2 Kings 10:3

THE MESSAGE

God commended Jehu: "You did well to do what I saw was best. You did what I ordered against the family of Ahab. As reward, your sons will occupy the throne of Israel for four generations." Even then, though, Jehu wasn't careful to walk in God 's ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn't turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin. It was about this time that God began to shrink Israel. Hazael hacked away at the borders of Israel from the Jordan to the east—all the territory of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh from Aroer near the Brook Arnon. In effect, all Gilead and Bashan. The rest of the life and times of Jehu, his accomplishments and fame, are written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jehu died and was buried in the family plot in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz was the next king. Jehu ruled Israel from Samaria for twenty-eight years.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
select the most qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

Hebrew Names Version
look you out the best and meet of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

King James Version
Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

English Standard Version
select the best and fittest of your master's sons and set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's house."

New Century Version
choose the best and most worthy person among your master's sons, and make him king. Then fight for your master's family."

New English Translation
pick the best and most capable of your master's sons, place him on his father's throne, and defend your master's dynasty."

Amplified Bible
select the best and most capable of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's [royal] house."

New American Standard Bible
select the best and most capable of your master's sons and seat him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Consider therefore which of your masters sonnes is best and most meete, and set him on his fathers throne, and fight for your masters house.

Legacy Standard Bible
look for the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

Contemporary English Version
choose the best person for the job and make him the next king. Then be prepared to defend Ahab's family.

Complete Jewish Bible
choose the best and most suitable of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's dynasty."

Darby Translation
look out the best and worthiest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

George Lamsa Translation
Whichever seems to you good and best of your masters sons, set him on his fathers throne and fight for your masters house.

Good News Translation
you are to choose the best qualified of the king's descendants, make him king, and fight to defend him."

Lexham English Bible
then you must select the best and the most suitable from the sons of your master, and you must place him on the throne of his father, and they must fight for the house of your masters."

Literal Translation
and you shall look out the best and the most upright of the sons of your lord, and you shall set him on the throne of his father. And you shall fight for the house of your lord.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
loke which is the best and most righteous amonge youre lordes sonnes, & set him vpon his fathers seate, and fighte for youre lordes house.

American Standard Version
look ye out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

Bible in Basic English
Take the best and most upright of your master's sons, and make him king in his father's place, and put up a fight for your master's family.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Loke which of your maisters sonnes is best and most meete, and set him on his fathers seate, and fight for your lordes house.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
look ye out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.'

King James Version (1611)
Looke euen out the best and meetest of your masters sonnes, and set him on his fathers throne, and fight for your masters house.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
do ye accordingly look out the best and fittest among your master’s sons, and set him on the throne of his father, and fight for the house of your master.

English Revised Version
look ye out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

Berean Standard Bible
select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
chese the beste, and hym that plesith to you of the sones of youre lord, and sette ye him on the trone of his fadir, and fiyte ye for the hows of youre lord.

Young's Literal Translation
and ye have seen the best and the uprightest of the sons of your lord, and have set [him] on the throne of his father, and fight ye for the house of your lord.'

Update Bible Version
look for the best and meet of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

Webster's Bible Translation
Look out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set [him] on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

World English Bible
look you out the best and meet of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

New King James Version
choose the best qualified of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

New Living Translation
select the best qualified of your master's sons to be your king, and prepare to fight for Ahab's dynasty."

New Life Bible
choose the best of your owner's sons. Put him on his father's throne. And fight for your owner's house."

New Revised Standard
select the son of your master who is the best qualified, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
ye shall look out the goodliest and fittest of the sons of your lord, and set on the throne of his father, and ye shall do battle for the house of your lord.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Choose the best, and him that shall please you most of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for the house of your master.

Revised Standard Version
select the best and fittest of your master's sons and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
select the best and fittest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."

Contextual Overview

¹Ahab had seventy sons still living in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters addressed to the officers of Jezreel, the city elders, and those in charge of Ahab's sons, and posted them to Samaria. The letters read: This letter is fair warning. You're in charge of your master's children, chariots, horses, fortifications, and weapons. Pick the best and most capable of your master's sons and put him on the throne. Prepare to fight for your master's position. They were absolutely terrified at the letter. They said, "Two kings have already been wiped out by him; what hope do we have?" So they sent the warden of the palace, the mayor of the city, the elders, and the guardians to Jehu with this message: "We are your servants. Whatever you say, we'll do. We're not making anyone king here. You're in charge—do what you think best." Then Jehu wrote a second letter: If you are on my side and are willing to follow my orders, here's what you do: Decapitate the sons of your master and bring the heads to me by this time tomorrow in Jezreel. The king's sons numbered seventy. The leaders of the city had taken responsibility for them. When they got the letter, they took the king's sons and killed all seventy. Then they put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. A messenger reported to Jehu: "They've delivered the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Stack them in two piles at the city gate until morning." In the morning Jehu came out, stood before the people, and addressed them formally: "Do you realize that this very day you are participants in God 's righteous workings? True, I am the one who conspired against my master and assassinated him. But who, do you suppose, is responsible for this pile of skulls? Know this for certain: Not a single syllable that God spoke in judgment on the family of Ahab is canceled; you're seeing it with your own eyes— God doing what, through Elijah, he said he'd do." Then Jehu proceeded to kill everyone who had anything to do with Ahab's family in Jezreel—leaders, friends, priests. He wiped out the entire lot. That done, he brushed himself off and set out for Samaria. Along the way, at Beth Eked (Binding House) of the Shepherds, he met up with some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said, "Who are you?" They said, "We're relatives of Ahaziah and we've come down to a reunion of the royal family." "Grab them!" ordered Jehu. They were taken and then massacred at the well of Beth Eked. Forty-two of them—no survivors. He went on from there and came upon Jehonadab the Recabite who was on his way to meet him. Greeting him, he said, "Are we together and of one mind in this?" Jehonadab said, "We are—count on me." "Then give me your hand," said Jehu. They shook hands on it and Jehonadab stepped up into the chariot with Jehu. "Come along with me," said Jehu, "and witness my zeal for God ."Together they proceeded in the chariot. When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu massacred everyone left in Samaria who was in any way connected with Ahab—a mass execution, just as God had told Elijah. Next, Jehu got all the people together and addressed them: Ahab served Baal small-time; Jehu will serve him big-time. "Get all the prophets of Baal here—everyone who served him, all his priests. Get everyone here; don't leave anyone out. I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal. If you don't show up, you won't live to tell about it." (Jehu was lying, of course. He planned to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.) Jehu ordered, "Make preparation for a holy convocation for Baal." They did and posted the date. Jehu then summoned everyone in Israel. They came in droves—every worshiper of Baal in the country. Nobody stayed home. They came and packed the temple of Baal to capacity. Jehu directed the keeper of the wardrobe, "Get robes for all the servants of Baal." He brought out their robes. Jehu and Jehonadab the Recabite now entered the temple of Baal and said, "Double-check and make sure that there are no worshipers of God in here; only Baal-worshipers are allowed." Then they launched the worship, making the sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed eighty men outside with orders: "Don't let a single person escape; if you do, it's your life for his life." When Jehu had finished with the sacrificial solemnities, he signaled to the officers and guards, "Enter and kill! No survivors!" And the bloody slaughter began. The officers and guards threw the corpses outside and cleared the way to enter the inner shrine of Baal. They hauled out the sacred phallic stone from the temple of Baal and pulverized it. They smashed the Baal altars and tore down the Baal temple. It's been a public toilet ever since. And that's the story of Jehu's wasting of Baal in Israel. But for all that, Jehu didn't turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, the sins that had dragged Israel into a life of sin—the golden calves in Bethel and Dan stayed. ³ God commended Jehu: "You did well to do what I saw was best. You did what I ordered against the family of Ahab. As reward, your sons will occupy the throne of Israel for four generations." Even then, though, Jehu wasn't careful to walk in God 's ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn't turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin. It was about this time that God began to shrink Israel. Hazael hacked away at the borders of Israel from the Jordan to the east—all the territory of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh from Aroer near the Brook Arnon. In effect, all Gilead and Bashan. The rest of the life and times of Jehu, his accomplishments and fame, are written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Jehu died and was buried in the family plot in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz was the next king. Jehu ruled Israel from Samaria for twenty-eight years. ⁴ They were absolutely terrified at the letter. They said, "Two kings have already been wiped out by him; what hope do we have?" ⁵ So they sent the warden of the palace, the mayor of the city, the elders, and the guardians to Jehu with this message: "We are your servants. Whatever you say, we'll do. We're not making anyone king here. You're in charge—do what you think best." ⁶Then Jehu wrote a second letter: If you are on my side and are willing to follow my orders, here's what you do: Decapitate the sons of your master and bring the heads to me by this time tomorrow in Jezreel. The king's sons numbered seventy. The leaders of the city had taken responsibility for them. When they got the letter, they took the king's sons and killed all seventy. Then they put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. ⁸ A messenger reported to Jehu: "They've delivered the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Stack them in two piles at the city gate until morning." ⁹In the morning Jehu came out, stood before the people, and addressed them formally: "Do you realize that this very day you are participants in God 's righteous workings? True, I am the one who conspired against my master and assassinated him. But who, do you suppose, is responsible for this pile of skulls? Know this for certain: Not a single syllable that God spoke in judgment on the family of Ahab is canceled; you're seeing it with your own eyes— God doing what, through Elijah, he said he'd do." ¹¹ Then Jehu proceeded to kill everyone who had anything to do with Ahab's family in Jezreel—leaders, friends, priests. He wiped out the entire lot. ¹²That done, he brushed himself off and set out for Samaria. Along the way, at Beth Eked (Binding House) of the Shepherds, he met up with some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said, "Who are you?" They said, "We're relatives of Ahaziah and we've come down to a reunion of the royal family." ¹⁴ "Grab them!" ordered Jehu. They were taken and then massacred at the well of Beth Eked. Forty-two of them—no survivors.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Look even: Deuteronomy 17:14, Deuteronomy 17:15, 1 Samuel 10:24, 1 Samuel 11:15, 2 Samuel 2:8, 2 Samuel 2:9, 1 Kings 1:24, 1 Kings 1:25, 1 Kings 12:20

fight for: 2 Samuel 2:12-17, 1 Kings 12:21, John 18:36

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 18:16 - master

Cross-References

Jeremiah 51:27
"Raise the signal in the land, blow the shofar-trumpet for the nations. Consecrate the nations for holy work against her. Call kingdoms into service against her. Enlist Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a field marshal against her, and round up horses, locust hordes of horses! Consecrate the nations for holy work against her— the king of the Medes, his leaders and people.

Ezekiel 27:14
"‘Beth-togarmah traded work horses, war horses, and mules for your products.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons,.... Most fit for government, whether on account of age or proper qualifications, and wisdom, courage, c.

and set him on his father's throne proclaim him king:

and fight for your master's house; that the crown may continue in his family; all which he did not desire might be, but in this sarcastic and sneering manner dares them to do it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jehu, placing his adversaries’ advantages before them in the most favorable light, called upon them to decide what they would do. The unscrupulous soldier shows shrewdness as well as courage, a sharp wit as well as a bold heart.