2 Kings 10:10-20

10 Therefore see ye now, that none of the words of the Lord hath fallen down into the earth, which the Lord spake on the house of Ahab; and the Lord hath done that, that he spake in the hand of his servant, Elijah. (And so see ye now, that none of the words of the Lord hath fallen to the ground, words which the Lord spoke about the house of Ahab; yea, the Lord hath done what he spoke by his servant Elijah.)
11 Therefore Jehu smote all that were left of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all the best men of him, and his known men, and his priests, till no relics of him (were) left. (And so Jehu struck down all who were left of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his best men, and his friends, and his priests, until none was left.)
12 And he rose, and came into Samaria; and when he had come to the chamber of the shepherds in the way, (And he rose up, and went to Samaria; and when he had come to the shepherds? shelter on the way,)
13 he found there the brethren of Ahaziah, king of Judah (he found there the kinsmen of Ahaziah, the king of Judah); and he said to them, Who be ye? And they answered, We be the brethren of Ahaziah, and we came down to greet the sons of the king, and the sons of the queen.
14 And Jehu said, Take ye them quick. And when they had taken them quick, they strangled them in the cistern, beside the chamber, two and forty men; and he left not any of them (alive). (And Jehu said, Take ye them alive. And when they had taken them alive, then they strangled them there at the well, beside the shelter, forty-two men; and he left none of them alive.)
15 And when he had gone from thence, he found Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, (coming) into (the) meeting of him; and he blessed him. And Jehu said to him, Whether thine heart is rightful with mine heart, as mine heart is with thine heart? (Is thy heart right with my heart, as my heart is with thy heart?) And Jehonadab said, It is. And Jehu said, If it is, give me thine hand. Which gave his hand to him; and Jehu raised him up to him(self) into his chariot.
16 And he said to him, Come thou with me, and see my fervent love for the Lord. And he led him, put in his chariot, into Samaria (And they rode together, in his chariot, to Samaria).
17 And (once they arrived,) he killed all (the) men that were residue, or left, of Ahab in Samaria, till to one, by the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
18 Therefore Jehu gathered together all the people (And then Jehu gathered together all the people), and said to them, Ahab worshipped Baal a little, but I shall worship him more.
19 Now therefore call ye to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests; (let) none be that come not, for (a) great sacrifice is of me to Baal; whoever shall fail (to come), he shall not live. Forsooth Jehu did this by treason, that he should destroy all the worshippers of Baal. (And so now call unto me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests; let there be no one who shall not come, for I shall make a great sacrifice to Baal; whoever shall fail to come, he shall not live. But Jehu did this to deceive them, so that he could destroy all the worshippers of Baal.)
20 And he said, Hallow ye a solemn day to Baal. And Jehu called, (And he said, Proclaim ye a sacred day for Baal. And they proclaimed it,)

2 Kings 10:10-20 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.