Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

The brethren of Ahaziah - The relatives of his family; for it does not appear that he had any brethren, properly so called: but we know that the term brethren among the Jews signified the relatives of the same family, and especially brothers' and sisters' children: and that these were such, see 2 Chronicles 22:8.

We go down to salute, etc. - So promptly had Jehu executed all his measures, that even the nearest relatives of the murdered kings had not heard of their death, and consequently had no time to escape. They were all taken as in a net.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The brethren of Ahaziah - Not the actual brothers of Ahaziah, who had all been slain by the Arabs before his accession to the throne 2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1; but his nephews, the sons of his brothers (marginal reference). It is remarkable that they should have penetrated so far into the kingdom of Israel without having heard of the revolution.

The children of the king … - i. e.” the sons of Jehoram, and the children (sons and grandsons) of the queen-mother, Jezebel.” Some of both may well have been at Jezreel, though the younger branches of the royal family were at Samaria 2 Kings 10:1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah,.... At the above place; these were the sons of his brethren, called his brethren, as Lot was called Abraham's brother, being his brother's son; for as for his brethren, they had been slain by the Arabians before he was made king, 2 Chronicles 22:1,

and said, who are ye? though perhaps he knew who they were:

and they answered, we are the brethren of Ahaziah; the sons of his brethren:

and we go down to salute the children of the king, and the children of the queen; meaning either the children of Ahab and Jezebel, or of Joram and his queen; for they knew nothing of the death of Joram and Jezebel, and the revolution made in the kingdom, and therefore with great simplicity tell who they were, and where they were going, and on what account.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 10:13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who [are] ye? And they answered, We [are] the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.

Ver. 13. And Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah.] That is, his nephews and near kindred: for his brethren were all carried away by the Arabians. [2 Chronicles 21:17]

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The brethren; not strictly so, for they were killed before this, 2 Chronicles 21:17; but his brethren’s sons, as they are called, 2 Chronicles 22:8, or others of his near kinsmen, such being oft called brethren in Scripture; as Genesis 13:8.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Brethren. The Arabs had destroyed all his brothers by the same mother; (2 Paralipomenon xxii. 1.) but these were near relations, and they durst not deny the fact. (Menochius) --- In 2 Paralipomenon xxii. 8., they are styled princes of Juda, and sons of the brethren of Ochozias. Jehu must have used surprising diligence (Calmet) and secrecy (Haydock) to prevent the many important transactions and changes which had lately taken place from being known at Jerusalem, or even at Beth-heked, ver. 12., which was so little distant from Samaria. (Calmet) --- Queen. The wife of Joram, or the children of Jezabel, (Menochius) with whom they were connected by affinity and friendship, to their great detriment. (Haydock)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

brethren. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part) for near relatives. Compare 2 Chronicles 22:8, where we have "sons of the brethren".

children = sons.

the king = Joram.

the queen = Jezebel, the queen-mother.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.

We are the brethren of Ahaziah - i:e., not full, but step-brothers, sons of Jehoram by various concubines. Ignorant of the revolution that had taken place, they were traveling to Samaria on a visit to their royal relatives of Israel, when they were seized and put to death from the apprehension that they might probably stimulate and strengthen the party that still remained faithful in their allegiance to Ahab's dynasty.

Children of the queen - i:e., of the queen-mother, or regent, Jezebel.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Jehu met with.—Literally, And Jehu found.

The brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah—i.e., Ahaziah’s kinsmen. His brothers, in the strict sense of the word, were slain by a troop of Arabs, in the lifetime of his father Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1). (See the Notes on 2 Chronicles 22:8.)

We go down.—Rather, we have come down.

To salute—i.e., to inquire after their health, to visit them.

The children of the king—i.e., the sons of Joram.

The children of the queen.—Literally, the sons of the mistress (gebîrah)—i.e., the sons of the queen-mother, Jezebel, and so Joram’s brothers. Both these and the former are included in the “sons of Ahab” whom Jehu slew.

The news of the taking of Ramoth, and of Joram’s convalescence, may have reached Jerusalem, and induced these princes to make a visit of pleasure to the court of Jezreel, not suspecting the events which had meanwhile happened with the headlong rapidity characteristic of Jehu’s action.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

met with

Heb. found. the brethren.

8:24,29; 9:21-27; 2 Chronicles 21:17; 22:1-10

salute

Heb. the peace of, etc.