_A.M. 3120. B.C. 884._ Jehu destroys all the family of Ahab, 2 Kings 10:1. And the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, _2Ki 10:13, 2 Kings 10:14. Takes Jehonadab with him, 2 Kings 10:15. Causes the priests and worshippers of Baal to be slain, 2 Kings 10:18. Destroys the images and house of Baal, 2 K... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahab had seventy sons_ Grandsons are probably comprehended here under the name of sons, as is usual in the Scriptures: though, by several wives, he might have as many sons as Gideon had. These sons or grandsons were now in Samaria, either because they had been bred up there, that being the chief ci... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fight_ ye _for your master's house_ This he said, because, perhaps, he had received notice of their intentions to do so, and that they were consulting about a successor to Joram: or to try them, whether they would do so, or would be true to him and his designs: or, which is still more likely, he in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, two kings stood not before him_ All the power and interest of two kings, either in Jezreel or in the army, could not prevent his executing his design, his killing them both, and invading the kingdom of one of them. It is true, he surprised these kings, which considerably weakens their argum... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that was over the house_ The chief governor of the king's palace. _He that was over the city_ The chief magistrate, or military governor. _We will do all that thou shalt bid us_ They propose no conditions or delays, but submit all to his mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He wrote a letter the second time_ Thus Jezebel is requited for her letter, directed in like manner to the elders of Naboth's city, whereby his life was wickedly taken away: and it is probable that some of these elders were concerned in that very business, which makes the judgment of God more remar... [ Continue Reading ]
_They took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons_ Having been wickedly obsequious to Jezebel's order for the murder of Naboth, now, by the same base spirit, they are as pliable to Jehu, and as ready to obey his orders for the murder of Ahab's sons. From this example, princes may learn two import... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lay them at the entering in of the gate_ The place of judicature, to signify that this was an act of God's righteous judgment: and this being the place of public concourse for justice and other business, and where people were continually passing and repassing, the laying them there was to expose th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said to all the people, Ye be righteous_ This is spoken ironically: as much as to say, You may look upon me as a very wicked man, for rebelling against my master and killing him: but look here; see, your chief men, the confidants and favourites of Joram, have slain seventy of his sons committed... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Jehu slew all his great men_ Whom Ahab had advanced and made great in wealth, or honour and quality; who had been partners with him in his sins, and were likely to avenge Joram's death. _And his priests_ Who had served him in his idolatrous worship, and confirmed him in it. Or, _his chief office... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he arose, and came to Samaria_ Having finished his work in Jezreel, he went to prosecute it in the chief city of his kingdom, which most needed reformation. _Jehu met the brethren of Ahaziah_ Not strictly such; for his brethren, properly speaking, had been carried captive, and, it seems, killed... [ Continue Reading ]
_He lighted on Jehonadab_ A Kenite, (1 Chronicles 2:55,) and a man of singular prudence and piety, as appears from this history, and from Jeremiah 35:6; from him descended the race of the Rechabites. _And he saluted him_ That is, Jehu saluted Jehonadab. It is likely Jehonadab was in great favour wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_He slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria_ Either all his household, or, rather, all his kindred and relations, though more remote from him. This he did, no doubt, under pretence of zeal for God, and to fulfil the prophecy of Elijah; but there is too much reason to apprehend, from several of h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehu gathered all the people together_ By their representatives, their elders, or rulers, as was usual, to whom he imparts his mind, and who, being generally corrupt, and mere time-servers, and such as had no sense of religion, made no opposition to his resolution, but seemed to comply with it. _Ah... [ Continue Reading ]
_Call unto me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants_ Either, 1st, All his _ministers_, of whom it seems there were several sorts, of which two are here distinctly mentioned, his _prophets_ and _priests;_ and the rest, of the inferior sort, may be comprehended under the general title of _ser... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehu said, Proclaim_, &c. Hebrew, _sanctify._ Prepare yourselves and all things necessary for this solemn day, and sacrifice, and feast, which I intend to keep. _There was not a man left that came not_ It may seem strange, after what Jehu had done in destroying the family of Ahab, that the worshipp... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, Bring forth vestments_ Sacred garments, such as were used by the priests, and others of God's ministers in his service; whence idolaters borrowed the custom of using such garments in the worship of their false gods. _For all the worshippers of Baal_ It can hardly be supposed, that absolute... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jehonadab_ Whom the Baalites, possibly, did not know, and therefore suspected nothing inimical to their worship: or, if any of the more sagacious began to suspect any thing, it was now too late to amend their error. _Look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord_ Intimating... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they went in to offer sacrifices_ When some went to the altar to offer in the name of the rest. _Jehu appointed fourscore men without_ Far more being, doubtless, in readiness to assist them in case of any opposition. _As he had made an end of offering_ That is, as the chief priest of Baal had... [ Continue Reading ]
_The images of the house of Baal_ A collection of different images. _The image of Baal_ The chief image, which they worshipped more than the rest. _And brake down the house of Baal_ As, no doubt, they did the rest of the houses of Baal in Israel. _And made it a draught-house_ A sink or common shore;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehu departed not from them_ He was partial in his reformation, and did not put away all the evil, because his heart was not right with God. He departed from the sins of Ahab, but not from the sins of Jeroboam: discarded Baal, but adhered to the calves. The worship of Baal was indeed the greater ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said unto Jehu_ By some prophet. _Because thou hast done well_, &c. That is, in part. The extirpating of idolaters and idolatry was a thing so far right in God's eyes, idolatry being an iniquity which he visits as surely and severely as any other, and which is a source of a variety of othe... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Jehu took no care to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel_ He abolished the worship of Baal, but did not keep up the worship of God, nor walk in his law. He showed great zeal and care for the rooting out of a false religion; but in the true religion he showed no care, took no heed: was not... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days_ In the time of Jehu's life and reign, 2 Kings 10:34. _The Lord began to cut Israel short_ Either to diminish the number of the people by cutting them off, or to straiten their borders. _Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel_ In their borders, or the outermost part of their la... [ Continue Reading ]