Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 10
Jehu’s speech convinced the people in Jezreel that they should support him. He showed them that, in order to end the evil rule of Ahab’s family, many people would have to die. That was what God had said in his message to Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-24).
That fact does not mean that Jehu was right to kill all these people. He was clearly a cruel and powerful man who was acting in this way in order to increase his own power. However, he managed to gain the support of the people.
Then, he acted against everyone in Jezreel who formerly had power under Ahab’s rule. He arrested Ahab’s relatives, his friends and his political advisers. Then Jehu killed them all. He would not allow anyone to remain alive who might oppose him. The inhabitants of Jezreel supported this. Many of these men were evil people who clearly deserved punishment. Later, Jehu did the same at Samaria (verse 17).
Jehu also killed another group of young people. They were relatives of Judah’s royal family, and they were trying to visit the family of Joram and Jezebel at Jezreel.
Jehu had been careful not to allow people to report the news of his revolution (compare 2 Kings 9:15). In the cities called Jezreel and Samaria, everyone knew about the death of Joram, the previous king. Elsewhere, it seems that nobody knew. So, probably, these young people knew nothing about Jehu’s revolution. However, Jehu heard that they were relatives of Ahaziah – and therefore, distant relatives of Ahab. At once, Jehu ordered his soldiers to arrest them, and then he ordered the soldiers to kill all 42 of them.
Next part: Jehonadab, son of Recab (2 Kings 10:15-16)
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