mh_parser/vol_split/12 - 2Kings/Chapter 10.xml

<div2 id="iiKi.xi" n="xi" next="iiKi.xii" prev="iiKi.x" progress="66.51%" title="Chapter X">
<h2 id="iiKi.xi-p0.1">S E C O N D   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iiKi.xi-p0.2">CHAP. X.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xi-p1">We have in this chapter, I. A further account of
Jehu's execution of his commission. He cut off, 1. All Ahab's sons,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.1-2Kgs.10.10" parsed="|2Kgs|10|1|10|10" passage="2Ki 10:1-10">ver. 1-10</scripRef>. 2. All Ahab's
kindred, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.11-2Kgs.10.14 Bible:2Kgs.10.17" parsed="|2Kgs|10|11|10|14;|2Kgs|10|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:11-14,17">ver. 11-14,
17</scripRef>. 3. Ahab's idolatry: his zeal against this he took
Jonadab to be witness to (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.15-2Kgs.10.16" parsed="|2Kgs|10|15|10|16" passage="2Ki 10:15,16">ver. 15,
16</scripRef>), summoned all the worshippers of Baal to attend
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.18-2Kgs.10.23" parsed="|2Kgs|10|18|10|23" passage="2Ki 10:18-23">ver. 18-23</scripRef>) and slew
them all (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.24-2Kgs.10.25" parsed="|2Kgs|10|24|10|25" passage="2Ki 10:24,25">ver. 24, 25</scripRef>),
and then abolished that idolatry, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.26-2Kgs.10.28" parsed="|2Kgs|10|26|10|28" passage="2Ki 10:26-28">ver. 26-28</scripRef>. II. A short account of the
administration of his government. 1. The old idolatry of Israel,
the worship of the calves, was retained, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.29-2Kgs.10.31" parsed="|2Kgs|10|29|10|31" passage="2Ki 10:29-31">ver. 29-31</scripRef>. 2. This brought God's
judgments upon them by Hazael, with which his reign concludes,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.32-2Kgs.10.36" parsed="|2Kgs|10|32|10|36" passage="2Ki 10:32-36">ver. 32-36</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10" parsed="|2Kgs|10|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 10" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiKi.xi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.1-2Kgs.10.14" parsed="|2Kgs|10|1|10|14" passage="2Ki 10:1-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.10.1-2Kgs.10.14">
<h4 id="iiKi.xi-p1.11">Death of Ahab's Sons; the Death of Ahaziah's
Brethren. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p1.12">b. c.</span> 884.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xi-p2">1 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 <i>children,</i>
saying,   2 Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing
your master's sons <i>are</i> with you, and <i>there are</i> with
you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;   3
Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set
<i>him</i> on his father's throne, and fight for your master's
house.   4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold,
two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?   5
And he that <i>was</i> over the house, and he that <i>was</i> over
the city, the elders also, and the bringers up <i>of the
children,</i> sent to Jehu, saying, We <i>are</i> thy servants, and
will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do
thou <i>that which is</i> good in thine eyes.   6 Then he
wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye <i>be</i>
mine, and <i>if</i> ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the
heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by
to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, <i>being</i> seventy
persons, <i>were</i> with the great men of the city, which brought
them up.   7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to
them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and
put their heads in baskets, and sent him <i>them</i> to Jezreel.
  8 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They
have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them
in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
  9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and
stood, and said to all the people, Ye <i>be</i> righteous: behold,
I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all
these?   10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth
nothing of the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p2.1">Lord</span>,
which the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p2.2">Lord</span> spake concerning the
house of Ahab: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p2.3">Lord</span> hath
done <i>that</i> which he spake by his servant Elijah.   11 So
Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and
all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he
left him none remaining.   12 And he arose and departed, and
came to Samaria. <i>And</i> as he <i>was</i> at the shearing house
in the way,   13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of
Judah, and said, Who <i>are</i> ye? And they answered, We
<i>are</i> the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the
children of the king and the children of the queen.   14 And
he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them
at the pit of the shearing house, <i>even</i> two and forty men;
neither left he any of them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p3">We left Jehu in quiet possession of
Jezreel, triumphing over Joram and Jezebel; and we must now attend
his further motions. He knew the whole house of Ahab must be cut
off, and therefore proceeded in this bloody work, and did not do it
deceitfully, or by halves, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.48.10" parsed="|Jer|48|10|0|0" passage="Jer 48:10">Jer.
xlviii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p4">I. He got the heads of all the sons of Ahab
cut off by their own guardians at Samaria. Seventy sons (or
grandsons) Ahab had, Gideon's number, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.8.30" parsed="|Judg|8|30|0|0" passage="Jdg 8:30">Judg. viii. 30</scripRef>. In such a number that bore
his name his family was likely to be perpetuated, and yet it is
extirpated all at once. Such a quiver full of arrows could not
protect his house from divine vengeance. Numerous families, if
vicious, must not expect to be long prosperous. These sons of Ahab
were now at Samaria, a strong city, perhaps brought thither upon
occasion of the war with Syria, as a place of safety, or upon
notice of Jehu's insurrection; with them were the rulers of
Jezreel, that is, the great officers of the court, who went to
Samaria to secure themselves or to consult what was to be done.
Those of them that were yet under tuition had their tutors with
them, who were entrusted with their education in learning,
agreeable to their birth and quality, but, it is to be feared,
brought them up in the idolatries of their father's house and made
them all worshippers of Baal. Jehu did not think fit to bring his
forces to Samaria to destroy them, but, that the hand of God might
appear the more remarkably in it, made their guardians their
murderers. 1. He sent a challenge to their friends to stand by
them, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.2-2Kgs.10.3" parsed="|2Kgs|10|2|10|3" passage="2Ki 10:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>.
"You that are hearty well-wishers to the house of Ahab, and
entirely in its interests, now is your time to appear for it.
Samaria is a strong city; you are in possession of it; you have
forces at command; you may choose out the likeliest person of all
the royal family to head you; you know you are not tied to the
eldest, unless he be <i>the best and meetest of your master's
sons.</i> If you have any spirit in you, show it, and set one of
them on his father's throne, and stand by him with your lives and
fortunes." Not that he desired they should do this, or expected
they would, but thus he upbraided them with their cowardice and
utter inability to contest with the divine counsels. "Do if you
dare, and see what will come of it." Those that have forsaken their
religion have often, with it, lost both their sense and their
courage, and deserve to be upbraided with it. 2. Hereby he gained
from them a submission. They prudently reasoned with themselves:
"<i>Behold, two kings stood not before him,</i> but fell as
sacrifices to his rage; <i>how then shall we stand?</i>" <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.4" parsed="|2Kgs|10|4|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Therefore they sent him
a surrender of themselves: "<i>We are thy servants,</i> thy
subjects, and <i>will do all that thou shalt bid us,</i> right or
wrong, and will set up nobody in competition with thee." They saw
it was to no purpose to contend with him, and therefore it was
their interest to submit to him. With much more reason may we thus
argue ourselves into a subjection to the great God. Many kings and
great men have fallen before his wrath, for their wickedness; and
how then shall we stand? <i>Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are
we stronger than he?</i> No, we must either bend or break. 3. This
was improved so far as to make them the executioners of those whom
they had the tuition of (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.6" parsed="|2Kgs|10|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>): <i>If you be mine, bring me the heads of your
master's sons by to-morrow at this time.</i> Though he knew it must
be done, and was loth to do it himself, one would think he could
not expect they should do it. Could they betray such a trust? Could
they be cruel to their master's sons? It seems, so low did they
stoop in their adoration to the rising sun that they did it; they
cut off the heads of those seventy princes, and sent them in
baskets a present to Jehu, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.7" parsed="|2Kgs|10|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. Learn hence not to trust in a friend nor to put
confidence in a guide not governed by conscience. One can scarcely
expect that he who has been false to his God should ever be
faithful to his prince. But observe God's righteousness in their
unrighteousness. These elders of Jezreel had been wickedly
obsequious to Jezebel's order for the murder of Naboth, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.21.11" parsed="|1Kgs|21|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 21:11">1 Kings xxi. 11</scripRef>. She gloried, it is
likely, in the power she had over them; and now the same base
spirit makes them as pliable to Jehu and as ready to obey his
orders for the murder of Ahab's sons. Let none aim at arbitrary
power, lest they be found rolling a stone which, some time or
other, will return upon them. Princes that make their people slaves
take the readiest way to make them rebels; and by forcing men's
consciences, as Jezebel did, they lose their hold of them. When the
separated heads were presented to Jehu, he slyly upbraided those
that were the executioners of this vengeance. The heads were laid
in two heaps at the gate, the proper place of judgment. There he
acquitted the people before God and the world (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.9" parsed="|2Kgs|10|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>, <i>You are righteous</i>), and,
by what the rulers of Samaria had now done, comparatively acquitted
himself: "I slew but one; they have slain all these: I did it by
conspiracy and with design; they have done this merely in
compliance and with an implicit obedience. Let not the people of
Samaria, nor any of the friends of the house of Ahab, ever reproach
me for what I have done, when their own elders, and the very
guardians of the orphans, have done this." It is common for those
who have done something base to attempt the mitigation of their own
reproach by drawing others in to do something worse. But, (2.) He
resolves all into the righteous judgment of God (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.10" parsed="|2Kgs|10|10|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>The Lord hath done that
which he spoke by Elijah.</i> God is not the author of any man's
sin, but even by that which men do from bad principles God serves
his own purposes and glorifies his own name; and he is righteous in
that wherein men are unrighteous. When the Assyrian is made the
<i>rod of God's anger,</i> and the instrument of his justice, <i>he
meaneth not so, neither does his heart think so,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.7" parsed="|Isa|10|7|0|0" passage="Isa 10:7">Isa. x. 7</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p5">II. He proceeded to destroy all that
remained of the house of Ahab, not only those that descended from
him, but those that were in any relation to him, all the officers
of his household, ministers of state, and those in command under
him, called here his <i>great men</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.11" parsed="|2Kgs|10|11|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), all his kinsfolks and
acquaintance, who had been partners with him in his wickedness, and
his priests, or domestic chaplains, whom he employed in his
idolatrous services and who strengthened his hand that he should
not turn from his evil way. Having done this in Jezreel, he did the
same in Samaria (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.17" parsed="|2Kgs|10|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>), <i>slew all that remained to Ahab in Samaria.</i>
This was bloody work, and is not now, in any case, to be drawn into
a precedent. Let the guilty suffer, but not the guiltless for their
sakes. Perhaps such terrible destructions as these were intended as
types of the final destruction of all the ungodly. God has a sword,
bathed in heaven, which will come down upon the people of his
curse, and <i>be filled with blood.</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.5-Isa.34.6" parsed="|Isa|34|5|34|6" passage="Isa 34:5,6">Isa. xxxiv. 5, 6</scripRef>. Then <i>his eye will not
spare, neither will he pity.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p6">III. Providence bringing the brethren of
Ahaziah in his way, as he was going on with this execution, he slew
them likewise, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.12-2Kgs.10.14" parsed="|2Kgs|10|12|10|14" passage="2Ki 10:12-14"><i>v.</i>
12-14</scripRef>. The brethren of Ahaziah were slain by the
Arabians (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.22.1" parsed="|2Chr|22|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 22:1">2 Chron. xxii.
1</scripRef>), but these were the sons of his brethren, as it is
there explained (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.8" parsed="|2Kgs|10|8|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>), and they are said to be princes of Judah, and to
minister to Ahaziah. Several things concurred to make them
obnoxious to the vengeance Jehu was now executing. 1. They were
branches of Ahab's house, being descended from Athaliah, and
therefore fell within his commission. 2. They were tainted with the
wickedness of the house of Ahab. 3. They were now going to make
their court to the princes of the house of Ahab, to <i>salute the
children of the king and the queen,</i> Joram and Jezebel, which
showed that they were linked to them in affection as well as in
affinity. These princes, forty-two in number, being appointed as
sheep for the sacrifice, were slain with solemnity, <i>at the pit
of the shearing-house. The Lord is known by these judgments which
he executeth.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.15-2Kgs.10.28" parsed="|2Kgs|10|15|10|28" passage="2Ki 10:15-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.10.15-2Kgs.10.28">
<h4 id="iiKi.xi-p6.5">Interview between Jehu and Jehonadab; the
Worshippers of Baal Destroyed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p6.6">b. c.</span> 884.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xi-p7">15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted
on Jehonadab the son of Rechab <i>coming</i> to meet him: and he
saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart
<i>is</i> with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be,
give <i>me</i> thine hand. And he gave <i>him</i> his hand; and he
took him up to him into the chariot.   16 And he said, Come
with me, and see my zeal for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p7.1">Lord</span>. So they made him ride in his chariot.
  17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained
unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the
saying of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p7.2">Lord</span>, which he spake
to Elijah.   18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and
said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; <i>but</i> Jehu shall
serve him much.   19 Now therefore call unto me all the
prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none
be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice <i>to do</i> to Baal;
whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did
<i>it</i> in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the
worshippers of Baal.   20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn
assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed <i>it.</i>   21 And
Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came,
so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into
the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to
another.   22 And he said unto him that <i>was</i> over the
vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And
he brought them forth vestments.   23 And Jehu went, and
Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto
the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with
you none of the servants of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p7.3">Lord</span>, but the worshippers of Baal only.  
24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings,
Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, <i>If</i> any of
the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, <i>he that
letteth him go,</i> his life <i>shall be</i> for the life of him.
  25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of
offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the
captains, Go in, <i>and</i> slay them; let none come forth. And
they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the
captains cast <i>them</i> out, and went to the city of the house of
Baal.   26 And they brought forth the images out of the house
of Baal, and burned them.   27 And they brake down the image
of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught
house unto this day.   28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of
Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p8">Jehu, pushing on his work, is here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p9">I. Courting the friendship of a good man,
<i>Jehonadab the son of Rechab,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.15-2Kgs.10.16" parsed="|2Kgs|10|15|10|16" passage="2Ki 10:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. This Jehonadab, though
mortified to the world and meddling little with the business of it
(as appears by his charge to his posterity, which they religiously
observed 300 years after, not to drink wine nor dwell in cities,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.35.6" parsed="|Jer|35|6|0|0" passage="Jer 35:6">Jer. xxxv. 6</scripRef>, &amp;c.),
yet, upon this occasion, went to meet Jehu, that he might encourage
him in the work to which God had called him. The countenance of
good men is a thing which great men, if they be wise, will value,
and value themselves by. David prayed, <i>Let those that fear thee
turn to me,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.79" parsed="|Ps|119|79|0|0" passage="Ps 119:79">Ps. cxix.
79</scripRef>. This Jehonadab, though no prophet, priest, or
Levite, no prince or ruler, was, we may suppose, very eminent for
prudence and piety, and generally respected for that life of
self-denial and devotion which he lived: Jehu, though a soldier,
knew him and honoured him. He did not indeed think of sending for
him, but when he met him (though it is likely he drove now as
furiously as ever) he stopped to speak to him; and we are here told
what passed between them. 1. Jehu saluted him; he <i>blessed
him</i> (so the word is), paid him the respect and showed him the
good-will that were due to so great an example of serious
godliness. 2. Jehonadab assured him that he was sincerely in his
interest and a hearty well-wisher to his cause. Jehu professed that
<i>his heart was right with him,</i> that he had a true affection
for his person and a veneration for the crown of his Nazariteship,
and desired to know whether he had the same affection for him and
satisfaction in that crown of royal dignity which God had put upon
his head: <i>Is thy heart right?</i> a question we should often put
to ourselves. "I make a plausible profession, have gained a
reputation among men, but <i>is my heart right?</i> Am I sincere
and inward with God?" Jehonadab gave him his word (<i>It is</i>),
and gave him his hand as a pledge of his heart, <i>yielded to
him</i> (so giving the hand is rendered, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.8" parsed="|2Chr|30|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 30:8">2 Chron. xxx. 8</scripRef>), concurred and covenanted
with him, and owned him in the work both of revenge and of
reformation he was now about. 3. Jehu took him up into his chariot
and took him along with him to Samaria. He put some honour upon
him, by taking him into the chariot with him (Jehonadab was not
accustomed to ride in a chariot, much less with a king); but he
received more honour from him, and from the countenance he gave to
his present work. All sober people would think the better of Jehu
when they saw Jehonadab in the chariot with him. This was not the
only time in which the piety of some has been made to serve the
policy of others, and designing men have strengthened themselves by
drawing good men into their interests. Jehonadab is a stranger to
the arts of fleshly wisdom, and has his <i>conversation in
simplicity and godly sincerity;</i> and therefore, if Jehu be a
servant of God and an enemy to Ball, he will be his faithful
friend. "Come then" (says Jehu), "come with me, <i>and see my zeal
for the Lord;</i> and then thou wilt see reason to espouse my
cause." This is commonly taken as not well said by Jehu, and as
giving cause to suspect that his heart was not right with God in
what he did, and that the zeal he pretended for the Lord was really
zeal for himself and his own advancement. For, (1.) He boasted of
it, and spoke as if God and man were mightily indebted to him for
it. (2.) He desired it might be seen and taken notice of, like the
Pharisees, who did all to be seen of men. An upright heart approves
itself to God and covets no more than his acceptance. If we aim at
the applause of men, and make their praise our highest end, we are
upon a false bottom. Whether Jehu looked any further we cannot
judge; however Jehonadab went with him, and, it is likely, animated
and assisted him in the further execution of his commission
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.17" parsed="|2Kgs|10|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), destroying
all Ahab's friends in Samaria. A man may hate cruelty and yet love
justice, may be far from thirsting after blood and yet may <i>wash
his feet in the blood of the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.58.10" parsed="|Ps|58|10|0|0" passage="Ps 58:10">Ps. lviii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p10">II. Contriving the destruction of all the
worshippers of Baal. The service of Baal was the crying sin of the
house of Ahab: that root of this idolatry was plucked up, but
multitudes yet remained that were infected with it, and would be in
danger of infecting others. The law of God was express, that they
were to be put to death; but they were so numerous, and so
dispersed throughout all parts of the kingdom, and perhaps so
alarmed with Jehu's beginnings, that it would be a hard matter to
find them all out and an endless task to prosecute and execute them
one by one. Jehu's project therefore is to cut them all off
together. 1. By a wile, by a fraud, he brought them together to the
temple of Baal. He pretended he would worship Baal more than ever
Ahab had done, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.18" parsed="|2Kgs|10|18|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>. Perhaps he spoke this ironically, or to try the body
of the people whether they would oppose such a resolution as this,
and would resent his threatening to increase his predecessor's
exactions, and say, "If it be so, we have no part in Jehu, nor
inheritance in the son of Nimshi." But it rather seems to have been
spoken purposely to deceive the worshippers of Baal, and then it
cannot be justified. The truth of God needs not any man's lie. He
issued a proclamation, requiring the attendance of all the
worshippers of Baal to join with him in a sacrifice to Baal
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.19-2Kgs.10.20" parsed="|2Kgs|10|19|10|20" passage="2Ki 10:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>), not
only the prophets and priests, but all, throughout the kingdom, who
worshipped Baal, who were not nearly so many as they had been in
Elijah's time. Jehu's friends, we may suppose, were aware of what
he designed, and were not offended at it; but the bigoted besotted
Baalites began to think themselves very happy, and that now they
should see golden days again. <i>Joram</i> had <i>put away the
image of Baal,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.3.2" parsed="|2Kgs|3|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 3:2"><i>ch.</i> iii.
2</scripRef>. If Jehu will restore it, they have what they would
have, and come up to Samaria with joy from all parts to celebrate
the solemnity; and they are pleased to see the house of Baal
crowded (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.21" parsed="|2Kgs|10|21|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), to
see his priests in their vestments (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.22" parsed="|2Kgs|10|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), and themselves perhaps with
some badges or other to notify their relation to Baal, for there
were vestments for all his worshippers. 2. He took care that none
of the servants of the Lord should be among them, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.23" parsed="|2Kgs|10|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. This they took as a
provision to preserve the worship of Baal from being profaned by
strangers; but it was a wonder that they did not, by this, see
themselves brought into a snare and discern a design upon them. No
marvel if those that suffer themselves to be deceived by Baal (as
all idolaters were by their idols), are deceived by Jehu to their
destruction. 3. He gave order for the cutting of them all off, and
Jehonadab joined with him therein, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.23" parsed="|2Kgs|10|23|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. When a strict search was made
lest any of the servants of God should, either for company or
curiosity, have got among them—lest any wheat should be mixed with
those tares, and when eighty men were set to stand guard at all the
avenues to Baal's temple, that none might escape (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.24" parsed="|2Kgs|10|24|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), then the guards were
sent in to put them all to the sword and to <i>mingle their blood
with their sacrifices,</i> in a way of just revenge, as they
themselves had sometimes done, when, in their blind devotion, they
<i>cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed
out,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.18.28" parsed="|1Kgs|18|28|0|0" passage="1Ki 18:28">1 Kings xviii.
28</scripRef>. This was accordingly done, and the doing of it,
though seemingly barbarous, was, considering the nature of their
crime, really righteous. <i>The Lord, whose name is jealous, is a
jealous God.</i> 4. The idolaters being thus destroyed, the
idolatry itself was utterly abolished. The buildings about the
house of Baal (which were so many and so stately that they are here
called a <i>city</i>), where Baal's priests and their families
lived, were destroyed; all the little images, statues, pictures, or
shrines, which beautified Baal's temple, with the great image of
Baal himself, were brought out and burnt (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.26-2Kgs.10.27" parsed="|2Kgs|10|26|10|27" passage="2Ki 10:26,27"><i>v.</i> 26, 27</scripRef>), and the temple of Baal
was broken down, and made a dunghill, the common sink, or sewer, of
the city, that the remembrance of it might be blotted out or made
infamous. Thus was the worship of Baal quite destroyed, at least
for the present, out of Israel, though it had once prevailed so far
that there were but 7000 of all the thousands of Israel that had
not bowed the knee to Baal, and those concealed. Thus will God
destroy all the gods of the heathen, and, sooner or later, triumph
over them all.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.29-2Kgs.10.36" parsed="|2Kgs|10|29|10|36" passage="2Ki 10:29-36" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.10.29-2Kgs.10.36">
<h4 id="iiKi.xi-p10.12">Jehu's Inconsistency. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p10.13">b. c.</span> 884.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xi-p11">29 Howbeit <i>from</i> the sins of Jeroboam the
son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after
them, <i>to wit,</i> the golden calves that <i>were</i> in Beth-el,
and that <i>were</i> in <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.30" parsed="|Dan|30|0|0|0" passage="Dan. 30">Dan.   30</scripRef> And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p11.2">Lord</span> said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well
in executing <i>that which is</i> right in mine eyes, <i>and</i>
hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that <i>was</i>
in mine heart, thy children of the fourth <i>generation</i> shall
sit on the throne of Israel.   31 But Jehu took no heed to
walk in the law of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p11.3">Lord</span> God of
Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of
Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.   32 In those days the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xi-p11.4">Lord</span> began to cut Israel short: and
Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;   33 From
Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the
Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which <i>is</i> by the
river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.   34 Now the rest of the
acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, <i>are</i>
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
Israel?   35 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried
him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.  
36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria <i>was</i>
twenty and eight years.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p12">Here is all the account of the reign of
Jehu, though it continued twenty-eight years. The progress of it
answered not to the glory of its beginning. We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p13">I. God's approbation of what Jehu had done.
Many, it is probable, censured him as treacherous and
barbarous—called him a rebel, a usurper, a murderer, and
prognosticated ill concerning him, that a family thus raised would
soon be ruined; but God said, <i>Well done</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.30" parsed="|2Kgs|10|30|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>), and then it signified little
who said otherwise. 1. God pronounced that to be right which he had
done. It is justly questionable whether he did it from a good
principle and whether he did not take some false steps in the doing
of it; and yet (says God), <i>Thou hast done well in executing that
which is right in my eyes.</i> The extirpating of idolaters and
idolatry was a thing right in God's eyes, for it is an iniquity he
visits as surely and severely as any: it was <i>according to all
that was in his heart,</i> all he desired, all he designed. Jehu
went through with his work. 2. God promised him a reward, that his
children of the fourth generation from him should <i>sit upon the
throne of Israel.</i> This was more than what took place in any of
the dignities or royal families of that kingdom; of the house of
Ahab there were indeed four kings, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Joram,
but the last two were brothers, so that it reached but to the third
generation, and that whole family continued but about forty-five
years in all, whereas Jehu's continued in four, besides himself,
and in all about 120 years. Note, No services done for God shall go
unrewarded.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p14">II. Jehu's carelessness in what he was
further to do. By this it appeared that his heart was not right
with God, that he was partial in his reformation. 1. He did not put
away all the evil. He departed from the sins of Ahab, but not from
the sins of Jeroboam—discarded Baal, but adhered to the calves.
The worship of Baal was indeed the greater evil, and more heinous
in the sight of God, but the worship of the calves was a great
evil, and true conversion is not only from gross sin, but from all
sin—not only from false gods, but from false worships. The worship
of Baal weakened and diminished Israel, and made them beholden to
the Sidonians, and therefore he could easily part with that; but
the worship of the calves was a politic idolatry, was begun and
kept up for reasons of state, to prevent the return of the ten
tribes to the house of David, and therefore Jehu clave to that.
True conversion is not only from wasteful sins, but from gainful
sins—not only from those sins that are destructive to the secular
interest, but from those that support and befriend it, in forsaking
which is the great trial whether we can deny ourselves and trust
God. 2. He put away evil, but he did not mind that which was good
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.31" parsed="|2Kgs|10|31|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>): <i>He took
no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel.</i> He
abolished the worship of Baal, but did not keep up the worship of
God, nor walk in his law. He had shown great care and zeal for the
rooting out of a false religion; but in the true religion, (1.) He
showed no care, took no heed, lived at large, was not at all
solicitous to please God and to do his duty, took no heed to the
scriptures, to the prophets, to his own conscience, but walked at
all adventures. Those that are heedless, it is to be feared, are
graceless; for, where there is a good principle in the heart, it
will make men cautious and circumspect, desirous to please God and
jealous of doing any thing to offend him. (2.) He showed no zeal;
what he did in religion he did not do with his heart, with all his
heart, but did it as if he did it not, without any liveliness or
concern. It seems, he was a man that had little religion himself,
and yet God made use of him as an instrument of reformation in
Israel. It is a pity but that those that do good to others should
always be good themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p15">III. The judgment that came upon Israel in
his reign. We have reason to fear that when Jehu took no heed
himself to walk in God's law the people were generally as careless
as he, both in their devotions and in their conversations. There
was a general decay of piety and increase of profaneness; and
therefore it is not strange that the next news we hear is, <i>In
those days the Lord began to cut Israel short,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.32" parsed="|2Kgs|10|32|0|0" passage="2Ki 10:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. Their neighbours
encroached upon them on every side; they were short in their duty
to God, and therefore God cut them short in their extent, wealth,
and power. Hazael king of Syria was, above any other, vexatious and
mischievous to them, <i>smote them in all the coasts of Israel,</i>
particularly the countries on the other side Jordan, which lay next
him, and most exposed; on these he made continual inroads, and laid
them waste. Now the Reubenites and Gadites smarted for the choice
which their ancestors made of an inheritance on that side Jordan,
which Moses reproved them for, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.32.1-Num.32.42" parsed="|Num|32|1|32|42" passage="Nu 32:1-42">Num.
xxxii.</scripRef> Now Hazael did what Elisha foresaw and foretold
he would do. Yet, for doing it, God had a quarrel with him and with
his kingdom, as we may find, <scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Amos.1.3-Amos.1.4" parsed="|Amos|1|3|1|4" passage="Am 1:3,4">Amos i.
3, 4</scripRef>. Because those of Damascus have <i>threshed Gilead
with threshing instruments of iron,</i> therefore (says God) <i>I
will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the
palaces of Benhadad.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xi-p16">Lastly, The conclusion of Jehu's reign,
<scripRef id="iiKi.xi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.10.34-2Kgs.10.36" parsed="|2Kgs|10|34|10|36" passage="2Ki 10:34-36"><i>v.</i> 34-36</scripRef>. Notice
is taken, in general, of his might; but, because he took no heed to
serve God, the memorials of his mighty enterprises and achievements
are justly buried in oblivion.</p>
</div></div2>