_THE HEADS OF SEVENTY OF AHAB'S SONS ARE BROUGHT TO JEHU: HE PUTS ALL THE PRIESTS OF BAAL TO DEATH, IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL AT SAMARIA; BUT CONTINUES HIMSELF TO WORSHIP THE GOLDEN CALVES. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY HIS SON JEHOAHAZ._ _Before Christ 884._... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT TO SAMARIA, UNTO THE RULERS OF JEZREEL— From the context some have thought, that the letters were sent to the rulers of Samaria; and this they think the more probable, as the LXX render it _Samaria,_ and not _Jezreel._ Le Clerc conjectures, that the _rulers of Jezreel,_ who had the care of Ahab... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE THE HEADS, &C.— Besides the accomplishment of the divine decree, Jehu had a further design in requesting this cruel service of the rulers, and elders, and great men of the nation; namely, hereby to involve them in the same crime and conspiracy with himself. For by prevailing with them to mur... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHONADAB, THE SON OF RECHAB— See the notes on Jeremiah 35 and Bedford's Script. Chronol. l. vi. c. 2. To _give the hand,_ signifies to _promise._ When, therefore, we are told, that Jehu asked Jehonadab to give him his hand, we are not to suppose it was that he might assist him in getting up into th... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THERE WAS NOT A MAN LEFT THAT CAME NOT— It may be asked, how all the worshippers of Baal could be induced, after Jehu's conduct, to assemble together? To which it may be replied, that as Jehu was a person of known indifference in matters of religion, (see the note on 2 Kings 10:31.) who in t... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING FORTH VESTMENTS— It was the custom of almost all idolaters, to be very curious about the external pomp of their ceremonies, wherein, indeed, the chief part of their worship consisted. All the priests of Baal were clothed in fine linen, and their chief priest, no doubt, had some particular orna... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CAPTAINS CAST THEM OUT— _And the captains were dismissed._ Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—Jehu with indefatigable diligence pursues his blow; and as he drives to Samaria, 1. He meets Jehonadab the son of Rechab, a man of eminent piety, coming to congratulate him on his accession, and to encourage... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JEHU TOOK NO HEED, &C.— Jehu indeed made great ostentation of his _zeal for the Lord;_ and it must be acknowledged, that for his performance of the divine commands in this respect, he received commendations from God: yet he was still a bad man, though he did well in executing that which was righ... [ Continue Reading ]