1Jehu by his letters causeth Ahab's seventy sons to be slain in Samaria. 8He excuseth the fact by the prophecy of Elijah, and destroyeth all Ahab's kindred and friends in Jezreel. 12In his way to Samaria he slayeth two and forty of Ahaziah's brethren. 15He taketh Jehonadab in the chariot with him, and destroyeth all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria. 18By subtilty he slayeth at once all Baal's worshippers, and breaketh down his images and house. 29Jehu followeth the sins of Jeroboam, but for having executed God's judgments on Ahab's house, is promised the continuance of the kingdom in his family to the fourth generation. 32Hazael smiteth Israel. 34Jehu dieth; his son Jehoahaz succeedeth him.
1AND Ahab had 1seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto 2the rulers of Jezreel, to the 3elders, and to them 4that brought up Ahab's children, saying,
1 Which doubtless were born to him of different wives; there being also under them comprehended the children of his son Joram, and of his other sons, of which Ahab was the grandfather. See verse 3.
2 Understand some excellent courtiers, who, although they had their ordinary abode and dwelling at Jezreel, yet were sent by Joram to Samaria, to look to the king’s children, while he was busy in war against the Syrians.
3 So called, either on account of their office, because they were counsellers or of their age, as they were not suitable for war, yet were able to go before the commonalty with advice and counsel, and before the youth with authority and gravity.
4 Who as overseers and guardians took care for the education and instruction of these young lords.
25Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a 6fenced city also, and armour;
5 Thus begins also the letter of the king of Syria to the king of Israel, 2 Kings 5:6.
6 Namely, at Samaria.
3Look even out the 7best and meetest of your 8master’s sons, and 9set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.
7 Hebr. that is good and just: that is, who is most suitable and meet to govern.
8 Namely, of Ahab, or of Joram.
9 He did not mean this in good earnest, but was minded to try the rulers of the Samaritans, to know how they stood affected, and with whom they sided. To set any one upon his father’s chair, is to make him king in his father’s stead. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 24 and compare verse 5 below.
4But they were 10exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, 11two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
10 Hebr. sore, sore.
11 Namely, Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of Judah, 2 Kings 9:24, 27.
5And 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.
6Then 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 12men 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 13great men of the city, which 14brought them up.
12 It is judged by the Hebrew word, that some of these sons or posterity of Ahab were come to a reasonable age; as they were probably followers of Ahab’s wickedness, so they were partakers of his punishment, according to the righteous threatening of God, Exod. 20:5; Deut. 5:9.
13 That is, the most important ones in state and dignity. Compare 2 Kings 25:9 and see the annotation.
14 Hebr. made them great.
7And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and 15slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
15 Hebr. slew, cut the throats. Also verse 14.
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 16of the gate until the morning.
16 Which was the place of judicature: see Gen. 22 on verse 17.
9And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, 17Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: 18but who slew all these?
17 That is, I pronounce you innocent and guiltless touching the death of these sons of Ahab; think not that I am come to accuse you for it: but if you will lay the blame upon any man, look upon me, who has made a covenant against my lord king Joram, yea has also slain him; but not out of mine own presumption, but according to the Lord’s determination and express command. Therefore as ye are guiltless, because ye have followed my command, so am I also, because I have followed God’s command.
18 These were smitten by the elders of Samaria, at Jehu’s command: both by the Lord’s direction, as follows.
10Know now 19that there 20shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done thata which he spake 21by his servant Elijah.
19 He testifies here publicly, though his practice might be ill construed, yet notwithstanding he had done nothing otherwise than according to the word of the Lord. See 2 Kings 9:7, 8.
20 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 56.
a 1 Kings 21:19, 21, 29.
21 Hebr. by the hand of. See Lev. 8 on verse 36.
11So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his 22great men, and his 23kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
22 Doubtless those, who by Ahab’s means, were become great and mighty in state, riches, and name.
23 Or, acquaintances.
12¶And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at 24the shearing house in the way,
24 Or, Beth-heked, that is, the house of the binding of the shepherds. Some perceive that this was a village by Samaria situated on or by the way, having its name from binding, because the shepherds bound their sheep there, when they were to be shorn.
13Jehu metb with 25the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down 26to salute the children of the 27king and the children of the queen.
b 2 Chron. 22:8.
25 Understand the sons of his brethren, 2 Chron. 22:8. See Gen. 13 on verse 8, where the word brethren is so taken.
26 Hebr. to the peace of the sons of the king, and of the sons of the queen, that is, to wish them peace and prosperity, which we call saluting, or, greeting.
27 Namely Joram’s and his wife’s children. It seems that they did not know that Ahaziah was slain by Jehu.
14And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
15¶And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son 28of Rechab coming to 29meet 30him: and he saluted him, and said to him, 31Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, 32give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
28 A famous man of the family of the Kenites, and descended from Jethro, Moses’ father in law, 1 Chron. 2:55; Jer. 35:6.
29 Hebr. bless. See Gen. 31 on verse 55.
30 Namely, Jehu.
31 That is, art thou heartily affected toward me, as I am with all my heart affected toward thee?
32 This may be taken as the words of Jehonadab; or, (as others perceive) as the words of Jehu.
16And he said, Come with me, and see my 33zeal for the LORD. So 34they made him ride in his chariot.
33 What zeal properly is, see 1 Kings 19 on verse 10.
34 Namely, his servants, footmen, or lackeys.
17And when he came to Samaria, he slewc all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed 35him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to 36Elijah.
c 2 Chron. 22:8.
35 That is, his household and family.
36 See 1 Kings 21:21.
18¶And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served 37Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him 38much.
37 See 1 Kings 16 on verse 31.
38 See the annotation on the following verse.
19Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have 39a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
39 He speaks with lies and ambiguity, (which means are not to be commended) intending to slay, or kill unto Baal all his priests, prophets, and ministers, and so to perform his great sacrifice.
20And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn 40assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
40 That is, a great feast day or festival, on which all servile works were forbidden. See Lev. 23 on verse 36.
21And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the 41house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full 42from one end to another.
41 That is, the temple of Baal.
42 Hebr. mouth to mouth. Also 2 Kings 21:16.
22And he said unto him that was over the 43vestry, Bring forth 44vestmentsd for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
43 Or, wardrobe. Understand a chamber, wherein the garments were locked up and kept, which the priests of Baal used in the worship of their idol. Other, the garment chest, or, the garments.
44 Because God had prescribed in the Old Testament a certain kind of garment to be worn by His priests, (which in the New Testament ceased with the priesthood) therefore the devil would imitate the same in his priests.
d garments, robes
23And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the 45servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
45 These he would not have to be present at this work, under this pretense, that they might not profane it by their presence, being of another religion, but in truth in order that they might not ignorantly be destroyed among the worshippers of Baal.
24And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his 46life shall be for the life 47of him.
46 That is, the soul of him, who lets one escape and does not kill him. See Gen. 19 on verse 17.
47 That is, of him that escapes. The meaning is: that if any one of the men, appointed by Jehu, would let anyone escape, he himself would die for it.
25And it came to pass, as soon as 48he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the 49guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains 50cast them out, and went to the city of the 51house of Baal.
48 Namely, the chief priest of the Baalites: or, when they, etc.
49 That is, to those fourscore men, of whom is spoken in the previous verse.
50 Understand the dead bodies of those who were slain, who were thrown away out of the city.
51 This may be understood of the same city, or of every city where there was an house of Baal. Also in the following verse. See verse 28.
26And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
27And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a 52draught house unto this day.
52 That is, privies, draught-houses, where people do ease nature; which they did in scorn and contempt of the idol and idolatry, which was performed therein. Compare Isa. 36:12.
28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
29¶Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit,e the golden calves 53that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.
e 1 Kings 12:28.
53 Namely, one in each place.
30And the LORD 54said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy 55children of the fourth generation shallf sit on the throne of Israel.
54 Namely, by someone of the prophets; as he also had received the charge by one of them, to execute this Divine vengeance, 2 Kings 9:7.
55 Hebr. sons of the fourth shall sit, etc. The fulfillment hereof, see first in Jehoahaz, below verse 35, second, in Joash, 2 Kings 13:10, third, in Jeroboam, 2 Kings 14:23, fourth, in Zachariah, 2 Kings 15:8.
f 2 Kings 15:22.
31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the 56sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
56 These sins are expressed verse 29.
32¶In those days the LORD began 57to cut Israel short: and 58Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
57 Or, to cut Israel off: that is, to recede and to diminish his borders. See the following verse. And this happened, according to the prophecy of Elisha, 2 Kings 8:12.
58 King of Syria.
33From Jordan 59eastward, all the land of 60Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from 61Aroer, which is by the river 62Arnon, even 63Gilead and Bashan.
59 Understand in regard of the situation of the land of Canaan.
60 See Gen. 31 on verse 21.
61 A city situated beyond the Jordan in the tribe of Gad; of which see Num. 32:34; Joshua 12:2.
62 See Num. 21:14; Deut. 2:36.
63 Compare this with Deut. 3:12, 13, 14, etc., and the annotation thereon.
34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written 64in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
64 See 1 Kings 14 on verse 19.
35And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
36And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.