2 Kings 10

2Ki 10:1-17.

JEHU

CAUSES

SEVENTY OF

AHAB'S

CHILDREN TO

BE

BEHEADED.

1-4. Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria--As it appears

(2Ki 10:13),

that grandsons are included it is probable that this number

comprehended the whole posterity of Ahab. Their being all assembled in

that capital might arise from their being left there on the king's

departure for Ramoth-gilead, or from their taking refuge in some of the

strongholds of that city on the news of Jehu's conspiracy. It may be

inferred from the tenor of Jehu's letters that their first intention

was to select the fittest of the royal family and set him up as king.

Perhaps this challenge of Jehu was designed as a stroke of policy on

his part to elicit their views, and to find out whether they were

inclined to be pacific or hostile. The bold character of the man, and

the rapid success of his conspiracy, terrified the civic authorities of

Samaria and Jezreel into submission.

5. he that was over the house--the governor or chamberlain of the

palace.

the bringers-up of the children--Anciently, and still also in many

Eastern countries, the principal grandees were charged with the support

and education of the royal princes. This involved a heavy expense which

they were forced to bear, but for which they endeavored to find some

compensation in the advantages of their connection with the court.

6. take ye the heads of the men, your master's sons--The barbarous

practice of a successful usurper slaughtering all who may have claims

to the throne, has been frequently exemplified in the ancient and

modern histories of the East.

8. Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate, &c.--The

exhibition of the heads of enemies is always considered a glorious

trophy. Sometimes a pile of heads is erected at the gate of the

palace; and a head of peculiarly striking appearance selected to grace

the summit of the pyramid.

9-11. said to all the people, Ye be righteous, &c.--A great

concourse was assembled to gaze on this novel and ghastly spectacle.

The speech which Jehu addressed to the spectators was artfully framed

to impress their minds with the idea that so wholesale a massacre was

the result of the divine judgments denounced on the house of Ahab; and

the effect of it was to prepare the public mind for hearing, without

horror, of a similar revolting tragedy which was soon after

perpetrated, namely, the extinction of all the influential friends and

supporters of the dynasty of Ahab, including those of the royal house

of Judah.

13, 14. We are the brethren of Ahaziah--that is, not full, but

step-brothers, sons of Jehoram by various concubines. Ignorant of the

revolution that had taken place, they were travelling to Samaria on a

visit to their royal relatives of Israel, when they were seized and put

to death, because of the apprehension that they might probably

stimulate and strengthen the party that still remained faithful in

their allegiance to Ahab's dynasty.

children of the queen--that is, of the queen mother, or regent,

Jezebel.

15-18. Jehonadab the son of Rechab--(See

1Ch 2:55).

A person who, from his piety and simple primitive manner of life

(Jer 35:1-19),

was highly esteemed, and possessed great influence in the country. Jehu

saw in a moment the advantage that his cause would gain from the

friendship and countenance of this venerable man in the eyes of the

people, and accordingly paid him the distinguished attention of

inviting him to a seat in his chariot.

give me thine hand--not simply to aid him in getting up, but for a

far more significant and important purpose--the giving, or rather

joining hands, being the recognized mode of striking a league or

covenant, as well as of testifying fealty to a new sovereign;

accordingly, it is said, "he [Jehonadab] gave him [Jehu] his hand."

2Ki 10:18-29.

HE

DESTROYS THE

WORSHIPPERS OF

BAAL.

19. call unto me all the prophets of Baal--The votaries of Baal are

here classified under the several titles of prophets, priests, and

servants, or worshippers generally. They might be easily convened into

one spacious temple, as their number had been greatly diminished both

the late King Joram's neglect and discontinuance of the worship. Jehu's

appointment of a solemn sacrifice in honor of Baal, and a summons to

all his worshippers to join in its celebration, was a deep-laid plot,

which he had resolved upon for their extinction, a measure in perfect

harmony with the Mosaic law, and worthy of a constitutional king of

Israel. It was done, however, not from religious, but purely political

motives, because he believed that the existence and interests of the

Baalites were inseparably bound up with the dynasty of Ahab and because

he hoped that by their extermination he would secure the attachment of

the far larger and more influential party who worshipped God in Israel.

Jehonadab's concurrence must have been given in the belief of his being

actuated solely by the highest principles of piety and zeal.

22. Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal--The priests

of Baal were clad, probably, in robes of white byssus while they were

engaged in the functions of their office, and these were kept under the

care of an officer in a particular wardrobe of Baal's temple. This

treacherous massacre, and the means taken to accomplish it, are

paralleled by the slaughter of the Janissaries and other terrible

tragedies in the modern history of the East.

29. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam . . . Jehu departed not from

after them--Jehu had no intention of carrying his zeal for the Lord

beyond a certain point, and as he considered it impolitic to encourage

his subjects to travel to Jerusalem, he re-established the symbolic

worship of the calves.