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.