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
Behold, I will bring H935 evil H7451 upon thee, and will take away H1197 thy posterity, H310 and will cut off H3772 from Ahab H256 him that pisseth H8366 against the wall, H7023 and him that is shut up H6113 and left H5800 in Israel, H3478
And when Athaliah H6271 the mother H517 of Ahaziah H274 saw H7200 that her son H1121 was dead, H4191 she arose H6965 and destroyed H6 all the seed H2233 royal. H4467
And he went H935 unto his father's H1 house H1004 at Ophrah, H6084 and slew H2026 his brethren H251 the sons H1121 of Jerubbaal, H3378 being threescore and ten H7657 persons, H376 upon one H259 stone: H68 notwithstanding yet Jotham H3147 the youngest H6996 son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 was left; H3498 for he hid H2244 himself. And all the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 gathered together, H622 and all the house H1004 of Millo, H4407 H1037 and went, H3212 and made H4427 Abimelech H40 king, H4428 by the plain H436 of the pillar H5324 that was in Shechem. H7927 And when they told H5046 it to Jotham, H3147 he went H3212 and stood H5975 in the top H7218 of mount H2022 Gerizim, H1630 and lifted up H5375 his voice, H6963 and cried, H7121 and said H559 unto them, Hearken H8085 unto me, ye men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 that God H430 may hearken H8085 unto you. The trees H6086 went forth H1980 H1980 on a time to anoint H4886 a king H4428 over them; and they said H559 unto the olive tree, H2132 Reign H4427 thou over us. But the olive tree H2132 said H559 unto them, Should I leave H2308 my fatness, H1880 wherewith by me they honour H3513 God H430 and man, H582 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 And the trees H6086 said H559 to the fig tree, H8384 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. But the fig tree H8384 said H559 unto them, Should I forsake H2308 my sweetness, H4987 and my good H2896 fruit, H8570 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 Then said H559 the trees H6086 unto the vine, H1612 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. And the vine H1612 said H559 unto them, Should I leave H2308 my wine, H8492 which cheereth H8055 God H430 and man, H582 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 Then said H559 all the trees H6086 unto the bramble, H329 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. And the bramble H329 said H559 unto the trees, H6086 If in truth H571 ye anoint H4886 me king H4428 over you, then come H935 and put your trust H2620 in my shadow: H6738 and if not, let fire H784 come out H3318 of the bramble, H329 and devour H398 the cedars H730 of Lebanon. H3844 Now therefore, if ye have done H6213 truly H571 and sincerely, H8549 in that ye have made Abimelech H40 king, H4427 and if ye have dealt H6213 well H2896 with Jerubbaal H3378 and his house, H1004 and have done H6213 unto him according to the deserving H1576 of his hands; H3027 (For my father H1 fought H3898 for you, and adventured H7993 his life H5315 far, H5048 and delivered H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of Midian: H4080 And ye are risen up H6965 against my father's H1 house H1004 this day, H3117 and have slain H2026 his sons, H1121 threescore and ten H7657 persons, H376 upon one H259 stone, H68 and have made Abimelech, H40 the son H1121 of his maidservant, H519 king H4427 over the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 because he is your brother;) H251 If ye then have dealt H6213 truly H571 and sincerely H8549 with Jerubbaal H3378 and with his house H1004 this day, H3117 then rejoice H8055 ye in Abimelech, H40 and let him also rejoice H8055 in you: But if not, let fire H784 come out H3318 from Abimelech, H40 and devour H398 the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 and the house H1004 of Millo; H4407 H1037 and let fire H784 come out H3318 from the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 and from the house H1004 of Millo, H4407 H1037 and devour H398 Abimelech. H40 And Jotham H3147 ran away, H1272 and fled, H5127 and went H3212 to Beer, H876 and dwelt H3427 there, for fear H6440 of Abimelech H40 his brother. H251 When Abimelech H40 had reigned H7786 three H7969 years H8141 over Israel, H3478 Then God H430 sent H7971 an evil H7451 spirit H7307 between Abimelech H40 and the men H1167 of Shechem; H7927 and the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 dealt treacherously H898 with Abimelech: H40 That the cruelty H2555 done to the threescore and ten H7657 sons H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 might come, H935 and their blood H1818 be laid H7760 upon Abimelech H40 their brother, H251 which slew H2026 them; and upon the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 which aided H2388 H3027 him in the killing H2026 of his brethren. H251 And the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 set H7760 liers in wait H693 for him in the top H7218 of the mountains, H2022 and they robbed H1497 all that came H5674 along that way H1870 by them: and it was told H5046 Abimelech. H40 And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 came H935 with his brethren, H251 and went over H5674 to Shechem: H7927 and the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 put their confidence H982 in him. And they went out H3318 into the fields, H7704 and gathered H1219 their vineyards, H3754 and trode H1869 the grapes, and made H6213 merry, H1974 and went H935 into the house H1004 of their god, H430 and did eat H398 and drink, H8354 and cursed H7043 Abimelech. H40 And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 said, H559 Who is Abimelech, H40 and who is Shechem, H7927 that we should serve H5647 him? is not he the son H1121 of Jerubbaal? H3378 and Zebul H2083 his officer? H6496 serve H5647 the men H582 of Hamor H2544 the father H1 of Shechem: H7927 for why should we serve H5647 him? And would to God this people H5971 were under H5414 my hand! H3027 then would I remove H5493 Abimelech. H40 And he said H559 to Abimelech, H40 Increase H7235 thine army, H6635 and come out. H3318 And when Zebul H2083 the ruler H8269 of the city H5892 heard H8085 the words H1697 of Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed, H5651 his anger H639 was kindled. H2734 And he sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto Abimelech H40 privily, H8649 saying, H559 Behold, Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 and his brethren H251 be come H935 to Shechem; H7927 and, behold, they fortify H6696 the city H5892 against thee. Now therefore up H6965 by night, H3915 thou and the people H5971 that is with thee, and lie in wait H693 in the field: H7704 And it shall be, that in the morning, H1242 as soon as the sun H8121 is up, H2224 thou shalt rise early, H7925 and set H6584 upon the city: H5892 and, behold, when he and the people H5971 that is with him come out H3318 against thee, then mayest thou do H6213 to them as thou H3027 shalt find occasion. H4672 And Abimelech H40 rose up, H6965 and all the people H5971 that were with him, by night, H3915 and they laid wait H693 against Shechem H7927 in four H702 companies. H7218 And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 went out, H3318 and stood H5975 in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 of the city: H5892 and Abimelech H40 rose up, H6965 and the people H5971 that were with him, from lying in wait. H3993 And when Gaal H1603 saw H7200 the people, H5971 he said H559 to Zebul, H2083 Behold, there come H3381 people H5971 down H3381 from the top H7218 of the mountains. H2022 And Zebul H2083 said H559 unto him, Thou seest H7200 the shadow H6738 of the mountains H2022 as if they were men. H582 And Gaal H1603 spake H1696 again H3254 and said, H559 See there come H3381 people H5971 down H3381 by the middle H2872 of the land, H776 and another H259 company H7218 come H935 along by the plain H436 of H1870 Meonenim. H6049 Then said H559 Zebul H2083 unto him, Where is now H645 thy mouth, H6310 wherewith thou saidst, H559 Who is Abimelech, H40 that we should serve H5647 him? is not this the people H5971 that thou hast despised? H3988 go out, H3318 I pray now, H4994 and fight H3898 with them. And Gaal H1603 went out H3318 before H6440 the men H1167 of Shechem, H7927 and fought H3898 with Abimelech. H40 And Abimelech H40 chased H7291 him, and he fled H5127 before H6440 him, and many H7227 were overthrown H5307 and wounded, H2491 even unto the entering H6607 of the gate. H8179 And Abimelech H40 dwelt H3427 at Arumah: H725 and Zebul H2083 thrust out H1644 Gaal H1603 and his brethren, H251 that they should not dwell H3427 in Shechem. H7927 And it came to pass on the morrow, H4283 that the people H5971 went out H3318 into the field; H7704 and they told H5046 Abimelech. H40 And he took H3947 the people, H5971 and divided H2673 them into three H7969 companies, H7218 and laid wait H693 in the field, H7704 and looked, H7200 and, behold, the people H5971 were come forth H3318 out of the city; H5892 and he rose up H6965 against them, and smote H5221 them. And Abimelech, H40 and the company H7218 that was with him, rushed forward, H6584 and stood H5975 in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 of the city: H5892 and the two H8147 other companies H7218 ran upon H6584 all the people that were in the fields, H7704 and slew H5221 them. And Abimelech H40 fought H3898 against the city H5892 all that day; H3117 and he took H3920 the city, H5892 and slew H2026 the people H5971 that was therein, and beat down H5422 the city, H5892 and sowed H2232 it with salt. H4417 And when all the men H1167 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 heard H8085 that, they entered H935 into an hold H6877 of the house H1004 of the god H410 Berith. H1286 And it was told H5046 Abimelech, H40 that all the men H1167 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 were gathered together. H6908 And Abimelech H40 gat him up H5927 to mount H2022 Zalmon, H6756 he and all the people H5971 that were with him; and Abimelech H40 took H3947 an axe H7134 in his hand, H3027 and cut down H3772 a bough H7754 from the trees, H6086 and took H5375 it, and laid H7760 it on his shoulder, H7926 and said H559 unto the people H5971 that were with him, What ye have seen H7200 me do, H6213 make haste, H4116 and do H6213 as I H3644 have done. And all the people H5971 likewise cut down H3772 every man H376 his bough, H7754 and followed H3212 H310 Abimelech, H40 and put H7760 them to the hold, H6877 and set H3341 the hold H6877 on fire H784 upon them; so that all the men H582 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 died H4191 also, about a thousand H505 men H376 and women. H802 Then went H3212 Abimelech H40 to Thebez, H8405 and encamped H2583 against Thebez, H8405 and took H3920 it. But there was a strong H5797 tower H4026 within H8432 the city, H5892 and thither fled H5127 all the men H582 and women, H802 and all they H1167 of the city, H5892 and shut H5462 it to them, and gat them up H5927 to the top H1406 of the tower. H4026 And Abimelech H40 came H935 unto the tower, H4026 and fought H3898 against it, and went hard H5066 unto the door H6607 of the tower H4026 to burn H8313 it with fire. H784 And a certain H259 woman H802 cast H7993 a piece H6400 of a millstone H7393 upon Abimelech's H40 head, H7218 and all to brake H7533 his skull. H1538 Then he called H7121 hastily H4120 unto the young man H5288 his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 and said H559 unto him, Draw H8025 thy sword, H2719 and slay H4191 me, that men say H559 not of me, A woman H802 slew H2026 him. And his young man H5288 thrust him through, H1856 and he died. H4191 And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 saw H7200 that Abimelech H40 was dead, H4191 they departed H3212 every man H376 unto his place. H4725 Thus God H430 rendered H7725 the wickedness H7451 of Abimelech, H40 which he did H6213 unto his father, H1 in slaying H2026 his seventy H7657 brethren: H251 And all the evil H7451 of the men H582 of Shechem H7927 did God H430 render H7725 upon their heads: H7218 and upon them came H935 the curse H7045 of Jotham H3147 the son H1121 of Jerubbaal. H3378
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?
Now when Jehoram H3088 was risen up H6965 to the kingdom H4467 of his father, H1 he strengthened H2388 himself, and slew H2026 all his brethren H251 with the sword, H2719 and divers also of the princes H8269 of Israel. H3478
And G1161 she, being before instructed G4264 of G5259 her G846 mother, G3384 said, G5346 Give G1325 me G3427 here G5602 John G2491 Baptist's G910 head G2776 in G1909 a charger. G4094 And G2532 the king G935 was sorry: G3076 nevertheless for G1161 G1223 the oath's sake, G3727 and G2532 them which sat with him at meat, G4873 he commanded G2753 it to be given G1325 her. And G2532 he sent, G3992 and beheaded G607 John G2491 in G1722 the prison. G5438 And G2532 his G846 head G2776 was brought G5342 in G1909 a charger, G4094 and G2532 given G1325 to the damsel: G2877 and G2532 she brought G5342 it to her G846 mother. G3384
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.