Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

2 Kings 10:1

Next

¶ And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's [children], saying,

And Ahab {H256} had seventy {H7657} sons {H1121} in Samaria {H8111}. And Jehu {H3058} wrote {H3789} letters {H5612}, and sent {H7971} to Samaria {H8111}, unto the rulers {H8269} of Jezreel {H3157}, to the elders {H2205}, and to them that brought up {H539} Ahab's {H256} children, saying {H559},

There were seventy descendants of Ach'av in Shomron. Yehu wrote letters and sent them to Shomron to the rulers of Yizre'el, to the leaders, and to the guardians of Ach'av's sons. The letters said,

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up the sons of Ahab, saying,

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 10:1

2 Kings 10:1 marks the dramatic beginning of Jehu's consolidation of power and his divinely appointed mission to eradicate the house of Ahab. This verse sets the stage for a ruthless but necessary purge, detailing the strategic move Jehu makes against the remaining heirs to the throne.

Context

Following his anointing by a prophet sent by Elisha (2 Kings 9:1-6) and his swift overthrow of King Joram (Ahab's son) and King Ahaziah of Judah, Jehu has already executed Queen Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30-37). His next target, as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-22) and reiterated to Jehu (2 Kings 9:7-8), is the entire royal lineage of Ahab. This verse reveals that Ahab had a substantial family, with "seventy sons" residing in Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jehu, still in Jezreel, initiates his plan not by direct assault on Samaria, but through a series of letters addressed to the powerful figures within the city: the "rulers of Jezreel" (likely referring to the prominent citizens or governors of the royal city), the "elders" (respected community leaders), and those responsible for raising the royal children. This approach highlights Jehu's cunning and strategic mind.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This verse initiates the fulfillment of God's severe judgment against the house of Ahab, which had plunged Israel into deep idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, under Ahab and Jezebel's influence (1 Kings 16:30-33).
  • Divine Judgment and Justice: Jehu acts as God's instrument of judgment, demonstrating that divine patience has limits and that wickedness, especially that which leads a nation astray, will face severe consequences.
  • Strategic Leadership: Jehu doesn't rush into Samaria. Instead, he uses psychological warfare and leverages existing power structures by sending letters, forcing the powerful figures within Samaria to choose sides and participate in the purge, thereby implicating them.
  • Dynastic Instability: The presence of "seventy sons" underscores the large size of the royal family, yet their fate reveals the fragility of dynastic power when divine judgment is at play.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sons" (Hebrew: בָּנִים, banim) can refer not only to direct male offspring but also to descendants, male relatives, or even heirs and protégés within a household or dynasty. While it's possible Ahab had seventy literal sons, it more broadly signifies the extensive number of male heirs and powerful family members associated with the royal line. The phrase "them that brought up Ahab's [children]" (Hebrew: אֹמְנֵי אַחְאָב, omnei Ach'av) refers to their guardians, tutors, or foster parents, who would have held significant influence and responsibility over the royal children, indicating their high status and loyalty to the current regime.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience and idolatry against God. While Jehu's actions seem extreme, they were part of God's specific plan to cleanse Israel and restore proper worship. For us today, it underscores several principles:

  1. God's Justice Prevails: Even when evil seems entrenched, God's justice will ultimately be carried out.
  2. Accountability: Leaders, especially, are held accountable for their influence on a nation or community.
  3. Strategic Action: Sometimes, significant change requires bold, decisive, and even strategic, calculated action against deeply rooted systems of sin or corruption.

The narrative of Jehu's purge illustrates God's unwavering commitment to holiness and His willingness to use various means to bring about His will, even through a ruthless instrument like Jehu.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • 1 Kings 13:32 (3 votes)

    For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which [are] in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.

  • Judges 8:30 (3 votes)

    And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

  • Judges 12:14 (2 votes)

    And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

  • 1 Kings 21:8 (2 votes)

    So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

  • 1 Kings 21:14 (2 votes)

    Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

  • 2 Chronicles 22:9 (2 votes)

    And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he [is] the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

  • 2 Kings 5:3 (2 votes)

    And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were] with the prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.