2 Kings 10:4

4 But they were very afraid, and they said, "Look, two kings could not stand before him; how can we stand?"

2 Kings 10:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 10:4

But they were exceedingly afraid
They were intimidated at once; for they saw the purport of those letters, that should they attempt anything of this kind, he would come upon them with his forces:

and said, behold, two kings stood not before him;
the kings of Israel and Judah, Joram and Ahaziah; but they were unarmed, and therefore how should they stand before an armed body of men Jehu had with him? this shows the pusillanimity of these men to make use of such an argument as this:

how then shall we stand?
that is, before Jehu; but they were in much better circumstances than the two kings, as they are truly represented in ( 2 Kings 10:2 ) .

2 Kings 10:4 In-Context

2 "Now, when this letter comes to you and your master's sons [are] with you, the chariots [are] with you, the horses, a fortified city, and weapons,

3 then you must select the best and the most suitable from the sons of your master, and you must place [him] on the throne of his father, and they must fight for the house of your masters."

4 But they were very afraid, and they said, "Look, two kings could not stand before him; how can we stand?"

5 So whoever was over the house, and whoever was over the city, and the elders and the guardians sent to Jehu, saying, "We [are] your servants; all that you say to us, we shall do. We shall not make anyone a king. Do [what] is good in your eyes."

6 Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, "If you [are] for me, and you [are] listening to my voice, take the heads of the men of the sons of your master and come to me at [this] time tomorrow at Jezreel." Now the sons of the king, seventy men, [were] with the leaders of the city who were raising them.