2 Kings 10:1-17

Jehu’s purges of the royal families 10:1-17

Jehu challenged the nobles of Samaria and Jezreel who were rearing Ahab’s 70 male descendants to select an heir and to battle Jehu. This would decide whether Ahab’s house or Jehu’s would rule Israel. Rather than fight a battle they were sure they would lose, they submitted to Jehu and slew Ahab’s sons. In the ancient Near East conquering kings sometimes piled the heads of their defeated foes at the city gate to show their power and to discourage future rebellion. [Note: Luckenbill, 1:213; Gray, p. 500.] Jehu then proceeded to execute the nobles who had killed Ahab’s sons. However, in this purge Jehu demonstrated too much zeal. God judged Jehu’s own dynasty later for these unlawful assassinations (cf. Hosea 1:4). Jehu was wise and obedient to kill Ahab’s sons (cf. 2 Samuel 1:14-15), but he overstepped his authority by killing the nobles.

"Jehu’s killings exceed reform and become atrocities, . . . a fact Hosea 1:4-5 makes clear. Eventually, Jehu becomes very much like those he replaces, which makes him more of a political opportunist than a catalyst for change." [Note: House, p. 287.]

Jehu also wiped out the members of Ahab’s family who were still alive in the Southern Kingdom, whom God evidently brought together to make Jehu’s job easier (2 Kings 10:12-14). [Note: See J. M. Miller, "The Fall of the House of Ahab," Vetus Testamentum 17 (1967):307-24.]

Jonadab also rejoiced in the destruction of Ahab’s line, though he may not have approved of all Jehu’s killing (2 Kings 10:15-17). Other Scripture describes Jonadab as a faithful follower of Yahweh who observed the Mosaic Law strictly (cf. Jeremiah 35:6-7).