2 Kings 10:14

KJV

And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, [even] two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, Take {H8610} them alive {H2416}. And they took {H8610} them alive {H2416}, and slew {H7819} them at the pit {H953} of the shearing house {H1044}, even two {H8147} and forty {H705} men {H376}; neither left {H7604} he any {H376} of them.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Take them alive," said Yehu. They took them alive, forty-two men, slaughtered them and threw them into the shearing shed's pit; he spared not one of them.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

American Standard Version

And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 10:14 vividly portrays a chilling episode in Jehu's divinely commissioned purge of the Omride dynasty and Baal worship from Israel. This verse specifically details Jehu's command to capture and subsequently execute forty-two relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah at a significant landmark, the "pit of the shearing house." This act underscores the ruthless thoroughness of Jehu's mission to eradicate all vestiges of Ahab's influence and its associated idolatry, serving as a stark demonstration of God's uncompromising judgment against persistent wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of Jehu's violent ascent to power and his divinely mandated purge. Immediately preceding this, Jehu has already executed King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah, along with the infamous Queen Jezebel, fulfilling specific prophecies against the house of Ahab. The chapter opens with Jehu's cunning strategy to eliminate Ahab's seventy sons (or descendants) by having their heads sent to him in baskets, demonstrating his ruthless efficiency and commitment to the complete eradication of the Omride line. The forty-two men in this verse are encountered by Jehu as he journeys from Jezreel to Samaria, indicating that his purge is not confined to the capital but extends to anyone associated with the condemned dynasty, even those from the allied kingdom of Judah. This event highlights the comprehensive and unsparing nature of the judgment being enacted.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Omride dynasty, particularly under Ahab and Jezebel, had plunged Israel into deep idolatry, promoting the worship of Baal and Asherah, and persecuting God's prophets. This spiritual apostasy, coupled with political corruption and injustice, had incurred severe divine wrath, prophesied by Elijah in [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab"). Jehu's anointing by a prophet sent by Elisha (as detailed in [2 Kings 9:6-10](/2_kings/9-6 "2 Kings 9:6-10 - Jehu's Anointing and Commission")) was specifically for the purpose of executing this judgment. The forty-two men were relatives of Ahaziah, King of Judah, whose mother, Athaliah, was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel ([2 Kings 8:26](/2_kings/8-26 "2 Kings 8:26 - Ahaziah's Lineage")). Their visit to Samaria, likely to greet the royal family, placed them unwittingly in the path of Jehu's purge. The "pit of the shearing house" was likely a well-known landmark, perhaps a large cistern or water source near a sheep-shearing facility, making it a conspicuous and grim site for such a public execution, emphasizing the finality of the act.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Kings and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Judgment and Prophetic Fulfillment**, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to punishing idolatry and wickedness, particularly the deep-seated apostasy of the Omride house, as foretold by Elijah. Secondly, it underscores the **Thoroughness of the Purge**, as Jehu leaves "neither left he any of them," emphasizing the comprehensive and unsparing nature of the divine judgment against all connected to the condemned dynasty. This thoroughness was seen as necessary to cleanse the land of Baal worship, as further evidenced by Jehu's subsequent actions in [2 Kings 10:28](/2_kings/10-28 "2 Kings 10:28 - Jehu Eradicates Baal Worship"). Thirdly, the incident highlights the **Consequences of Association**, showing that even familial ties, especially to those under divine wrath, could lead to severe repercussions, even for those not directly involved in the Omride's primary offenses.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"Take them alive" (Hebrew, _tifsum chayyim'_):** This command from Jehu is significant. The Hebrew verb תִּפְשׂוּ (tifsum) means "to seize," "to grasp," or "to capture." The addition of חַיִּים (chayyim), meaning "alive" or "living," emphasizes the specific instruction: not merely to kill them on sight, but to apprehend them while they were still living. This detail suggests a deliberate, controlled, and perhaps even public execution rather than a chaotic massacre. It ensured that none could escape and that the full number of those targeted would be accounted for, underscoring Jehu's methodical and comprehensive approach to the purge. It also allowed for a more organized slaughter, as opposed to a chaotic battle.
* **"pit of the shearing house" (Hebrew, בֵּית־עֵקֶד הָרֹעִים, _beit-eqed ha-ro'im'_):** This phrase literally translates to "house of the binding/gathering of the shepherds." A "shearing house" or "sheepfold" was a place associated with agricultural activity, life, and the provision of sustenance (wool, meat). The mention of a "pit" (בֵּית־עֵקֶד, _beit-eqed_ can refer to a cistern or well) within such a context is grimly ironic. A place typically associated with the care of flocks and the collection of their produce becomes a site of mass slaughter and burial. This specific geographical detail adds a stark, almost ritualistic, element to the execution, marking it as a memorable and terrible event in the landscape. It signifies the complete reversal of expectation, turning a place of life into a place of death, further emphasizing the severity of the judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, Take them alive."**: This opening clause highlights Jehu's direct and authoritative command. It reveals his strategic intent to ensure the complete capture of the targeted individuals before their execution. This was not a spontaneous act of violence but a calculated move to prevent escape and ensure the thoroughness of the purge, emphasizing Jehu's control over the situation and his unwavering commitment to his mission.
* **"And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house,"**: This clause describes the immediate and obedient execution of Jehu's command. The phrase "took them alive" reiterates the prior instruction, confirming that the men were captured before their demise. The specific location, "the pit of the shearing house," is crucial. As discussed in the key word analysis, this agricultural site, typically associated with life and productivity, becomes a gruesome execution ground, adding a chilling irony and marking the event with a specific, recognizable landmark. The verb "slew" (וַיִּשְׁחָטוּם, _vayyishchatu_m) is a strong term, often used for ritual slaughter, emphasizing the decisive and complete nature of the killing.
* **"[even] two and forty men; neither left he any of them."**: This final clause provides the precise number of victims, "two and forty men," underscoring the scale of the massacre. The concluding phrase, "neither left he any of them," powerfully emphasizes the absolute thoroughness and totality of the purge. It signifies that Jehu's mission was not merely to eliminate a few key figures but to utterly eradicate all those connected to the condemned house of Ahab, leaving no survivors from this particular group. This detail reinforces the theme of comprehensive divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of 2 Kings 10:14 employs several potent literary devices to convey its stark message. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the "pit of the shearing house," a place typically associated with life, sustenance, and the gathering of flocks, is transformed into a site of mass execution. This stark contrast between expectation and reality amplifies the horror and finality of the event. Furthermore, the passage uses **Emphasis** through repetition and strong concluding statements. Jehu's command to "Take them alive" is immediately followed by the confirmation that "they took them alive," underscoring the precise and deliberate nature of the act. The concluding phrase, "neither left he any of them," serves as a powerful hyperbole or **Exaggeration** to stress the absolute completeness of the slaughter, leaving no doubt about the comprehensive nature of Jehu's purge. This narrative technique serves to highlight the severity of the divine judgment being enacted and the unsparing zeal of Jehu.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This grim passage, while challenging to modern sensibilities, serves as a profound testament to God's absolute holiness and His uncompromising judgment against entrenched sin, particularly idolatry and the systemic wickedness of a ruling dynasty that led His people astray. It illustrates that divine justice is not merely punitive but also purificatory, aiming to cleanse the land and restore covenant faithfulness. The thoroughness of Jehu's purge, though executed with human ruthlessness, is presented as the fulfillment of God's prophetic word against the house of Ahab, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises and warnings. It reminds us that God takes sin seriously and that persistent rebellion against Him will ultimately incur His righteous wrath.

* [1 Kings 21:21-22](/1_kings/21-21 "1 Kings 21:21-22 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab's House")
* [Deuteronomy 13:12-18](/deuteronomy/13-12 "Deuteronomy 13:12-18 - Dealing with Idolatrous Cities")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the immediate context of 2 Kings 10:14 is a specific historical act of divine judgment in ancient Israel, its underlying principles offer profound spiritual insights for believers today. This passage reminds us of the profound seriousness of sin, especially idolatry, in God's eyes. God's holiness demands a response to wickedness, and His justice ensures that persistent rebellion will not go unpunished. For us, this translates into a call for radical commitment to spiritual purity and an uncompromising rejection of anything that competes for God's rightful place in our lives. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any "idols" – anything we prioritize over God – and to pursue a thorough "purge" of such influences. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of discernment in our associations, not in a judgmental sense, but in understanding that alignment with ungodliness can have spiritual ramifications, urging us to choose companions and influences that draw us closer to Christ and His kingdom. We are called to be distinct, set apart for God's purposes, and to participate in the spiritual battle against the "powers of this dark world" ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Spiritual Warfare")).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the thoroughness of Jehu's purge against the house of Ahab challenge my own approach to dealing with sin in my life?**
* **In what ways might I be subtly aligning myself with "idols" or worldly influences that need to be "purged" from my life?**
* **How does this passage deepen my understanding of God's holiness and His justice, even when His methods seem harsh to human eyes?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of these 42 men, and why were they killed?**

Answer: These forty-two men were relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah, who was himself a descendant of Ahab through his mother Athaliah ([2 Kings 8:26](/2_kings/8-26 "2 Kings 8:26 - Ahaziah's Lineage")). Their significance lies in their familial connection to the condemned Omride dynasty. Jehu's mission, divinely commissioned through the prophet Elisha, was to utterly destroy the house of Ahab due to their extreme idolatry and wickedness, particularly their promotion of Baal worship in Israel ([2 Kings 9:7-9](/2_kings/9-7 "2 Kings 9:7-9 - Jehu's Commission to Destroy Ahab's House")). The killing of these relatives, even those from Judah, demonstrated the comprehensive nature of God's judgment and Jehu's zeal to eradicate all vestiges of Ahab's influence, leaving no one connected to the cursed lineage. Their presence in Samaria, likely on a visit, made them vulnerable targets in this sweeping purge.

**Was Jehu's act of killing these 42 men justified?**

Answer: From the biblical narrative's perspective, this act is presented as a direct fulfillment of God's judgment against the house of Ahab. The text frames Jehu as an instrument of divine wrath, specifically chosen to execute the prophecies made against Ahab's dynasty by Elijah ([1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab's House")). While the methods were brutal and reflect the harsh realities of ancient Near Eastern warfare and justice, the narrative emphasizes that Jehu was acting under divine commission to cleanse Israel of deep-seated idolatry and wickedness. It's crucial to understand that the Bible describes what happened and how it was understood by the biblical authors as God's judgment, rather than necessarily endorsing all aspects of Jehu's character or methods as morally perfect. Indeed, later in [Hosea 1:4](/hosea/1-4 "Hosea 1:4 - God's Judgment on Jehu's House"), God pronounces judgment on Jehu's house for the "blood of Jezreel," which some interpret as a condemnation of Jehu's excessive zeal or the mixed motives that may have accompanied his obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The brutal judgment enacted by Jehu in 2 Kings 10:14, though rooted in a specific historical context of divine wrath against idolatry, points forward to the ultimate and perfect judgment executed by Jesus Christ. Jehu was an imperfect instrument, a human agent tasked with a physical purge of evil; however, Christ is the divine Son, the perfect King and Judge who purifies not with a sword of steel but with the sword of truth and the fire of the Holy Spirit. The thoroughness of Jehu's purge foreshadows the complete and final eradication of sin and evil that Christ accomplishes. On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment against sin, becoming the ultimate sacrifice that cleanses us from all unrighteousness ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Jesus' Blood")). He is the one who "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Furthermore, Christ's return will usher in the final judgment, where all evil and rebellion will be definitively purged from creation, not just a dynasty, but every spiritual foe ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ's Triumphant Return and Judgment")). While Jehu's actions were a temporal and physical cleansing, Christ's work provides eternal, spiritual purification and the ultimate triumph over sin, death, and the devil, fulfilling the deepest need for God's justice and holiness in a redemptive and comprehensive way.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 11:1

¶ And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

1 Kings 20:18

And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

2 Kings 10:6

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye [be] mine, and [if] ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, [being] seventy persons, [were] with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

2 Kings 8:18

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 22:10

¶ But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

2 Chronicles 22:8

And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.

2 Kings 10:10

Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done [that] which he spake by his servant Elijah.