2 Kings 10

2 Kings 10:1

SEventy sons] Sons and grand-sons.

them] Heb. nourishers.

2 Kings 10:2

assoon] See Chap. 5. v. 6.

seeing, &c.] All this was to try how they stood affected to Jehu.

chariots, &c.] All things fit for war.

2 Kings 10:3

set him, &c.] Proclaim him king.

2 Kings 10:4

two kings] One of Israel, the other of Judah, Chap. 9. v. 21.

2 Kings 10:5

over the house] The kings house.

We are thy servants] At thy command, acknowledging the our king.

which is good] Whatsoever pleaseth thee.

2 Kings 10:6

mine] Heb. for me.

great men] In dignity, honour, command, prudence, wealth, and other like excellencies. brought them up] Heb. made them great; For education is a means of making great, Isaiah 1:2.

2 Kings 10:7

to Jezreel] For so he required, v. 6. Jehu remained at Jezreel, and would not go to Samaria, till he had this evidence of their fidelity.

2 Kings 10:8

of the gate] The place of Justice, where people assembled together, Deuteronomy 22:15. Ruth 4:1.

2 Kings 10:9

Ye be righteous] Ye may think your selves more righteous then I am, in that I slew the king.

but who, &c.] They who slew these, may seem to have their hands as deep in blood as I.

2 Kings 10:10

know now] Here he freeth himself and them from guilt of blood, by declaring the ground of what he did.

fall unto the earth] This phrase is used of such things as perish, 1 Kings 1:52. See 1 Samuel 3:19.

by] Heb. by the hand of.

his servant Elijah] 1 Kings 21:29. His prophecy was publike (Chap. 9. 25.) and therefore his name mentioned, rather then the young prophets, who in private gave the charge to Jehu, Chap. 9. v. 7.

2 Kings 10:11

his great men] Whom Ahab had raised, and put in great places. We call such, The kings creatures.

kinsfolks] Or, acquaintance.

his priests] Whom he had preferred to their places.

2 Kings 10:12

to Samaria] See v. 7.

shearing-house] Heb. house of shepherds binding sheep; Where they are wont to binde and shear sheep.

in the way] Leading to Samaria.

2 Kings 10:13

met] Heb. found.

brethren] Sons of his brethren, 2 Chronicles 22:8. So Lot.

2 Kings 10:14

Take them alive] That the cause of flaying them might be made known to them; which was, affinity with the house of Ahab.

2 Kings 10:15

lighted on] Heb. found.

Jehonadab the son of Rechab] Of the Kenite, who descended from Moses his father-in-law (Judg. 1. 16. and 4. 11.) They were a pious generation, who joyned themselves to the people of God, 1 Chronicles 2:55. Jehonadab was a man of much prudence. See Jeremiah 35:6, &c.

he saluted him] Heb. blessed. Jehu blessed Jehonadab.

Is thine heart right?] Dost thou in truth affect me, as I do thee?

2 Kings 10:16

Come with me] Jehu sought countenance by the company of Jehonadab, whom all the people had in high account.

they made him] Jehu’s attendance moved him to accompany Jehu, and helped him up into the chariot.

2 Kings 10:17

destroyed him] Ahab, and all that belonged to him.

2 Kings 10:18

and said] To make all Baals worshippers assemble to him, v. 19.

Ahab served Baal] See 1 Kings 16:31.

a little] In comparison of that which Jehu means to do.

2 Kings 10:19

all the prophets of Baal] Which pretend to be inspired by him.

all his servants] Which professe him to be their lord.

all his priests] Which offer sacrifice to him.

2 Kings 10:20

Proclaim] Heb. sanctifie. Or, sanctifie a set day, as in the law is appointed by the LORD, no servile work to be done therein, Deuteronomy 16:8. So Exodus 32:5. Leviticus 23:36. Joel. 1. 14.

2 Kings 10:21

worshippers] Servants, prophets and priests, as v. 19.

house of Baal] The temple dedicated to his worship; as the house of the LORD. See 1 Kings 8:16.

full from one end to another] Or, so full, that they stood mouth to mouth: So full, as their faces or mouths were close together; and it was full from corner to corner, 2 Kings 21:16.

2 Kings 10:22

the vestry] The place where the idolatrous vestments were laid up.

Bring forth vestments] That thereby the worshippers of Baal might be distinguished from others.

2 Kings 10:23

went] To see the number of them.

Search] For Jehu would have none but those idolaters to be slain.

2 Kings 10:24

they went in] The worshippers of Baal.

fourscore men] To watch without, that none might slee away.

into your hands] By bringing them into the house of Baal.

his life, &c.] Heb. soul. He shall die for it, 1 King. 20. 39, 40.

life] Heb. soul.

2 Kings 10:25

he had, &c.] The chief priest of Baal.

to the guard, &c.] Officers, besides the fourscore men, v. 24.

the edge] Heb. the mouth.

cast them] Being slain, they cast their dead bodies out of the house and city.

to the city] To every city where an house of Baal was.

Images] Heb. statues. All sorts of idolatrous statues.

2 Kings 10:27

image of Baal] That principall statue, which was said to be Baal himself.

a draught-house] A jakes, for the greater contempt, Ezra 6:11. Daniel 2:5. and Daniel 3:29. See Leviticus 26:30.

2 Kings 10:28

out of Israel] Leaving no relique of that idolatry which Ahab and his posterity most doted upon, v. 18.

2 Kings 10:29

the sins] See 1 Kings 15:26.

golden calves] 1 King. 12. 28, 29.

2 Kings 10:30

the Lord said] By the ministery of a prophet.

of the fourth] See this accomplished, Chap. 15, 12.

2 Kings 10:31

took no heed] Heb. observed not.

sins of Jeroboam] See the Notes on 1 Kings 16:19.

2 Kings 10:32

In those days] Even while Jehu lived.

to cut Israel short] Heb. to cut off the ends; By suffering Hazal to take away some of their coasts.

2 Kings 10:33

east-ward] Heb. toward the rising of the sun. From that land which Joshua conquered, and divided to nine tribes and an half. See Josh. 12. 1, &c.

all the land of Gilead] All that countrey which by Moses was distributed to Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh, Deuteronomy 3:12-13. In this land was a mountain (Genesis 31:21.) on which a city was built (Joshua 17:1.) So as the mountain, city and countrey, were all called Gilead. Of the land of Gilead there were many cities, Joshua 13:25.

from Aroer] A city in the farthest coast of Gad, Numbers 23:34. Deuteronomy 2:36. A native or inhabitant thereof, was called, an Arcerite, 1 Chronicles 11:44.

even Gilead and Bashan] Or, even to Gilead and Bashan.

Gilead] Here it signifieth a city, Gilead and Bashan were two fair cities in Manasseh, Joshua 17:1.

The fore-mentioned particulars shew, That Hazael had cut Israel short indeed, as v. 32.

2 Kings 10:34

chronicles] Civill records. See 1 Kings 16:27.

2 Kings 10:35

in Samaria] See 1 King. 16. 28, 29.

2 Kings 10:36

the time] Heb. the days were.