Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Vers. 1. SEventy sons] Sons and grand-sons.
them] Heb. nourishers.
V. 2. assoon] See Chap. 5. v. 6.
seeing, &c.] All this was to try how they stood affected to Jehu.
chariots, &c.] All things fit for war.
V. 3. set him, &c.] Proclaim him king.
V. 4. two kings] One of Israel, the other of Judah, Chap. 9. v. 21.
V. 5. over the house] The kings house.
We are thy servants] At thy command, acknowledging the▪ our king.
which is good] Whatsoever pleaseth thee.
V. 6▪ mine] Heb. for me.
great men] In dignity, honour, command, prudence, wealth, and other like excellencies. brought them up] Heb. made them great; For education is a means of making great, Isai. 1. 2.
V. 7. to Jezreel] For so he required, v. 6. Jehu remained at Jezreel, and would not go to Samaria, till he had this evidence of their fidelity.
V. 8. of the gate] The place of Justice, where people assembled together, Deut. 22. 15. Ruth 4. 1.
V. 9. Ye be righteous] Ye may think your selves more righteous then I am, in that I slew the king.
but who, &c.] They who slew these, may seem to have their hands as deep in blood as I.
V. 10. know now] Here he freeth himself and them from guilt of blood, by declaring the ground of what he did.
fall unto the earth] This phrase is used of such things as perish, 1 King. 1. 52. See 1 Sam. 3. 19.
by] Heb. by the hand of.
his servant Elijah] 1 King. 21. 29. His prophecy was publike (Chap. 9. 25.) and therefore his name mentioned, rather then the young prophets, who in private gave the charge to Jehu, Chap. 9. v. 7.
V. 11. his great men] Whom Ahab had raised, and put in great places. We call such, The kings creatures.
kinsfolks] Or, acquaintance.
his priests] Whom he had preferred to their places.
V. 12. to Samaria] See v. 7.
shearing-house] Heb. house of shepherds binding sheep; Where they are wont to binde and shear sheep.
in the way] Leading to Samaria.
V. 13. met] Heb. found.
brethren] Sons of his brethren, 2 Chron. 22. 8. So Lot.
Compare Gen. 12. 5. with 13. 8. The title is oft taken for any kinsfolks, 2 Sam. 19. 12.
to salute] Heb. to the peace of, &c. To wish peace and prosperity to them.
children, &c.] Not knowing that Ahaziah and they were slain.
V. 14. Take them alive] That the cause of flaying them might be made known to them; which was, affinity with the house of Ahab.
V. 15. lighted on] Heb. found.
Jehonadab the son of Rechab] Of the Kenite, who descended from Moses his father-in-law (Judg. 1. 16. and 4. 11.) They were a pious generation, who joyned themselves to the people of God, 1 Chron. 2. 55. Jehonadab was a man of much prudence. See Jer. 35. 6, &c.
he saluted him] Heb. blessed. Jehu blessed Jehonadab.
Is thine heart right?] Dost thou in truth affect me, as I do thee?
V. 16. Come with me] Jehu sought countenance by the company of Jehonadab, whom all the people had in high account.
they made him] Jehu's attendance moved him to accompany Jehu, and helped him up into the chariot.
V. 17. destroyed him] Ahab, and all that belonged to him.
V. 18. and said] To make all Baals worshippers assemble to him, v. 19.
Ahab served Baal] See 1 King. 16. 31.
a little] In comparison of that which Jehu means to do.
V. 19. all the prophets of Baal] Which pretend to be inspired by him.
all his servants] Which professe him to be their lord.
all his priests] Which offer sacrifice to him.
V. 20. Proclaim] Heb. sanctifie. Or, sanctifie a set day, as in the law is appointed by the LORD, no servile work to be done therein, Deut. 16. 8. So Exod. 32. 5. Levit. 23. 36. Joel. 1. 14.
V. 21. worshippers] Servants, prophets and priests, as v. 19.
house of Baal] The temple dedicated to his worship; as the house of the LORD. See 1 King. 8. 16.
full from one end to another] Or, so full, that they stood mouth to mouth: So full, as their faces or mouths were close together; and it was full from corner to corner, 2 King. 21. 16.
V. 22. the vestry] The place where the idolatrous vestments were laid up.
Bring forth vestments] That thereby the worshippers of Baal might be distinguished from others.
V. 23. went] To see the number of them.
Search] For Jehu would have none but those idolaters to be slain.
V. 24. they went in] The worshippers of Baal.
fourscore men] To watch without, that none might slee away.
into your hands] By bringing them into the house of Baal.
his life, &c.] Heb. soul. He shall die for it, 1 King. 20. 39, 40.
life] Heb. soul.
V. 25. he had, &c.] The chief priest of Baal.
to the guard, &c.] Officers, besides the fourscore men, v. 24.
the edge] Heb. the mouth.
cast them] Being slain, they cast their dead bodies out of the house and city.
to the city] To every city where an house of Baal was.
Images] Heb. statues. All sorts of idolatrous statues.
V. 27. image of Baal] That principall statue, which was said to be Baal himself.
a draught-house] A jakes, for the greater contempt, Ezr. 6. 11. Dan. 2. 5. and 3. 29. See Levit. 26. 30.
V. 28. out of Israel] Leaving no relique of that idolatry which Ahab and his posterity most doted upon, v. 18.
V. 29. the sins] See 1 King. 15. 26.
golden calves] 1 King. 12. 28, 29.
V. 30. the Lord said] By the ministery of a prophet.
of the fourth] See this accomplished, Chap. 15, 12.
V. 31. took no heed] Heb. observed not.
sins of Jeroboam] See the Notes on 1 King. 16. 19.
V. 32. In those days] Even while Jehu lived.
to cut Israel short] Heb. to cut off the ends; By suffering Haza…l to take away some of their coasts.
V. 33. east-ward] Heb. toward the rising of the sun. From that land which Joshua conquered, and divided to nine tribes and an half. See Josh. 12. 1, &c.
all the land of Gilead] All that countrey which by Moses was distributed to Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh, Deut. 3. 12, 13. In this land was a mountain (Gen 31. 21.) on which a city was built (Josh. 17. 1.) So as the mountain, city and countrey, were all called Gilead. Of the land of Gilead there were many cities, Josh. 13. 25.
from Aroer] A city in the farthest coast of Gad, Num. 23. 34. Deut. 2. 36. A native or inhabitant thereof, was called, an Arcerite, 1 Chron. 11. 44.
even Gilead and Bashan] Or, even to Gilead and Bashan.
Gilead] Here it signifieth a city, Gilead and Bashan were two fair cities in Manasseh, Josh. 17. 1.
The fore-mentioned particulars shew, That Hazael had cut Israel short indeed, as v. 32.
V. 34. chronicles] Civill records. See 1 King. 16. 27.
V. 35. in Samaria] See 1 King. 16. 28, 29.
V. 36. the time] Heb. the days were.