2 Kings 10

2 KINGS CHAPTER 10

Jehu Kills Ahab’s Family

• • • Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons. The letters said: “You have your master’s sons with you, you have chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. As soon as you receive this letter select the best and most capable of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

• • • • ESV Study Bible, “The guardians of the sons of Ahab are probably those in general who were loyal to Ahab and to his house, as distinct from the rulers and the elders with their specific roles. By writing letters to the leading citizens and challenging them to place one of Ahab’s potential heirs on his father’s throne, Jehu forces them to choose sides.”

• • • • NLT Illustrated Study Bible adds, “Jehu’s message pointing out the city’s military capacity to protect the surviving members of Ahab’s dynasty was actually a declaration of war, and the leaders of Samaria understood it as such. Jehu commanded the main armed forces of Israel, and at Jezreel he had already demonstrated his military power and ruthlessness…”

• • • They were terrified and said, “Look, if two kings couldn’t stop him, how can we?” So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your servants and will do anything you tell us. We will not appoint anyone king. Do whatever you think is best.”

• • • • On the palace administrator, the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says, “The Hebrew is ‘who was over the house’- an important position at the royal court, which is also mentioned in 15:5; 18:18, 37; 19:2. The power of the palace administrator, at least in Judah, is indicated in Isa 22:22; next to the king, he had complete power over Judah, somewhat akin to the power of the vizier in Egypt. Both the title and sometimes the names of its holders are found in extra-Biblical inscriptions…”

• • • • ESV Study Bible adds, “These are the ‘rulers of the city’ mentioned in v. 1…The joint reply of these two officials along with the elders and the other former Ahab loyalists (the ‘guardians’) reveals that they are no longer Ahab’s or Jehorams, but are now Jehu’s servants.”

• • • Then Jehu sent them a second letter saying: “If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now all 70 of the king’s sons were being raised by the city’s prominent men. As soon as they received the letter, they took all 70 of the king’s sons and slaughtered them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king replied, “Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.” The next morning Jehu went out, stood, and said to all the people, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? Know, then, that not a single word Yahweh spoke against Ahab’s house will fail because Yahweh has done what He said through His servant Elijah.” Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all of his leaders, close friends, and priests- he left no survivors.

• • • • On Jehu’s speech, Guzik writes, “When the people saw the severed heads of 70 descendants of Ahab, they feared that judgment had gone too far and they would be punished for it. Jehu assured them that they had done right – and that none had the right to accuse him, because he acted at the command of God.”

• • • • NLT Illustrated Study Bible notes, “Jehu also killed all of Ahab’s surviving relatives and associates without a single survivor, exceeding his divine commission and pursuing a selfish quest for power at any cost. The Lord condemned his excesses through the prophet Hosea (Hos 1:4).”

• • • Then Jehu set out on his way to Samaria. On his way, while he was at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, he encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We’ve come down to greet the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.” Jehu ordered, “Capture them alive.” So they captured all 42 of them and executed them at the well of Beth Eked. He left no survivors.

• • • • ESV Study Bible writes, “His work in Jezreel complete, Jehu leaves for Samaria. On the way, he encounters some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. The Judean royal family keeps being drawn into the events, even though there was no prophetic forewarning (cf 9:27) for the death of Ahaziah…This new king is thorough in exterminating all traces of the past, and the consequences for Judah will be dire (11:1).”

• • • When he left there, he came upon Rekab’s son Jehonadab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?” Jehonadab answered, “I am!” Jehu replied, “If so, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot. Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh!” So he had him ride with him in his chariot. When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who left there of Ahab’s family, until he had annihilated his house according the word of Yahweh spoken through Elijah.

• • • • NLT Illustrated Study Bible writes, “Jeremiah portrays Jehonadab as head of a group of desert nomads who spent their lives in protest against the decadent religion of society (Jer 35). Recab was a Kenite (1 Chr 2:55). While the nomadic Kenites were concentrated in southern Judah, some lived in Galilee (Judg 4:17; 5:24). Their opposition to the apostasy of the royal house may have led them to welcome Jehu as a rescuer and reformer.”

• • • • Guzik adds, “In Jeremiah 35, God used the Rechabites, and the memory of Jehonadab as an example of faithfulness and obedience, to rebuke His unfaithful and disobedient people.” He then cites Patterson and Austel, “Jeremiah records that Jehonadab was the leader of an aesthetic group that lived an austere, nomadic life in the desert, drinking no wine and depending solely on the Lord for their sustenance. Separatists to the core and strong patriots, they lived in protest to the materialism and religious compromise in Israel.”

Jehu Kills the Prophets of Baal

• • • Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab worshiped Baal a little, but Jehu will worship him greatly. Therefore bring me all of Baal’s prophets, as well as all his servants and priests. See to it that none are missing because I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fails to come will lose his life.” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy Baal’s servants. Then Jehu ordered, “Call a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it, and Jehu sent word throughout all of Israel. All the servants of Baal came, there was not a single one absent. They went into the house of Baal and it was full from one end to the other. Then Jehu told the one who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the robes for all of Baal’s servants.” So he brought out the robes. Then Jehu and Rekab’s son Jehonadab went into the house of Baal. Jehu said to Baal’s worshipers, “Look carefully and be sure there are no servants of Yahweh here among you- only servants of Baal.” Then they went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside and issued this warning, “If one of you lets any of the men I am delivering into your hands escape, it will be your life for his life.”

• • • • ESV Study Bible writes, “Samaria had been the focal point for the Baal cult (cf 1 Kgs 16:32-33), to which Jehu now gives his attention. His strategy is to feign enthusiasm while preparing for destruction; he tells the people that although the dynasty has changed, the religious policy will remain the same…”

• • • • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible continues, “It was common rhetoric for a new king to proclaim himself a more pious devotee of the national cult. This…was intended to gain the support of the priesthood and the populace…The Hebrew word translated ‘assembly’ is comparatively rare; the entire phrase is unparalleled in Hebrew. However, a Ugaritic text about gaining protection for the royal ancestors of King Ammurapi of Ugarit suggests that the phrase represents genuine Canaanite terminology, referring to the convening of a solemn meeting.” On the robes, the same source notes, “These are cultic robes used in the worship of Baal…”

• • • • Guzik adds, “Jehu wanted to be certain that all the worshippers of the true God were put out of the place…Ahab built this temple for his wife Jezebel (1 Kings 16:32); Jehu tore it down. He worked to completely eliminate the worship of Baal from Israel, making him a unique king among the other rulers of the Northern Kingdom…Beginning with the first king of Israel – Jeroboam – Israel was steeped in idolatry. Jeroboam began with false representations of the true God (the golden calves described in 1 Kings 12:25-33). The successive kings of Israel continued his idolatry (Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri), until the reign of Ahab. Under King Ahab, Israel moved from the false worship of the true God to the state-supported worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:29-34). The son of Ahab (Jehoram/Joram) continued this practice until he was assassinated by Jehu, who destroyed the infrastructure of state-sponsored Baal worship in Israel.”

• • • As soon as Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let a single one escape.” So the guards and officers struck them down with their swords and left their bodies lying there. Then they went into the inner sanctuary of the house of Baal, brought out the sacred pillar of Baal, and burned it. They demolished the sacred pillar of Baal and the house of Baal. They made it into a latrine, as it remains to this day. So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel.

• • • • Apparently, it’s not exactly clear from the text what they did with the bodies. NLT Illustrated Study Bible translates the relevant portion of text as, “and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside.” However, the footnotes list these alternative options, “Or and they left their bodies lying there; or and they threw them out into the outermost court.”

• • • • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says, “Temples were usually built on the site of earlier temples, because the ground had already been considered holy. By turning the site into a latrine (or possibly garbage dump), Jehu ensure that it will never be used as a temple again, making the revival of the cult in Samaria difficult.”

Summary of Jehu’s Reign

• • • However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins that Nebat’s son Jeroboam caused Israel to commit- the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in My eyes and have dealt with Ahab’s house in accordance with all that was in My heart, four generations of your descendants will sit on Israel’s throne.” However, Jehu was not careful to walk wholeheartedly in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He didn’t turn away from Jeroboam’s sins, which he had caused Israel to commit.

• • • • ESV Study Bible writes, “The worship of Baal was only a particularly bad form of idolatry practiced in Israel. Jehu has dealt with Baal worship, but he does nothing at all about the golden calves…in Bethel and Dan that Jeroboam installed after leading Israel in revolt against the house of David (1 Kgs 12:25-30). The symbolism of these calves encouraged a blurring of the distinction between Mosaic and Canaanite religion; the high god of the Canaanite pantheon, El, is frequently called ‘the bull’ in Ugaritic materials (signifying his strength and fertility), and Baal himself is also represented as a bull. Archaeologists have discovered bull icons at numerous sites in Syria-Palestine, including Byblos, Ugarit, and Hazor. Since Jehu does not abolish the golden calves in Bethel and Dan (v. 29; cf v. 31), it is surprising to find him addressed as someone who has carried out what is right (Hb yashar) in the eyes of the Lord. In other places, the authors of Kings use yashar only positively, with regard to David (1 Kgs 15:5) and the relatively good (i.e., non-idolatrous) kings of Judah (1 Kgs 15:11; 22:43; 2 Kgs 12:2; 14:3; 15:3, 34; 18:3; 22:2). It is even more surprising to find Jehu receiving a David-like dynastic promise. His descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. This is not the same thing as a promise of eternal dynasty, but it is nevertheless extraordinary.; Jeroboam was promised a dynasty like David’s if he ‘did what was right’ in the Lord’s eyes (1 Kgs 11:38), but then he failed and lost his opportunity (1 Kgs 14:8). Evidently what Jehu has done that is right (eradication of Baal worship) far outweighs what he continues to do that is wrong.”

• • • • NET Bible’s notes say, “Jehu ruled over Israel from approximately 841-814 b.c. Four of his descendants (Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah) ruled from approximately 814-753 b.c. The dynasty came to an end when Shallum assassinated Zechariah in 753 b.c.”

• • • In those days Yahweh began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael conquered several sections of the country east of the Jordan River, including all of Gilead (the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh). He conquered the area from Aroer, which is by the Arnon Valley all the way through Gilead to Bashan.

• • • • ESV Study Bible notes, “First Kings 19:15-18 pointed to a time when God’s judgment would fall on Israel because of Baal worship. Jehu would deal with those who escaped Hazael, and Elisha with those who escaped Jehu. Implicit is such an ordering was that Hazael would turn out to be the greatest destroyer of the three- something to which 2 Kings 8:12 also pointed, with its emphasis on Hazael’s aggression against Israel. He is said to have conquered Transjordan as far south as the Valley of the Arnon, the southern limit of Israelite Transjordanian territory (cf Josh 12:2)…More of Hazael’s conquests will be reported later (2 Kings 12:17-18; 13:3-7, 22, 23).”

• • • The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes are recorded in the book called, “The Annals of the Kings of Israel.” Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king. Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years in Samaria.

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