H1044 in the way, H1870
13 Jehu H3058 met H4672 with the brethren H251 of Ahaziah H274 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and said, H559 Who are ye? And they answered, H559 We are the brethren H251 of Ahaziah; H274 and we go down H3381 to salute H7965 the children H1121 of the king H4428 and the children H1121 of the queen. H1377
14 And he said, H559 Take H8610 them alive. H2416 And they took H8610 them alive, H2416 and slew H7819 them at the pit H953 of the shearing house, H1044 even two H8147 and forty H705 men; H376 neither left H7604 he any H376 of them.
15 And when he was departed H3212 thence, he lighted H4672 on Jehonadab H3082 the son H1121 of Rechab H7394 coming to meet H7125 him: and he saluted H1288 him, and said H559 to him, Is H3426 thine heart H3824 right, H3477 as my heart H3824 is with thy heart? H3824 And Jehonadab H3082 answered, H559 It is. H3426 If it be, give H5414 me thine hand. H3027 And he gave H5414 him his hand; H3027 and he took him up H5927 to him into the chariot. H4818
16 And he said, H559 Come H3212 with me, and see H7200 my zeal H7068 for the LORD. H3068 So they made him ride H7392 in his chariot. H7393
17 And when he came H935 to Samaria, H8111 he slew H5221 all that remained H7604 unto Ahab H256 in Samaria, H8111 till he had destroyed H8045 him, according to the saying H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he spake H1696 to Elijah. H452
18 And Jehu H3058 gathered H6908 all the people H5971 together, H6908 and said H559 unto them, Ahab H256 served H5647 Baal H1168 a little; H4592 but Jehu H3058 shall serve H5647 him much. H7235
19 Now therefore call H7121 unto me all the prophets H5030 of Baal, H1168 all his servants, H5647 and all his priests; H3548 let none H376 be wanting: H6485 for I have a great H1419 sacrifice H2077 to do to Baal; H1168 whosoever shall be wanting, H6485 he shall not live. H2421 But Jehu H3058 did H6213 it in subtilty, H6122 to the intent that he might destroy H6 the worshippers H5647 of Baal. H1168
20 And Jehu H3058 said, H559 Proclaim H6942 a solemn assembly H6116 for Baal. H1168 And they proclaimed H7121 it.
21 And Jehu H3058 sent H7971 through all Israel: H3478 and all the worshippers H5647 of Baal H1168 came, H935 so that there was not a man H376 left H7604 that came H935 not. And they came H935 into the house H1004 of Baal; H1168 and the house H1004 of Baal H1168 was full H4390 from one end H6310 to another. H6310
22 And he said H559 unto him that was over the vestry, H4458 Bring forth H3318 vestments H3830 for all the worshippers H5647 of Baal. H1168 And he brought them forth H3318 vestments. H4403
23 And Jehu H3058 went, H935 and Jehonadab H3082 the son H1121 of Rechab, H7394 into the house H1004 of Baal, H1168 and said H559 unto the worshippers H5647 of Baal, H1168 Search, H2664 and look H7200 that there be H3426 here with you none of the servants H5650 of the LORD, H3068 but the worshippers H5647 of Baal H1168 only.
24 And when they went in H935 to offer H6213 sacrifices H2077 and burnt offerings, H5930 Jehu H3058 appointed H7760 fourscore H8084 men H376 without, H2351 and said, H559 If any H376 of the men H582 whom I have brought H935 into your hands H3027 escape, H4422 he that letteth him go, his life H5315 shall be for the life H5315 of him.
25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end H3615 of offering H6213 the burnt offering, H5930 that Jehu H3058 said H559 to the guard H7323 and to the captains, H7991 Go in, H935 and slay H5221 them; let none H376 come forth. H3318 And they smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 of the sword; H2719 and the guard H7323 and the captains H7991 cast them out, H7993 and went H3212 to the city H5892 of the house H1004 of Baal. H1168
26 And they brought forth H3318 the images H4676 out of the house H1004 of Baal, H1168 and burned H8313 them.
27 And they brake down H5422 the image H4676 of Baal, H1168 and brake down H5422 the house H1004 of Baal, H1168 and made H7760 it a draught house H4163 H4280 unto this day. H3117
28 Thus Jehu H3058 destroyed H8045 Baal H1168 out of Israel. H3478
29 Howbeit from the sins H2399 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 who made Israel H3478 to sin, H2398 Jehu H3058 departed H5493 not from after H310 them, to wit, the golden H2091 calves H5695 that were in Bethel, H1008 and that were in Dan. H1835
30 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Jehu, H3058 Because thou hast done well H2895 in executing H6213 that which is right H3477 in mine eyes, H5869 and hast done H6213 unto the house H1004 of Ahab H256 according to all that was in mine heart, H3824 thy children H1121 of the fourth H7243 generation shall sit H3427 on the throne H3678 of Israel. H3478
31 But Jehu H3058 took no heed H8104 to walk H3212 in the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 with all his heart: H3824 for he departed H5493 not from the sins H2403 of Jeroboam, H3379 which made Israel H3478 to sin. H2398
32 In those days H3117 the LORD H3068 began H2490 to cut H7096 Israel H3478 short: H7096 and Hazael H2371 smote H5221 them in all the coasts H1366 of Israel; H3478
33 From Jordan H3383 eastward, H4217 H8121 all the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 the Gadites, H1425 and the Reubenites, H7206 and the Manassites, H4520 from Aroer, H6177 which is by the river H5158 Arnon, H769 even Gilead H1568 and Bashan. H1316
34 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jehu, H3058 and all that he did, H6213 and all his might, H1369 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel? H3478
35 And Jehu H3058 slept H7901 with his fathers: H1 and they buried H6912 him in Samaria. H8111 And Jehoahaz H3059 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
36 And the time H3117 that Jehu H3058 reigned H4427 over Israel H3478 in Samaria H8111 was twenty H6242 and eight H8083 years. H8141
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 10
Commentary on 2 Kings 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
2Ki 10:1-17. Jehu Causes Seventy of Ahab's Children to Be Beheaded.
1-4. Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria—As it appears (2Ki 10:13), that grandsons are included it is probable that this number comprehended the whole posterity of Ahab. Their being all assembled in that capital might arise from their being left there on the king's departure for Ramoth-gilead, or from their taking refuge in some of the strongholds of that city on the news of Jehu's conspiracy. It may be inferred from the tenor of Jehu's letters that their first intention was to select the fittest of the royal family and set him up as king. Perhaps this challenge of Jehu was designed as a stroke of policy on his part to elicit their views, and to find out whether they were inclined to be pacific or hostile. The bold character of the man, and the rapid success of his conspiracy, terrified the civic authorities of Samaria and Jezreel into submission.
5. he that was over the house—the governor or chamberlain of the palace.
the bringers-up of the children—Anciently, and still also in many Eastern countries, the principal grandees were charged with the support and education of the royal princes. This involved a heavy expense which they were forced to bear, but for which they endeavored to find some compensation in the advantages of their connection with the court.
6. take ye the heads of the men, your master's sons—The barbarous practice of a successful usurper slaughtering all who may have claims to the throne, has been frequently exemplified in the ancient and modern histories of the East.
8. Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate, &c.—The exhibition of the heads of enemies is always considered a glorious trophy. Sometimes a pile of heads is erected at the gate of the palace; and a head of peculiarly striking appearance selected to grace the summit of the pyramid.
9-11. said to all the people, Ye be righteous, &c.—A great concourse was assembled to gaze on this novel and ghastly spectacle. The speech which Jehu addressed to the spectators was artfully framed to impress their minds with the idea that so wholesale a massacre was the result of the divine judgments denounced on the house of Ahab; and the effect of it was to prepare the public mind for hearing, without horror, of a similar revolting tragedy which was soon after perpetrated, namely, the extinction of all the influential friends and supporters of the dynasty of Ahab, including those of the royal house of Judah.
13, 14. We are the brethren of Ahaziah—that is, not full, but step-brothers, sons of Jehoram by various concubines. Ignorant of the revolution that had taken place, they were travelling to Samaria on a visit to their royal relatives of Israel, when they were seized and put to death, because of the apprehension that they might probably stimulate and strengthen the party that still remained faithful in their allegiance to Ahab's dynasty.
children of the queen—that is, of the queen mother, or regent, Jezebel.
15-18. Jehonadab the son of Rechab—(See 1Ch 2:55). A person who, from his piety and simple primitive manner of life (Jer 35:1-19), was highly esteemed, and possessed great influence in the country. Jehu saw in a moment the advantage that his cause would gain from the friendship and countenance of this venerable man in the eyes of the people, and accordingly paid him the distinguished attention of inviting him to a seat in his chariot.
give me thine hand—not simply to aid him in getting up, but for a far more significant and important purpose—the giving, or rather joining hands, being the recognized mode of striking a league or covenant, as well as of testifying fealty to a new sovereign; accordingly, it is said, "he [Jehonadab] gave him [Jehu] his hand."
2Ki 10:18-29. He Destroys the Worshippers of Baal.
19. call unto me all the prophets of Baal—The votaries of Baal are here classified under the several titles of prophets, priests, and servants, or worshippers generally. They might be easily convened into one spacious temple, as their number had been greatly diminished both by the influential ministrations of Elijah and Elisha, and also from the late King Joram's neglect and discontinuance of the worship. Jehu's appointment of a solemn sacrifice in honor of Baal, and a summons to all his worshippers to join in its celebration, was a deep-laid plot, which he had resolved upon for their extinction, a measure in perfect harmony with the Mosaic law, and worthy of a constitutional king of Israel. It was done, however, not from religious, but purely political motives, because he believed that the existence and interests of the Baalites were inseparably bound up with the dynasty of Ahab and because he hoped that by their extermination he would secure the attachment of the far larger and more influential party who worshipped God in Israel. Jehonadab's concurrence must have been given in the belief of his being actuated solely by the highest principles of piety and zeal.
22. Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal—The priests of Baal were clad, probably, in robes of white byssus while they were engaged in the functions of their office, and these were kept under the care of an officer in a particular wardrobe of Baal's temple. This treacherous massacre, and the means taken to accomplish it, are paralleled by the slaughter of the Janissaries and other terrible tragedies in the modern history of the East.
29. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam … Jehu departed not from after them—Jehu had no intention of carrying his zeal for the Lord beyond a certain point, and as he considered it impolitic to encourage his subjects to travel to Jerusalem, he re-established the symbolic worship of the calves.