And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria
These might not be all his immediate sons, but some of them his grandsons, as such are sometimes called in Scripture:
and Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of
Jezreel;
who fled thither, perhaps on Jehu's coming to Jezreel, having slain Joram, being the metropolis of the kingdom, to consult about a successor, or how to oppose Jehu, and to frustrate his designs: but the Septuagint version is, "to the rulers of Samaria", which seems most likely to be the true reading:
to the elders;
the civil magistrates of the city of Samaria:
and to them that brought up Ahab's children:
who had the care of their education; who either always dwelt at Samaria, being the royal city, or were sent with their charge thither, when Joram went to Ramothgilead, for safety, supposing he should be worsted by the Syrians; or they fled thither with them upon the death of Joram:
saying;
as follows.