2 Kings 10:6

6 So he wrote them a second letter. It read, "If you are on my side and ready to listen to me, bring the heads of your master's heirs to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow." The 70 male heirs were staying with the city's most powerful men. These men had raised them.

2 Kings 10:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 10:6

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them
Having gained his point by the former:

saying, if ye be mine,
acknowledge yourselves my subjects and servants;

and if ye will hearken to my voice;
obey my commands:

take ye the heads of the men your master's sons;
that is, take off their heads:

and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time
meaning with the heads along with them:

(now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of
the city, which brought them up;)
they were in their houses, and under their tuition, and so had an authority over them, and could dispose of them at pleasure; they were not ordinary persons to whose care they were committed, but the principal men of the city.

2 Kings 10:6 In-Context

4 But they panicked. They said, "If two kings couldn't stand up to him, how can we stand up to him?"

5 So the official in charge of the palace, the mayor of the city, the respected leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: "We are your servants. We'll do everything you tell us. We won't make anyone king. Do what you think is best."

6 So he wrote them a second letter. It read, "If you are on my side and ready to listen to me, bring the heads of your master's heirs to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow." The 70 male heirs were staying with the city's most powerful men. These men had raised them.

7 When the letter came to the men, they slaughtered all 70 heirs. They put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.

8 A messenger told him, "They've brought the heads of the king's heirs." Jehu said, "Put them in two piles at the entrance to the gateway until morning."