2 Kings 10:3

_NOW 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 FENCED CITY ALSO, AND ARMOUR;_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-14 In the most awful events, though attended by the basest crimes of man, the truth and justice of God are to be noticed; and he never did nor can command any thing unjust or unreasonable. Jehu destroyed all that remained of the house of Ahab; all who had been partners in his wickedness. When we think upon the sufferings and miseries of mankind, when we look forward to the resurrection and last judgment, and think upon the vast number of the wicked waiting their awful sentence of everlasting fire; when the whole sum of death and misery has been considered, the solemn question occurs, Who slew all these? The answer is, SIN. Shall we then harbour sin in our bosoms, and seek for happiness from that which is the cause of all misery?...

Jehu, placing his adversaries’ advantages before them in the most favorable light, called upon them to decide what they would do. The unscrupulous soldier shows shrewdness as well as courage, a sharp wit as well as a bold heart....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 10:1 THE REIGN OF JEHU OVER ISRAEL. 2 KINGS 10:1 The revolution initiated by the destruction of Joram and Jezebel is here traced through its second and its third stages. The immediate question, after Joram's death, was—Would any member of his family rise up as a claimant of the throne, and dispute the succession with Jehu? Ahab had seventy male descendants, all of them resident in Samaria: would there be any one among their number bold enough to come forward and assert his hereditary fight? Jehu regarded this as the most pressing and imminent danger, wherefore his first step was to challenge such action, and either pr

LOOK EVEN OUT THE BEST AND MEETEST OF YOUR MASTER'S SONS,.... Most fit for government, whether on account of age or proper qualifications, and wisdom, courage, c. AND SET HIM ON HIS FATHER'S THRONE proclaim him king: AND FIGHT FOR YOUR MASTER'S HOUSE; that the crown may continue in his family; all which he did not desire might be, but in this sarcastic and sneering manner dares them to do it....

2. JEHU'S JUDGMENTS, BAAL-WORSHIP DESTROYED, AND HIS DEATH CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The judgment upon the house of Ahab (2 Kings 10:1)_ 2. The relations of Ahaziah slain (2 Kings 10:12; 2 Chronicles 22:8) 3. Jehonadab spared (2 Kings 10:15) 4. The Baal worship destroyed (2 Kings 10:18) 5. Jehu's record (2 Kings 10:29) 6. Israel cut short ...

DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB AND OF THE BAAL WORSHIPPERS. The same source is continued, but 2 Kings 10:28 are from a Deuteronomist. The whole story is one of the most terrible in the OT, Ahab had a large family in Samaria. Jehu with a sort of rude chivalry invited the elders of the city to choose one of them as king, and to fight for the throne. But the cowardly rulers promised submission, and at Jehu's command sent the heads of the seventy sons to Jezreel in baskets (2 Kings 10:7). A further massacre of all Ahab's adherents at Jezreel followed, and of forty-two of the family of Ahaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 10:13). Jehu next ...

_look even_[R.V. LOOK YE] _out the best_ The insertion of -even" gives a false emphasis, and the conjunction of the original is merely the mark of the apodosis, and is properly left unrendered in English. No doubt in the popular mind some prince had been marked out as heir to the throne, and some order of succession may have been indicated by Ahab himself, if his elder sons died without issue, but at such a juncture he would be chosen who would rally to him most assistance. Jehu sends his message like one perfectly confident in the effect it will produce....

III. THE AFTERMATH OF THE _COUP_ 10:1-27 In chapter 10 the historian discusses some of the consequences of the revolution of 841 B.C. He discusses the bloody massacre of the house of Omri (2 Kings 10:1-11) and of the royal house of Judah (2 Kings 10:12-14). He then inserts a note to show how Jehu gained the support of the more conservative elements of the nation (2 Kings 10:15-17). The chapter reaches its climax in the account of how Jehu deceitfully gathered and then slew the Baal worshipers (2 Kings 10:18-27). A. THE EXTERMINATION OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI 10:1-11 TRANSLATION

JEHU'S EXTERMINATION OF BAAL WORSHIP 1. Ahab.. sons] These were probably his grandchildren rather than his children. UNTO THE RULERS OF JEZREEL] LXX has 'unto the rulers of Samaria,' which the sense requires....