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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

In 2 Kings 10:6, Jehu, recently anointed king of Israel, continues his brutal consolidation of power and execution of God's judgment against the house of Ahab. This verse records his second, even more demanding, letter to the elders and leaders of Samaria, where Ahab’s seventy sons were being cared for. Jehu demands undeniable proof of their allegiance: the heads of the king's sons, to be brought to him in Jezreel by the next morning.

Context

This verse is a crucial step in Jehu's divinely appointed mission to eradicate the dynasty of King Ahab, as prophesied by Elijah and reaffirmed by the prophet who anointed Jehu (1 Kings 21:21; 2 Kings 9:7-10). Having already killed King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah, and orchestrated the death of Jezebel in Jezreel (2 Kings 9:36), Jehu turns his attention to the remaining royal heirs. His first letter to the Samarian elders challenged them to choose a king and fight, to which they responded with fear and submission (2 Kings 10:5). This second letter escalates the demand, leaving no room for doubt about their loyalty or Jehu's resolve. The seventy sons represent the full extent of Ahab's royal lineage, and their elimination would ensure Jehu's undisputed claim to the throne of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Fulfillment: Jehu acts as an instrument of God's justice, systematically bringing to an end the wicked dynasty of Ahab, a consequence of their idolatry and particularly the murder of Naboth. This ruthless act serves to fulfill specific prophecies.
  • Ruthless Consolidation of Power: Jehu's methods are stark and uncompromising. By demanding the elders themselves execute the royal heirs, he forces them to implicate themselves in the coup, ensuring their loyalty and eliminating any potential future claimants to the throne.
  • Fear and Submission: The elders' swift compliance with Jehu's gruesome demand, as seen in the subsequent verses, highlights the overwhelming fear Jehu inspired and the absolute power he asserted.
  • The Extent of a Royal House: The mention of "seventy persons" underscores the large size of a royal household in ancient Israel and the extensive reach of Ahab's family, all of whom were marked for destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase, "If ye [be] mine, and [if] ye will hearken unto my voice," is a direct challenge to the loyalty of the city's leaders. It's a demand for absolute allegiance, leaving no middle ground. Jehu forces them to choose between their past masters and their new, powerful ruler. The command "take ye the heads" is stark and unambiguous, reflecting the brutal realities of power transitions in the ancient Near East.

Practical Application

While the actions of Jehu are severe and reflect a specific historical context of divine judgment, the passage reminds us of several enduring principles:

  • God's justice is certain, even if its execution can be harsh and uncomfortable for human understanding. The consequences of persistent rebellion and idolatry are severe.
  • Leadership often involves making difficult and sometimes morally ambiguous decisions, though Jehu's actions are clearly within the scope of his divine commission for judgment.
  • The narrative serves as a powerful historical account of the rise and fall of dynasties in Israel, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly power and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all rulers and nations.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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.
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