2 Kings 10:2

10:2 “You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives, ¹ 

2 Kings 10:6

10:6 He wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, ²  then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” ³  Now the king had seventy sons, and the prominent ⁴  men of the city were raising them.

[10:2]  ¹ tn Heb “And now when this letter comes to you – with you are the sons of your master and with you are chariots and horses and a fortified city and weapons.”

[10:6]  ² tn Heb “If you are mine and you are listening to my voice.”

[10:6]  ³ sn Jehu’s command is intentionally vague. Does he mean that they should bring the guardians (those who are “heads” over Ahab’s sons) for a meeting, or does he mean that they should bring the literal heads of Ahab’s sons with them? (So LXX, Syriac Peshitta, and some mss of the Targum) The city leaders interpret his words in the literal sense, but Jehu’s command is so ambiguous he is able to deny complicity in the executions (see v. 9).

[10:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “great,” probably in wealth, position, and prestige.