2 Kings 10:5-15

5 And the one who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, "1We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not make any man king; do what is good in your sight."
6 Then he wrote a letter to them a second time saying, "If you are on my side, and you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow about this time." Now the king's sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them.
7 When the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and 2slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.
8 When the messenger came and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons," he said, "Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning."
9 Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, "You are innocent; behold, 3I conspired against my master and killed him, but 4who killed all these?
10 "Know then that 5there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done 6what He spoke through His servant Elijah."
11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in 7Jezreel, and all his great men and his acquaintances and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.
12 Then he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way while he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds,
13 8Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the relatives of Ahaziah; and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother."
14 He said, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and killed them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two * men; and he left none * of them.
15 Now when he had departed from there, he met 9Jehonadab the son of 10Rechab coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, 11give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.

2 Kings 10:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 10

This chapter gives a further account of the destruction of the house of Ahab by Jehu, or his orders, even of all his sons and relations, 2Ki 10:1-11, and also of the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, 2Ki 10:12-14, of his taking up Jehonadab the son of Rechab into his chariot, to be a witness of his zeal for the Lord, 2Ki 10:15-17, and of his gathering together the prophets, priests, and worshippers of Baal, and slaying them, 2Ki 10:18-25 and of his extirpation of the idolatry of Baal, 2Ki 10:26-28, nevertheless he continued the worship of the calves, 2Ki 10:29-31 wherefore Israel was distressed by the king of Syria, 2Ki 10:32,33 and the chapter is concluded with the reign and death of Jehu, 2Ki 10:34,35.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Joshua 9:8, 11; 1 Kings 20:4, 32; 2 Kings 18:14
  • 2. Judges 9:5; 2 Kings 11:1
  • 3. 2 Kings 9:14-24
  • 4. 2 Kings 10:6
  • 5. 2 Kings 9:7-10
  • 6. 1 Kings 21:19-29
  • 7. Hosea 1:4
  • 8. 2 Kings 8:24, 29; 2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:8
  • 9. Jeremiah 35:6-19
  • 10. 1 Chronicles 2:55
  • 11. Ezra 10:19; Ezekiel 17:18

Footnotes 13

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