2 Kings 10:5

KJV

And he that [was] over the house, and he that [was] over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up [of the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We [are] thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou [that which is] good in thine eyes.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he that was over the house {H1004}, and he that was over the city {H5892}, the elders {H2205} also, and the bringers up {H539} of the children, sent {H7971} to Jehu {H3058}, saying {H559}, We are thy servants {H5650}, and will do {H6213} all that thou shalt bid {H559} us; we will not make any {H376} king {H4427}: do {H6213} thou that which is good {H2896} in thine eyes {H5869}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the administrator of the palace, the governor of the city, the leaders and the children's guardians sent this message to Yehu: "We are your servants. We will do everything you ask us to; we won't appoint anyone king. Do as you see fit."

Berean Standard Bible

So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

American Standard Version

And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following Jehu's swift and violent purge of the Omride dynasty's kings, the most powerful officials in Samaria—including the chief palace administrator, the city's governor, the respected elders, and the royal tutors—sent a message of complete and abject submission to him. They declared themselves Jehu's loyal servants, pledging unconditional obedience to his every command, explicitly renouncing any intention to enthrone another king, and granting him full discretion to act as he saw fit, thereby acknowledging his unchallenged control over the kingdom's future.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment immediately following Jehu's initial, decisive acts of judgment against the Omride dynasty. Having personally executed King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah (as detailed in [2 Kings 9:24-27](/2_kings/9-24-27 "2 Kings 9:24-27 - Joram and Ahaziah Slain by Jehu")), Jehu sent a provocative letter to the officials in Samaria, challenging them to choose the "best and fittest" of Ahab's seventy sons and fight for the throne ([2 Kings 10:1-4](/2_kings/10-1-4 "2 Kings 10:1-4 - Jehu's Challenge to Samaria")). This challenge was a test of loyalty and an invitation for resistance. [2 Kings 10:5](/2_kings/10-5 "2 Kings 10:5 - Samarian Officials Submit to Jehu") records the officials' immediate, fearful, and comprehensive response, which was one of total capitulation. Their submission sets the stage for the subsequent massacre of Ahab's remaining royal heirs, demonstrating Jehu's ruthless efficiency in consolidating his power and fulfilling divine prophecy.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in [2 Kings 10](/2_kings/10 "2 Kings 10 - Jehu's Purge of Ahab's House") unfold in the 9th century BCE within the Northern Kingdom of Israel, with Samaria serving as its capital city and the seat of the Omride dynasty. Dynastic transitions in the ancient Near East were frequently violent, often involving the complete eradication of the previous royal family to eliminate any potential rivals or future claims to the throne. Jehu's anointing by a prophet, as recorded in [2 Kings 9:1-10](/2_kings/9-1-10 "2 Kings 9:1-10 - Jehu Anointed King and Commissioned"), provided a divine mandate for his actions, a factor that would have been well understood and feared by the officials. The officials mentioned—the "one over the house" (chief steward or prime minister), the "one over the city" (city governor), the "elders" (local civic and religious leaders), and the "bringers up of the children" (royal tutors or guardians)—represented the entire spectrum of administrative, political, and social authority within Samaria. Their collective and immediate submission underscores the overwhelming fear Jehu instilled and their pragmatic decision to preserve their own lives and positions amidst a violent regime change.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the broader narrative of [2 Kings](/2_kings "2 Kings - The Reigns of Kings in Israel and Judah"). Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, as Jehu's actions are presented as the direct fulfillment of God's long-standing prophecy against the idolatrous and wicked Omride dynasty (e.g., [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21-24 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab's House")). The immediate and comprehensive capitulation of Samaria's powerful officials highlights the theme of **Power and Authority**, demonstrating Jehu's ruthless efficiency in seizing and consolidating control. Furthermore, the officials' fear-driven response emphasizes the themes of **Fear and Expediency**, revealing how easily human loyalty can shift in the face of overwhelming force and the instinct for self-preservation. This moment also marks a critical **Political Transition**, signaling the definitive end of one royal house and the beginning of another, albeit one established through bloodshed and divine decree.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Hebrew, _bayith'_ H1004):** In the phrase "he that was over the house," _bayith_ refers to the royal palace or household. The individual in this position was the chief steward or prime minister, the highest administrative official in the king's court. This person managed the king's domestic affairs, finances, and often served as a key advisor, holding immense power and influence. Their submission signifies the collapse of the entire royal administration and the king's personal sphere of authority.
* **elders (Hebrew, _zâqên'_ H2205):** The "elders" were respected, often older, leaders within the community, serving as civic and religious authorities. They represented the traditional leadership and the collective will of the people. Their inclusion among those who submitted indicates that the decision to capitulate was not merely an administrative one but had the backing, or at least the acquiescence, of the broader societal leadership in Samaria.
* **do thou that which is good in thine eyes (Hebrew, _ṭôwb'_ H2896 + _ʻayin'_ H5869):** This idiomatic phrase, combining "good" and "eyes," signifies complete surrender of agency and authority. It is an expression of absolute deference, granting Jehu carte blanche to act according to his own judgment and will, without any expectation of challenge, input, or even moral constraint from the officials. It underscores their total capitulation and their willingness to accept whatever fate Jehu decreed for the kingdom and the Omride dynasty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he that [was] over the house, and he that [was] over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up [of the children], sent to Jehu":** This opening clause meticulously identifies the senders as the most powerful and influential figures in Samaria, representing the entire civic, administrative, and royal establishment. The "one over the house" was the chief palace administrator, while the "one over the city" was the governor. The "elders" represented the traditional community leadership, and the "bringers up of the children" were the royal tutors or guardians responsible for the king's heirs. Their collective sending of a message signifies a unified and comprehensive response from the Samarian power structure, indicating the gravity of Jehu's challenge and their immediate assessment of his overwhelming power.
* **"saying, We [are] thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us":** This declaration is one of complete and abject submission, a formal acknowledgment of Jehu's mastership and their own subservience. The promise to "do all that thou shalt bid us" is an unconditional pledge of obedience, signaling their abandonment of any resistance or independent action. It conveys their willingness to comply with whatever Jehu commands, thereby seeking to appease him and preserve their own lives.
* **"we will not make any king":** This is a crucial statement of abdication regarding their traditional role in royal succession. It explicitly renounces any intention to enthrone one of Ahab's remaining seventy sons, directly responding to Jehu's challenge in [2 Kings 10:2-3](/2_kings/10-2-3 "2 Kings 10:2-3 - Jehu's Challenge to Samaria") where he dared them to set up a king and fight. This statement effectively hands over the fate of the Omride dynasty to Jehu, signaling their recognition that the previous line was doomed.
* **"do thou [that which is] good in thine eyes":** This final phrase solidifies their complete surrender and grants Jehu full discretionary power. It invites him to act according to his own judgment and will, without any expectation of consultation, opposition, or even moral constraint from their side. It is the ultimate expression of capitulation, placing their lives and the future of the kingdom entirely in his hands, recognizing his absolute authority in the wake of his decisive actions.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Synecdoche** by listing specific high-ranking officials ("he that was over the house," "he that was over the city," "the elders," "the bringers up [of the children]") to represent the entire power structure of Samaria. This highlights the comprehensive and unified nature of the city's submission to Jehu. The inclusion of "the bringers up [of the children]" is a potent example of **Pathos**, evoking the vulnerability of the royal heirs and the officials' abandonment of their sacred duty to protect them, making their surrender even more impactful. The phrase "do thou that which is good in thine eyes" functions as **Hyperbole**, expressing an extreme degree of submission that goes beyond mere obedience, effectively granting Jehu absolute, unchecked authority. The rapid succession of events in this chapter, from Jehu's challenge to the officials' immediate capitulation, also creates a sense of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader knows Jehu's ruthless intentions, while the officials are merely trying to appease him and save their own lives.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the theme of divine judgment and the swift, often brutal, nature of its execution through human instruments. The complete and immediate capitulation of Samaria's powerful officials to Jehu underscores the irresistible force of God's sovereign will, even when enacted through violent means. The officials' fear-driven submission highlights the fragility of human power and loyalty in the face of overwhelming force, especially when that force is perceived to be divinely sanctioned. Their willingness to abandon the royal line and grant Jehu absolute authority demonstrates a pragmatic, self-preservation instinct, revealing the moral compromises that can occur during times of political upheaval. Ultimately, this event is a pivotal moment in the fulfillment of God's long-standing prophecy against the idolatrous house of Ahab, bringing an end to a corrupt dynasty that had led Israel astray into Baal worship and injustice.

* [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21-24 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab's House"): This passage details Elijah's prophecy of utter destruction against Ahab's house, including the cutting off of every male and the consumption of Jezebel by dogs, which Jehu is now fulfilling.
* [2 Kings 9:7-10](/2_kings/9-7-10 "2 Kings 9:7-10 - Jehu's Commission to Destroy Ahab's House"): Here, the prophet's servant commissions Jehu, explicitly stating his divine mandate to "strike down the house of Ahab your master" and avenge the blood of the prophets.
* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man"): "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." This proverb reflects the officials' fear-driven submission, contrasting it with the security found in trusting God.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The dramatic scene in [2 Kings 10:5](/2_kings/10-5 "2 Kings 10:5 - Samarian Officials Submit to Jehu") offers a stark reflection on the nature of power, fear, and moral compromise. We observe how quickly human allegiances can shift when faced with overwhelming force, prompting individuals to prioritize self-preservation over loyalty or principle. The officials' abject submission, granting Jehu carte blanche, serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of unchecked authority and the ease with which power can corrupt both those who wield it and those who submit to it out of fear. Spiritually, this passage challenges us to consider the foundations of our own allegiances. Do we submit to worldly pressures and fears, or is our ultimate loyalty reserved for God, even when it demands courage and resistance against prevailing currents? The narrative, while descriptive of a violent historical event, implicitly calls us to examine the ethical implications of our choices in moments of crisis and to discern where true authority lies, recognizing that true peace and security are found not in appeasing human power but in faithful obedience to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the officials' immediate and complete submission to Jehu illustrate the corrupting influence of fear in leadership and decision-making?**
* **In what ways might we, in contemporary contexts, be tempted to compromise our principles or allegiances out of a desire for self-preservation or perceived expediency?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the transient nature of human power and its often brutal manifestations, especially when divorced from divine principles?**
* **How can we ensure our ultimate loyalty remains with God, rather than succumbing to the "fear of man" (as in [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man")) in our own lives, particularly when faced with difficult choices?**

### FAQ
**Who were "the bringers up of the children" and why is their submission significant?**

Answer: The "bringers up of the children" (Hebrew: _'omnim_) were the royal tutors, guardians, or foster-fathers responsible for the care, education, and protection of the king's sons. Their role was crucial, as they were entrusted with the future of the royal line and the continuity of the dynasty. Their inclusion among the officials who sent a message of submission to Jehu is highly significant because it demonstrates that even those directly responsible for safeguarding the potential heirs to the throne had abandoned any hope of resistance or continuation of the Omride dynasty. Their capitulation signaled that there was no one left willing or able to defend Ahab's lineage, effectively clearing the path for Jehu's subsequent purge of the royal family.

**Why did the officials in Samaria submit so readily to Jehu?**

Answer: The officials' rapid and complete submission to Jehu was primarily driven by overwhelming fear and pragmatism. Jehu had already demonstrated his ruthless efficiency by executing King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah (as seen in [2 Kings 9:24-27](/2_kings/9-24-27 "2 Kings 9:24-27 - Joram and Ahaziah Slain by Jehu")). He then sent a provocative letter to Samaria, challenging them to defend Ahab's seventy sons ([2 Kings 10:1-4](/2_kings/10-1-4 "2 Kings 10:1-4 - Jehu's Challenge to Samaria")). Faced with Jehu's proven resolve, military backing, and the clear intent to eradicate the Omride dynasty, the officials likely assessed that resistance was futile and would only lead to their own destruction. Their submission was a strategic move to preserve their lives and positions within the new regime, choosing expediency over loyalty to a doomed royal house.

**Does this verse imply divine approval of Jehu's violent actions?**

Answer: While this specific verse records the officials' human response to Jehu, the broader narrative of [2 Kings](/2_kings "2 Kings - The Reigns of Kings in Israel and Judah") clearly presents Jehu's actions as a fulfillment of divine judgment against the house of Ahab. God had explicitly commissioned Jehu through a prophet to "strike down the house of Ahab your master" and avenge the blood of His servants ([2 Kings 9:7-8](/2_kings/9-7-8 "2 Kings 9:7-8 - Jehu's Divine Commission")). Therefore, the text portrays Jehu as an instrument of God's wrath, bringing about the prophesied end of a deeply idolatrous and wicked dynasty (see [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21-24 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Elijah's Prophecy Against Ahab's House")). While the Bible records these events as divinely ordained, it does not necessarily endorse every aspect of human violence or cruelty involved, but rather highlights God's sovereign control over history and His justice against persistent evil.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [2 Kings 10:5](/2_kings/10-5 "2 Kings 10:5 - Samarian Officials Submit to Jehu") details a moment of intense political upheaval and violent judgment in Israel's history, its Christ-centered fulfillment is found not in the emulation of Jehu's ruthless power, but in the ultimate and complete submission to the true King, Jesus Christ. The officials' declaration, "We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us," foreshadows the willing, joyful surrender of believers to the Lordship of Christ. Unlike Jehu, whose authority was earthly and enforced by fear, Jesus' authority is divine, eternal, and draws willing submission through love, truth, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the call to discipleship in [Matthew 16:24](/matthew/16-24 "Matthew 16:24 - Take Up Your Cross") and the invitation to find rest in His easy yoke ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Labor")). Furthermore, the end of the corrupt Omride dynasty, orchestrated by divine judgment, points to the ultimate and final judgment executed by Christ, who will bring an end to all evil and establish His eternal, righteous kingdom (as described in [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ the Warrior King") and [Revelation 21:1-5](/revelation/21-1-5 "Revelation 21:1-5 - The New Heaven and New Earth")). The fear-driven capitulation to Jehu contrasts sharply with the Spirit-empowered and loving submission of those who confess Jesus as [Lord, to the glory of God the Father](/philippians/2-11 "Philippians 2:11 - Every Tongue Confess Jesus as Lord"), recognizing His perfect reign and redemptive work on the cross ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). In Christ, the "good in thine eyes" is not arbitrary power, but the perfect, redemptive will of a loving God, revealed in His Son, who came not to destroy but to save ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - God Sent His Son to Save")) and to establish a kingdom of peace and righteousness ([Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Prince of Peace")).

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

1 Kings 20:32

So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and [put] ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, [Is] he yet alive? he [is] my brother.

1 Kings 20:4

And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I [am] thine, and all that I have.

Joshua 9:11

Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

2 Kings 18:14

And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

Joshua 9:8

And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?

Joshua 9:24

And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

Joshua 9:25

And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.