_THE HEADS OF SEVENTY OF AHAB'S SONS ARE BROUGHT TO JEHU: HE PUTS ALL
THE PRIESTS OF BAAL TO DEATH, IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL AT SAMARIA; BUT
CONTINUES HIMSELF TO WORSHIP THE GOLDEN CALVES. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY HIS
SON JEHOAHAZ._
_Before Christ 884._... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT TO SAMARIA, UNTO THE RULERS OF JEZREEL— From the context some
have thought, that the letters were sent to the rulers of Samaria; and
this they think the more probable, as the LXX render it _Samaria,_ and
not _Jezreel._ Le Clerc conjectures, that the _rulers of Jezreel,_ who
had the care of Ahab... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE THE HEADS, &C.— Besides the accomplishment of the divine
decree, Jehu had a further design in requesting this cruel service of
the rulers, and elders, and great men of the nation; namely, hereby to
involve them in the same crime and conspiracy with himself. For by
prevailing with them to mur... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHONADAB, THE SON OF RECHAB— See the notes on Jeremiah 35 and
Bedford's Script. Chronol. l. vi. c. 2. To _give the hand,_ signifies
to _promise._ When, therefore, we are told, that Jehu asked Jehonadab
to give him his hand, we are not to suppose it was that he might
assist him in getting up into th... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THERE WAS NOT A MAN LEFT THAT CAME NOT— It may be asked, how
all the worshippers of Baal could be induced, after Jehu's conduct, to
assemble together? To which it may be replied, that as Jehu was a
person of known indifference in matters of religion, (see the note on
2 Kings 10:31.) who in t... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING FORTH VESTMENTS— It was the custom of almost all idolaters, to
be very curious about the external pomp of their ceremonies, wherein,
indeed, the chief part of their worship consisted. All the priests of
Baal were clothed in fine linen, and their chief priest, no doubt, had
some particular orna... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CAPTAINS CAST THEM OUT— _And the captains were dismissed._
Houbigant.
REFLECTIONS.—Jehu with indefatigable diligence pursues his blow; and
as he drives to Samaria,
1. He meets Jehonadab the son of Rechab, a man of eminent piety,
coming to congratulate him on his accession, and to encourage... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JEHU TOOK NO HEED, &C.— Jehu indeed made great ostentation of
his _zeal for the Lord;_ and it must be acknowledged, that for his
performance of the divine commands in this respect, he received
commendations from God: yet he was still a bad man, though he did well
in executing that which was righ... [ Continue Reading ]