Kings II 10:15

15 And the Syrians saw that they were worsted before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.

Kings II 10:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 10:15

And when he was departed thence
From Betheked, or the shearing house:

he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him;
a Kenite, a descendant of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, a wise and good man, as appears by the laws and rules he gave to his posterity, who continued to the times of Jeremiah, and were then observant of them, ( Jeremiah 35:6-10 ) this good man hearing of Jehu's coming to the throne, and of his destruction of the idolatrous family of Ahab, and of his zeal for the worship of God, and against idolatry, came forth from his tent to meet him, and congratulate him upon it:

and he saluted him;
Jonadab saluted Jehu, according to Abarbinel; or "blessed him" ^F18, wished him all happiness in his kingdom, and success in the reformation of it; though most understand it of Jehu's saluting Jonadab, which seems best to agree with the following:

and said to him, is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?
that is, hast thou the same cordial affection and sincere respect for me as I have for thee?

and Jehonadab answered, it is:
to which some join the next clause, and read, "and it is"; which is doubling the answer, for the confirmation of it, as Kimchi says; though he also observes, that the latter may be interpreted as the answer of Jehu, by way of interrogation, "is it?",

then give me thine hand;
and to the same purpose is our version,

if it be, and he gave [him] his hand;
Jonadab gave Jehu his hand as a token of sincere friendship ^F19, and cordial respect, and for the confirmation of the covenant between them, as Ben Melech; who also observes, that Jehu might bid him give him his hand to help him up into the chariot, since it follows,

and he took him up to him into the chariot;
to ride with him to Samaria; the company of such a man, so famous for wisdom and goodness, he knew would give him much countenance among the people, and sanction to what he did.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (whkrbyw) "et benedixit ei", V. L. Montanus.
F19 "Ipse pater dextram Anchises" Virgil. Aeneid. l. 3. prope finem. Vid. Servium in ib. Vid. Cornel. Nepot. Vit. Themistocl. l. 2. c. 8. & Datam. l. 14. c. 10.

Kings II 10:15 In-Context

13 And Joab and his people with him advanced to battle against Syria, and they fled from before him.

14 And the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, and they fled from before Abessa, and entered into the city: and Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And the Syrians saw that they were worsted before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.

16 And Adraazar sent and gathered the Syrians from the other side of the river Chalamak, and they came to Aelam; and Sobac the captain of the host of Adraazar at their head.

17 And it was reported to David, and he gathered all Israel, and went over Jordan, and came to Aelam: and the Syrians set the battle in array against David, and fought with him.