2 Kings 10:2-3

2, 3 .

As soon as this letter cometh Most expositors have regarded this letter of Jehu as ironical. Thus Kitto: “There was a latent irony in this letter, for the writer must well have known the real state of the case, and how little likely it was that they would take up the cause of a fallen house, known to have been doomed of God.” But whatever Jehu may have known or thought of their probable feeling and action in the case, the language of this epistle, particularly the closing challenge fight for your master’s house is that of bold and menacing defiance rather than of irony, and involves an order for them either to surrender or else prepare for war. Bahr paraphrases it thus: “I am king; but if ye, who have in your possession the chariots, and horses, and arms, are desirous of placing a prince of the house of Ahab on the throne, you thereby begin a war with me.” Very likely he expected to intimidate them, and bring them to submission by this threat.