2 Kings 10:6

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then he wrote {H3789} a letter {H5612} the second time {H8145} to them, saying {H559}, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken {H8085} unto my voice {H6963}, take {H3947} ye the heads {H7218} of the men {H582} your master's {H113} sons {H1121}, and come {H935} to me to Jezreel {H3157} by to morrow {H4279} this time {H6256}. Now the king's {H4428} sons {H1121}, being seventy {H7657} persons {H376}, were with the great men {H1419} of the city {H5892}, which brought them up {H1431}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He wrote a second letter to them, which said, "If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey my orders, then bring the heads of your master's sons to me in Yizre'el by this time tomorrow." Now the seventy sons of the king were with the prominent men who had raised them.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

American Standard Version

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be on my side, 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, who brought them up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Kings 10:6, Jehu, newly established as king of Israel and God's instrument of judgment against the house of Ahab, intensifies his campaign to consolidate power by issuing a second, chilling demand to the elders and leaders of Samaria. This letter demands the immediate execution of Ahab's seventy sons, who were under their care, and the delivery of their heads to Jezreel by the following morning. This gruesome ultimatum serves as an undeniable test of loyalty, forcing the Samarian authorities to actively participate in the eradication of the former dynasty, thereby securing Jehu's undisputed claim to the throne and fulfilling divine prophecy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the unfolding narrative of Jehu's bloody coup, which began with his anointing by a prophet of Elisha and his subsequent assassination of King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah at Jezreel. Following these initial acts, Jehu orchestrated the death of Jezebel, further cementing his ruthless efficiency in fulfilling the divine judgment against the house of Ahab. Having already sent a first letter to the elders of Samaria, challenging them to choose a king and fight for Ahab's sons, Jehu received a response of abject fear and submission, indicating their unwillingness to resist him. This second letter, recorded in [2 Kings 10:6](/2_kings/10-6 "2 Kings 10:6 - Jehu's Second Letter"), escalates the demand from a challenge to an explicit command, leaving no ambiguity about the elders' required allegiance or Jehu's absolute authority. The immediate compliance of the elders, detailed in the subsequent verses, underscores the terror Jehu inspired and the complete collapse of the former regime's influence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the elimination of a royal dynasty often involved the systematic execution of all male heirs to prevent future challenges to the throne. The "seventy persons" mentioned here highlight the extensive nature of a royal household and the thoroughness required to eradicate a lineage completely. Samaria, as the capital city, was where the remaining royal family members would typically reside under the protection of the city's "great men" or officials, who were responsible for their upbringing and safety. Jehu's demand for the heads to be brought to Jezreel was strategically significant; Jezreel was where Joram and Jezebel had been killed, making it a symbolic center for the overthrow of Ahab's house. The act of bringing the heads served as a public display of submission and an undeniable, gruesome testament to the elders' loyalty to the new regime, implicating them directly in the coup and making retreat impossible.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme is **Divine Judgment and Fulfillment**, as Jehu acts as God's chosen instrument to bring about the prophesied destruction of Ahab's idolatrous and wicked dynasty, particularly in light of the murder of Naboth, as detailed in [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Prophecy Against Ahab"). This ruthless act directly fulfills the commission given to Jehu in [2 Kings 9:7-10](/2_kings/9-7 "2 Kings 9:7-10 - Jehu's Anointing and Commission"). Another prominent theme is the **Ruthless Consolidation of Power**, where Jehu employs extreme measures to eliminate all potential rivals and secure his reign, forcing others to participate in his bloody agenda. This highlights the **Fear and Submission** he instilled, demonstrating the overwhelming power he wielded over the Samarian elders, who chose self-preservation over loyalty to the fallen house. Finally, the mention of "seventy persons" emphasizes **The Extent of a Royal House** and the comprehensive nature of the judgment against Ahab's lineage, leaving no remnant to challenge Jehu's divinely sanctioned authority.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mine (Hebrew, _lî_):** This possessive pronoun, used in the phrase "If ye be mine," signifies absolute ownership and allegiance. It's a demand for complete loyalty, implying that the elders must transfer their fealty from the house of Ahab to Jehu without reservation. It establishes a stark binary: either they belong to Jehu, or they are his enemies.
* **Hearken (Hebrew, _šāmaʿ_):** Often translated as "hear" or "listen," in this context, "hearken unto my voice" carries the stronger connotation of "obey" or "submit to my authority." It's not merely about hearing the words but about actively complying with the command, signifying a willingness to act according to Jehu's will. This term is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe obedience to God's commands.
* **Heads (Hebrew, _rāʾš_):** The literal "heads" of the king's sons serve as the most graphic and undeniable proof of their execution. In ancient Near Eastern warfare and power transitions, displaying the heads of defeated enemies or rivals was a common, brutal practice to demonstrate victory, power, and the complete eradication of a threat. It was a public, visceral symbol of conquest and submission.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying,"**: This clause establishes the continued communication between Jehu and the Samarian elders, indicating a deliberate and calculated sequence of events. The "second time" emphasizes Jehu's persistence and escalation of demands, following their initial fearful but non-committal response to his first letter.
* **"If ye [be] mine, and [if] ye will hearken unto my voice,"**: This is Jehu's conditional demand for allegiance. It presents the elders with an ultimatum: prove your loyalty to me by obeying my command. It leaves no room for neutrality, forcing them to make an explicit choice between their former masters and their new, powerful ruler. This phrase sets the stage for the gruesome test of their obedience.
* **"take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time."**: This is the chilling command itself. The elders are not merely to allow the executions but to actively participate by "taking" the heads, making them complicit in the bloody purge. The specific demand for the "heads" as proof, and the deadline of "to morrow this time" in "Jezreel," underscores Jehu's urgency, ruthlessness, and strategic intent to consolidate power at the symbolic center of the coup.
* **"Now the king's sons, [being] seventy persons, [were] with the great men of the city, which brought them up."**: This parenthetical detail provides crucial context. It highlights the large number of royal heirs, emphasizing the thoroughness of the purge. It also identifies their custodians – "the great men of the city" (likely the elders and officials addressed in the letter) – who were responsible for their care and upbringing, thus placing the direct responsibility for their execution squarely on those to whom Jehu wrote.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its stark message. **Irony** is evident in Jehu's demand for loyalty: he asks the elders to demonstrate their allegiance to him by betraying their former masters and committing a horrific act. Their "loyalty" to Jehu is born out of fear and disloyalty to the previous regime. There is also a strong sense of **Foreshadowing** as the brutal demand in this verse inevitably leads to the gruesome fulfillment in the subsequent verses, building narrative tension. The sheer scale and brutality of the demand—the execution of seventy royal heirs and the delivery of their heads—can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole** in its shock value, emphasizing the extreme nature of Jehu's purge. Finally, the "heads" themselves serve as powerful **Symbolism**, representing not only the complete eradication of Ahab's dynasty but also the absolute submission and complicity of the Samarian leadership to Jehu's new, ruthless authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the severe and uncompromising nature of divine judgment against persistent wickedness and idolatry. Jehu, though acting with extreme brutality, is presented as God's instrument for fulfilling long-standing prophecies against the house of Ahab, whose sins, particularly those of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, had reached a tipping point. The narrative underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over human kingdoms and His capacity to raise up and depose rulers to accomplish His purposes, even through violent means that challenge human sensibilities. It highlights the principle that rebellion against God's covenant and persistent idolatry will inevitably lead to devastating consequences, demonstrating that God's justice, though sometimes delayed, is always certain and comprehensive.

* [1 Kings 21:21-24](/1_kings/21-21 "1 Kings 21:21-24 - Prophecy of Ahab's Destruction")
* [2 Kings 9:7-10](/2_kings/9-7 "2 Kings 9:7-10 - Jehu's Commission to Destroy Ahab's House")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Curses for Disobedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Jehu's purge, particularly the chilling demand in 2 Kings 10:6, forces us to grapple with the profound and often uncomfortable aspects of divine judgment in the Old Testament. While we are not called to replicate Jehu's methods, the passage serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of sin and idolatry in God's eyes and the certainty of His justice. It challenges us to consider the nature of true allegiance: to whom do we give our ultimate loyalty? The elders of Samaria chose to obey Jehu out of fear for their lives, but our call is to obey God out of love and reverence, recognizing His ultimate authority and righteousness. This narrative also prompts us to reflect on the transient nature of earthly power and the ultimate sovereignty of God, who raises up and brings down kingdoms according to His divine will. It encourages us to seek justice and righteousness in our own spheres of influence, understanding that God is ultimately in control, even amidst the chaos of human history.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jehu's demand for the heads of Ahab's sons challenge our understanding of divine justice and its execution?**
* **What does the elders' immediate compliance reveal about the nature of power and fear in the ancient world, and how might this resonate with modern contexts of authority and submission?**
* **In what ways does this passage remind us of the importance of true spiritual allegiance, and how can we ensure our loyalty is primarily to God?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jehu demand the heads of the king's sons, and why were there seventy of them?**

Answer: Jehu demanded the heads of the king's sons as undeniable, gruesome proof of the Samarian elders' complete allegiance to him and their active participation in the eradication of the house of Ahab. In the ancient Near East, displaying the heads of defeated enemies or rival claimants was a common practice to signify total victory, consolidate power, and deter future opposition. The number "seventy" indicates the extensive nature of the royal household and the thoroughness of Jehu's purge. Royal families often had numerous offspring through multiple wives and concubines, and the elimination of all male heirs was crucial to prevent any future challenges to the newly established dynasty. This act ensured that no descendant of Ahab remained to claim the throne, thereby solidifying Jehu's reign.

**Was Jehu's action justified, given its brutality?**

Answer: From a biblical perspective, Jehu's actions, though undeniably brutal, are presented as divinely sanctioned and necessary for the fulfillment of God's judgment against the wicked house of Ahab. The prophet who anointed Jehu explicitly commissioned him to "strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the Lord" ([2 Kings 9:7](/2_kings/9-7 "2 Kings 9:7 - Jehu's Commission")). Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into deep idolatry, persecuted God's prophets, and committed grave injustices, such as the murder of Naboth ([1 Kings 21](/1_kings/21 "1 Kings 21 - Naboth's Vineyard")). While the methods are shocking to modern sensibilities, the narrative emphasizes that Jehu was an instrument of God's righteous wrath against a dynasty that had profoundly corrupted Israel and defied the Lord. The text frames it as a fulfillment of prophecy, not merely a personal act of vengeance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The brutal judgment enacted by Jehu against the house of Ahab, though a specific historical event of divine wrath against idolatry, foreshadows the ultimate and perfect judgment of God through Jesus Christ. While Jehu's reign was marked by bloodshed and the establishment of a new, albeit temporary, earthly dynasty, Christ's coming ushers in an eternal kingdom that is "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")). Jehu demanded allegiance through fear and the shedding of blood, but Jesus calls for allegiance through love, self-sacrifice, and the shedding of His own blood for the forgiveness of sins ([Ephesians 1:7](/ephesians/1-7 "Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption Through His Blood")). The eradication of Ahab's lineage points to the complete triumph over sin and death achieved by Christ, who, as the true Son of David, establishes an eternal and righteous dynasty that will never pass away ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - The Eternal Kingdom of Christ")). Ultimately, all earthly powers and allegiances will bow before the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, who will execute perfect justice and reign forever ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus' Exaltation")).

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

Job 21:19

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].

Luke 9:50

And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Deuteronomy 5:9

Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me,

Numbers 25:4

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

Matthew 12:30

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

2 Kings 9:32

And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who [is] on my side? who? And there looked out to him two [or] three eunuchs.

Isaiah 14:21

Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.