2 Kings 10:6

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken^[a] unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

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 were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

8 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

Footnotes

• [a]. mine: Heb. for me