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Texts -- 2 Kings 10:1-35 (NET)

Context
Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Family
10:1 Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria . So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said , 10:2 “You have with you the sons of your master , chariots and horses , a fortified city , and weapons . So when this letter arrives , 10:3 pick the best and most capable of your master’s sons , place him on his father’s throne , and defend your master’s dynasty .” 10:4 They were absolutely terrified and said , “Look , two kings could not stop him! How can we ?” 10:5 So the palace supervisor, the city commissioner, the leaders , and the guardians sent this message to Jehu , “We are your subjects ! Whatever you say , we will do . We will not make anyone king . Do what you consider proper .” 10:6 He wrote them a second letter , saying , “If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow .” Now the king had seventy sons , and the prominent men of the city were raising them. 10:7 When they received the letter , they seized the king’s sons and executed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel . 10:8 The messenger came and told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons .” Jehu said , “Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning .” 10:9 In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people , “You are innocent . I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men? 10:10 Therefore take note that not one of the judgments the Lord announced against Ahab’s dynasty has failed to materialize. The Lord had done what he announced through his servant Elijah .” 10:11 Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel , and all his nobles , close friends , and priests . He left no survivors . 10:12 Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria . While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds , 10:13 Jehu encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah . He asked , “Who are you ?” They replied , “We are Ahaziah’s relatives . We have come down to see how the king’s sons and the queen mother’s sons are doing.” 10:14 He said , “Capture them alive !” So they captured them alive and then executed all forty-two of them in the cistern at Beth Eked . He left no survivors . 10:15 When he left there , he met Jehonadab , son of Rekab , who had been looking for him. Jehu greeted him and asked , “Are you as committed to me as I am to you?” Jehonadab answered , “I am !” Jehu replied, “If so, give me your hand .” So he offered his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot . 10:16 Jehu said , “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot . 10:17 He went to Samaria and exterminated all the members of Ahab’s family who were still alive in Samaria , just as the Lord had announced to Elijah .
Jehu Executes the Prophets and Priests of Baal
10:18 Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped Baal a little ; Jehu will worship him with great devotion . 10:19 So now , bring to me all the prophets of Baal , as well as all his servants and priests . None of them must be absent , for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal . Any of them who fail to appear will lose their lives .” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the servants of Baal . 10:20 Then Jehu ordered , “Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal .” So they announced it. 10:21 Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel , and all the servants of Baal came ; not one was absent . They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end . 10:22 Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe , “Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal .” So he brought out robes for them. 10:23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal . Jehu said to the servants of Baal , “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal .” 10:24 They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings . Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside . He had told them, “If any of the men inside get away , you will pay with your lives !” 10:25 When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice , Jehu ordered the royal guard and officers , “Come in and strike them down ! Don’t let any escape !” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there. Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal . 10:26 They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. 10:27 They demolished the sacred pillar of Baal and the temple of Baal ; it is used as a latrine to this very day . 10:28 So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel .
A Summary of Jehu’s Reign
10:29 However , Jehu did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam son of Nebat had encouraged Israel to commit ; the golden calves remained in Bethel and Dan . 10:30 The Lord said to Jehu , “You have done well . You have accomplished my will and carried out my wishes with regard to Ahab’s dynasty . Therefore four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel .” 10:31 But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the Lord God of Israel . He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit . 10:32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border . 10:33 He conquered all the land of Gilead , including the territory of Gad , Reuben , and Manasseh , extending all the way from the Aroer in the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan . 10:34 The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes , are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel . 10:35 Jehu passed away and was buried in Samaria . His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Jehu

    [ebd] Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38). (2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3). (3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2...
    [isbe] JEHU - je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Ki 19:16,17; 2 Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of ...
    [smith] (the living). The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Eli...
    [nave] JEHU 1. The prophet who aounced the wrath of Jehovah against Baasha, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:1, 7, 12; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34. 2. Son of Nimshi, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 19:16; 2 Kin. 9:1-14. Religious zeal of, in slaying idol...

  • JEHONADAB

    [ebd] Jehovah is liberal; or, whom Jehovah impels. (1.) A son of Shimeah, and nephew of David. It was he who gave the fatal wicked advice to Amnon, the heir to the throne (2 Sam. 13:3-6). He was very "subtil," but unprincipled. (2...
    [isbe] JEHONADAB - je-hon'-a-dab (yehonadhabh, either "Yahweh is noble" or "liberal," or "Yahweh has impelled") = Jonadab (yonadhabh, same meaning): (1) Jehonadab in the Hebrew of 2 Sam 13:5; but Jonadab in English Versions of the ...
    [smith] (whom Jehovah impels) and Jon?adab, the son of Rechab, founder of the Rechabites, an Arab chief. When Jehu was advancing, after the slaughter of Betheked, on the city of Samaria, he was suddenly met by Jehonadab, who joined w...

  • Government

    [isbe] GOVERNMENT - guv'-ern-ment: The government of the Hebrews varied at different periods, of which we may distinguish seven: (1) the nomadic period, from the Exodus to the entrance into Palestine; (2) the period of transition f...
    [nave] GOVERNMENT Paternal functions of, Gen. 41:25-57. Civil service school provided by, Dan. 1:3-20. Maintains a system of public instruction, 2 Chr. 17:7-9. Executive departments in. See: Cabinet; King; Ruler; Statecraft. Ju...

  • Ezion-geber

    [ebd] the giant's backbone (so called from the head of a mountain which runs out into the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the north-east end of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Akabah, near Elath or Eloth (Num....

  • Decision

    [nave] DECISION. Deut. 30:19; Josh. 23:8. Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 12:20; 1 Kin. 18:21; Psa. 37:34; Psa. 69:13; Prov. 4:25-27; Isa. 50:7; Matt. 24:13 Mark 13:13; Matt. 10:22. Matt. 25:23; Luke 7:23 Matt. 11:6. John 8:31; John 15:4, 5, ...

  • Zeal

    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • FACT

    [isbe] FACT - Lit. "a deed." The word occurs only in the heading of the chapter, 2 Ki 10 the King James Version, "Jehu excuseth the fact by the prophecy of Elijah," and in 2 Macc 4:36, with reference to the murder of Onias, "certai...

  • Enthusiasm

    [nave] ENTHUSIASM. Instances of Gideon, Judg. 6; 7; Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:1-14; 10:1-28. See: Zeal.

  • Homicide

    [nave] HOMICIDE. Accidental Ex. 21:13, 28-32; Num. 35:11-15, 22-28, 32 Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-10. Josh. 20:1-9 Felonious or Murder: Gen. 4:9-11 v. 12.; Gen. 9:5, 6; Gen. 49:7; Ex. 20:13 Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9. Ex. 21:29-32; Num. 35...

  • Massacre

    [nave] MASSACRE Authorized by Moses, Deut. 20:13, 16. Decree to destroy the Jews, Esth. 3. Instances of Inhabitants of Heshbon, Deut. 2:34; of Bashan, Deut. 3:6; of Ai, Josh. 8:24-26; of Hazor, Josh. 11:11, 12; of the cities of ...

  • Inconsistency

    [nave] INCONSISTENCY. Matt. 7:3-5; Matt. 23:3, 4; Rom. 2:1, 21-23 See: Deceit; Deception; Hypocrisy. Instances of Jehu, 2 Kin. 10:16-31. The Jews, in oppressing the poor, Neh. 5:9; in accusing Jesus of violating the Sabbath, Jo...

  • Religion

    [nave] RELIGION. False Deut. 32:31-33. See: Idolatry; Intolerance; Teachers, False. Family See: Family. National Supported by taxes, Ex. 30:11-16; 38:26. Priests supported by the State, 1 Kin. 18:19; 2 Chr. 11:13-15. Subve...

  • Assyria

    [ebd] the name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom. It was a mountainous region lying to the north of...

  • Jezreel

    [ebd] God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against...
    [isbe] JEZREEL - jez'-re-el, jez'-rel (yizre`e'l, "God soweth"): (1) A city on the border of the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18). 1. Territory: It is named with Chesulloth and Shunem (modern Iksal and Solam). It remained loyal t...
    [smith] A city situated in the plain of the same name between Gilboa and Little Hermon, now generally called Esdraelon. [ESDRAELON] It appears in (Joshua 19:18) but its historical importance dates from the reign of Ahab, B.C. 918-89...
    [nave] JEZREEL 1. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:56; 1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3; 29:1, 11. 2. A city of Issachar, Josh. 19:18; 2 Sam. 2:9. Ahab's residence in, 1 Kin. 18:45, 46; 21:1. Naboth's vineyard in, 1 Kin. 21:1. Joram's res...

  • Intolerance

    [nave] INTOLERANCE, religious. Exemplified by Cain, Gen. 4:8; Joshua, Num. 11:24-28; James and John, Mark 9:38, 39; Luke 9:49; the Jews, in persecuting Jesus, See: Jesus, History of; and in persecuting the disciples, Acts 4:1-3, 15-...

  • Friendship

    [nave] FRIENDSHIP. Deut. 13:6-9; Job 6:14, 15; Job 16:2, 20; Job 19:13-22; Psa. 35:13, 14; Psa. 41:9; Psa. 55:12-14; Psa. 88:8, 18; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 17:9, 17; Prov. 18:24; Prov. 22:24-27; Prov. 25:17, 19; Prov. 27:6, 9, 10, 14, ...

  • Samaria

    [nave] SAMARIA 1. City of, built by Omri, 1 Kin. 16:24. Capital of the kingdom of the ten tribes, 1 Kin. 16:29; 22:51; 2 Kin. 13:1, 10; 15:8. Besieged by Ben-hadad, 1 Kin. 20; 2 Kin. 6:24-33; 7. The king of Syria is led into, by...

  • Confidence

    [nave] CONFIDENCE. Betrayed Instances of: Joshua, by the Gibeonites, Josh. 9:3-15. Eglon, by Ehud, Judg. 3:15-23. Ahimelech, by David, 1 Sam. 21:1-9. Abner, by Joab, 2 Sam. 3:27. Amasa, by Joab, 2 Sam. 20:9, 10. The worship...

  • Lies and Deceits

    [nave] LIES AND DECEITS Ex. 23:1; Lev. 6:2-7; Lev. 19:11, 12, 16 Ex. 20:16. Job 13:4; Job 21:34; Job 27:4; Job 31:5, 6, 33; Job 36:4; Psa. 5:6, 9; Psa. 10:7; Psa. 12:2, 3; Psa. 28:3; Psa. 31:18; Psa. 34:13 1 Pet. 3:10. Psa. 36:3; P...

  • Treachery

    [nave] TREACHERY, Jer. 9:8. Of Rahab to her people, Josh. 2. Of the man of Beth-el, Judg. 1:24, 25. Of Jael, Judg. 4:18-21. Of Shechemites, Judg. 9:23. Of Joab, 2 Sam. 3:26, 27. Of Baanah and Rechab, 2 Sam. 4:6. Of David to...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Another instance of incomplete obedience followed the great victory God gave His people and the military commanders' sacrificial, voluntary worship of Yahweh.32:1-19 Maybe the leaders of Reuben and Gad concluded that their br...
  • The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.123During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relati...
  • Zimri's seven-day reign in 885 B.C. was the shortest in the history of the Northern Kingdom.Omri was commander-in-chief of Israel's army. He outranked Zimri. When word of Zimri's assassination of Elah reached the soldiers at ...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Kings)3. Ahaziah's evil reign in Israel -1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 1:184. Jehoram's evil reign in Israel 2:1-8:155. Jehoram's evil reign in Judah 8:16-246. Ahaziah's evil reign in Judah 8:25-9:29C. The ...
  • Hazael was the governor of Damascus.50The Gentile King of Aram had more interest in inquiring of Yahweh than Jehoram's predecessor did (v. 8; cf. 1:2). It was customary in the Near East to make a great show of giving gifts. I...
  • Jehu challenged the nobles of Samaria and Jezreel who were rearing Ahab's 70 male descendants to select an heir and to battle Jehu. This would decide whether Ahab's house or Jehu's would rule Israel. Rather than fight a battl...
  • This purge evidently took place in Samaria (1 Kings 16:32). Jehu's true religious preferences had not yet become known publicly. The Hebrew words translated "pillar"in verses 26 and 27 are not the same indicating that Jehu de...
  • God blessed Jehu for eliminating the line of Ahab and Baalism. However, Jehu did not go far enough. He allowed the cult of Jeroboam to continue. Furthermore he was not careful to obey the Mosaic Law with all his heart (v. 31)...
  • Jehoahaz reigned over the Northern Kingdom from 814-798 B.C. Because Israel continued to disregard the Mosaic Covenant God allowed the Arameans to dominate her. Hazael ruled Aram from 841-801 B.C. and his son, Ben-Hadad III, ...
  • Zechariah reigned only six months (753-752 B.C.) before his successor Shallum assassinated him. Zechariah was the fourth and last king of Jehu's dynasty (v. 12; cf. 10:30). The fact that the people made Shallum king after he ...
  • 13:18 Jeremiah was to tell the king and the queen mother of Judah to humble themselves because the Lord had removed their authority or would remove it soon. Pride was a besetting sin of royalty. The individuals in view are pr...
  • 35:1 This oracle came to Jeremiah during King Jehoiakim's reign (609-598 B.C.) after the Babylonians had begun to invade Judah (v. 11). Second Kings 24:1-2 reads, "In his [Jehoiakim's] days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came...
  • Jeremiah wrote almost as much about Babylon's future as he did about the futures of all the other nations in his other oracles combined. The length of this oracle reflects the great importance of Babylon in his ministry as we...
  • The Lord used Hosea's family members as signs to communicate His message of coming judgment on Israel.1:2 At the beginning of Hosea's ministry, Yahweh commanded him to take a wife of harlotry and to have children of harlotry....
  • 1:3 The expression "for three transgressions [Heb. pesha'im, rebellions, i.e., against the universal Sovereign; cf. Gen. 9:5-17] and for four"is one of Amos' trademarks (cf. vv. 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6). It means for numerous...
  • 7:10 Amaziah, who was one of the apostate priests who served at the Bethel sanctuary (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33), felt that Amos was being unpatriotic in what he was prophesying. So Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II charg...
  • 7:1 Another prophetic message came to Zechariah from the Lord in 518 B.C. The fourth day of the ninth month would have been in early December. Chislev is the Babylonian name of the month. This message, which comprises the fol...
  • Mark said that Jesus appeared to the Eleven on this occasion. However, John qualified that statement by explaining that Thomas was absent (John 20:24). Mark was speaking of the Eleven as a group.16:14 This event evidently hap...
  • As the other evangelists, John alternated his account of the events surrounding Jesus' religious trial. He described what was happening in the courtyard (vv. 15-18), then what was happening inside (vv. 19-24), then what happe...
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