Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Jehu wipes out the house of Ahab and kills Ahaziah’s supporters. He convenes the Baal worshipers, murders them, and destroys their temple. He dies, but is promised four generations of power.
II. Photo
Jehu destroys Baal’s temple: “They destroyed the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case.” (v. 27)
III. Important Verses
5-7: The steward of the palace and the governor of the city and the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your subjects, and we shall do whatever you tell us to. We shall not proclaim anyone king; do whatever you like.” He wrote them a second time: “If you are on my side and are ready to obey me, take the heads of the attendants of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the princes, seventy in number, were with the notables of the town, who were rearing them. But when the letter reached them, they took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel.
11: And Jehu struck down all that were left of the House of Ahab in Jezreel — and all his notables, intimates, and priests — till he left him no survivor.
20-21: Jehu gave orders to convoke a solemn assembly for Baal, and one was proclaimed. Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, not a single one remained behind. They came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was filled from end to end.
25-28: When Jehu had finished presenting the burnt offering, he said to the guards and to the officers, “Come in and strike them down; let no man get away!” The guards and the officers struck them down with the sword and left them lying where they were; then they proceeded to the interior of the temple of Baal. They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them. They destroyed the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case. Thus Jehu eradicated the Baal from Israel.
32-33: In those days the LORD began to reduce Israel; and Hazael harassed them throughout the territory of Israel east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead — the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites — from Aroer, by the Wadi Arnon, up to Gilead and Bashan.
IV. Outline
1-3. Jehu’s order to the people of Samaria
4-5. The people capitulate
6. Jehu demands the heads of 70 princes
7. The heads are delivered
8-10. Jehu kills Ahab’s descendants; Elijah’s prophecy is completed
11-14. Jehu kills 42 of Ahaziah’s supporters
15-17. Jehu and Jehonadab wipe out Ahab’s descendants
18-24. Jehu sets convenes the worshipers of Baal
25-28. Jehu wipes out all the Baal worshipers and destroys the temple
29. Jehu’s sins
30. God promises Jehu 4 generations of rulership
31. Jehu’s sins
32-33. Hazael harasses the Israelites
34-36. Summary statement
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. “II Kings” The Anchor Bible v. 11 (USA: Doubleday, 1988).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hobbs, T.R. “2 Kings” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 13 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1985).
Photo taken from http://safaksalli.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/efeslatrine.jpg
