2 Kings 10: Ahab's seventy sons, Ahaziah's relatives and the worshipers of Baal
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What happens?
Jehu writes to Samaria, where Ahab's seventy sons are being brought up, telling the leaders to set one of the sons on his father's throne and fight for their master's house. They are very afraid and say they are his servants, so he writes again, telling them to bring him the heads of their master's sons, and they slaughter the seventy and send him their heads in baskets at Jezreel. Jehu kills all who are left of Ahab's house in Jezreel, and on the road he has forty-two brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah killed at the pit of Beth Eked. He takes Jehonadab the son of Rechab into his chariot and kills all who are left of Ahab's in Samaria. Then, with cunning, he calls all who serve Baal to a great sacrifice in the house of Baal and has his guard kill them all; the house of Baal is torn down and made a latrine. Yahweh tells Jehu that because he has done well in doing what is right in Yahweh's eyes, and has done to Ahab's house all that was in Yahweh's heart, his descendants will sit on Israel's throne to the fourth generation. But Jehu is not careful to walk in Yahweh's law with all his heart, and does not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. In those days Yahweh begins to cut away parts of Israel, and Hazael strikes Israel east of the Jordan. Jehu reigns twenty-eight years.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in gold in 1 of the 36 verses: what Yahweh says to Jehu in verse 30. Verse 31, that Jehu was not careful to walk in Yahweh's law with all his heart, is the narrator's words, and so is verse 17, that Jehu's killing in Samaria was according to Yahweh's word to Elijah. Jehu's letters are in verses 2, 3 and 6, the leaders of Samaria speak among themselves in verse 4, and answer Jehu in verse 5. A messenger and Jehu speak in verse 8. Jehu speaks to the people in verses 9 and 10; what he says there about Yahweh's word is his own. Jehu and Ahaziah's brothers speak in verses 13 and 14, Jehu and Jehonadab in verses 15 and 16, and Jehu speaks to all the people in verses 18 and 19 and gives orders in verses 20 and 22 to 25. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s sons, saying,
In plain English: Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the officials of Jezreel, the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab's sons (literally: the guardians of Ahab), saying,
Good to know: The letters go to Samaria, but the Hebrew says "the officials of Jezreel". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the rulers of Samaria". The text does not explain this.
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2“Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor,
In plain English: "Now, as soon as this letter reaches you, since your master's sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons,
3select the best and fittest of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”
In plain English: choose the best and most fitting (literally: the good and the upright) of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."
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4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him! How then shall we stand?”
In plain English: But they were very, very afraid, and said, "Look, the two kings did not stand before him! How can we stand?"
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5He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”
In plain English: So the man over the household, the man over the city, the elders, and those who brought up the children sent word to Jehu: "We are your servants, and we will do everything you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes."
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6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men who are your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time.” Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.
In plain English: Then he wrote them a second letter: "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow." Now the king's sons, seventy men, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up.
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7When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.
In plain English: When the letter reached them, they took the king's sons and slaughtered them, seventy men. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.
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8A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”
In plain English: A messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning."
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9In the morning, he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?
In plain English: In the morning he went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous (or: innocent). Look, I plotted against my master and killed him. But who struck down all these?
The Hebrew word: "Righteous" is tsaddiq, which the dictionary gives as "just". This Bible says "righteous" in 179 of the 197 verses that use it, and "innocent" in 7.
What changes: Read as "righteous", Jehu tells the people they are in the right. Read as "innocent", he tells them they are not to blame. Either way, he goes on to say that he killed his master, and asks who struck down all these. Verse 7 says the men of Samaria killed the seventy.
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10Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of Yahweh’s word, which Yahweh spoke concerning Ahab’s house. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.”
In plain English: Know then that not one part of Yahweh's word, which Yahweh spoke about Ahab's house, will fail (literally: fall to the ground). Yahweh has done what he spoke through (literally: by the hand of) his servant Elijah."
Good to know: Elijah's words against the house of Ahab are in to .
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11So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him no one remaining.
In plain English: So Jehu struck down all who were left of Ahab's house in Jezreel, and all his great men, his close friends (literally: those he knew) and his priests, until he left him no survivor.
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12He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,
In plain English: He got up and set out for Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds (this Bible: the shearing house of the shepherds),
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13Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen.”
In plain English: Jehu met the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. He said, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet (literally: for the peace of) the king's sons and the sons of the queen mother (this Bible: the queen)."
Good to know: "The queen" here is gevirah, the word explained in the note on . says Jehu "found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah serving Ahaziah, and killed them".
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14He said, “Take them alive!” They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn’t leave any of them.
In plain English: He said, "Take them alive!" They took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth Eked (this Bible: of the shearing house), forty-two men. He did not leave a single one of them.
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15When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
In plain English: When he left there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him (literally: blessed him) and said to him, "Is your heart true (literally: right) with mine, as my heart is with yours?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." "If it is, give me your hand." He gave him his hand, and Jehu took him up to himself into the chariot.
Good to know: Jehonadab the son of Rechab is named again, as Jonadab, in , where his descendants, the Rechabites, say, "We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us". The text here does not say more about him.
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16He said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So they made him ride in his chariot.
In plain English: He said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh." So they had him ride in his chariot.
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17When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed them, according to Yahweh’s word which he spoke to Elijah.
In plain English: When he came to Samaria, he struck down all who were left of Ahab's in Samaria, until he had destroyed them, as Yahweh's word said, which he spoke to Elijah.
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18Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much.
In plain English: Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.
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19Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshipers, and all of his priests. Let no one be absent, for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live.” But Jehu did deceptively, intending to destroy the worshipers of Baal.
In plain English: So now call to me all the prophets of Baal, all who serve him, and all his priests. Let no one be missing, because I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." But Jehu was acting with cunning (this Bible: deceptively), so that he could destroy those who served Baal.
The Hebrew word: "Deceptively" is oqbah, which the dictionary gives as "trickery". It is in only this verse of the Bible. The text says plainly that Jehu was acting this way "intending to destroy the worshipers of Baal".
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20Jehu said, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!” So they proclaimed it.
In plain English: Jehu said, "Set apart (this Bible: Sanctify) a solemn assembly for Baal!" So they proclaimed it.
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21Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn’t come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.
In plain English: Jehu sent word through all Israel, and all who served Baal came. Not one man was left who did not come. They came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one end to the other (literally: mouth to mouth).
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22He said to him who kept the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal!” So he brought robes out to them.
In plain English: He said to the man in charge of the wardrobe, "Bring out robes for all who serve Baal!" So he brought out robes for them.
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23Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that none of the servants of Yahweh are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”
In plain English: Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab. He said to those who served Baal, "Search and see that none of Yahweh's servants are here with you, only those who serve Baal."
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24So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men outside, and said, “If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him.”
In plain English: They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, and had said, "If any of the men I am bringing into your hands escapes, the one who lets him go will give his life for that man's life (literally: his life in place of his life)."
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25As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, “Go in and kill them! Let no one escape.” So they struck them with the edge of the sword. The guard and the captains threw the bodies out, and went to the inner shrine of the house of Baal.
In plain English: As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard (literally: the runners) and the officers, "Go in and kill them! Let no one get out." So they struck them down with the edge (literally: the mouth) of the sword. The guard and the officers threw the bodies out, and went into the inner shrine (Hebrew: the city; see the note) of the house of Baal.
The Hebrew word: "Inner shrine" is word for word "the city of the house of Baal". "City" is ir, which the dictionary gives as "a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "went to the city of the house of Baal".
What changes: Read as this Bible has it, the men went into the inner part of the house of Baal. Read word for word, they went to a guarded place, a post, belonging to the house of Baal. The text does not say more.
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26They brought out the pillars that were in the house of Baal and burned them.
In plain English: They brought out the sacred pillars of the house of Baal and burned them (Hebrew: it).
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27They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day.
In plain English: They tore down the pillar of Baal, and tore down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day.
Good to know: "Latrine" is machara'ah, which the dictionary gives as "a sink". It is in only this verse of the Bible. The text does not say when "this day" was.
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28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
In plain English: So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
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29However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan.
In plain English: But Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel commit: the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan.
Good to know: Jeroboam made the two golden calves; "he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan" (, ).
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30Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in doing what is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab's house all that was in my heart, your descendants (literally: sons) to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel."
Good to know: Here the text gives Yahweh's own words to Jehu, so they are in gold. It does not say how Yahweh spoke to him. says later, "This was Yahweh's word which he spoke to Jehu ... So it came to pass." The text puts verse 30 and verse 31 side by side and does not explain more. In Yahweh says, "I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu".
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31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.
In plain English: But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel commit.
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32In those days Yahweh began to cut away parts of Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel
In plain English: In those days Yahweh began to cut away parts of Israel (literally: to cut off in Israel). Hazael struck them throughout the territory of Israel,
Good to know: In Elisha wept and told Hazael, "I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel".
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33from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
In plain English: from the Jordan eastward: all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, both Gilead and Bashan.
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34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
In plain English: The rest of what Jehu did, all his deeds and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles (literally: the matters of the days) of the kings of Israel?
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35Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Jehu slept with his fathers (or: ancestors), and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
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36The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
In plain English: Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-eight years.
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