2 Kings 10:12-14 Going Too Far?

 “And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” So they answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” And he said, “Take them alive!” So they took them alive, and killed them at the well of Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.” II Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah: This was to the great misfortune of these men. Since Jehu was committed to execute all those connected with the house of Ahab, these men were also targets of judgment. Ahaziah was a descendant of King Ahab through his mother (who was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel). Therefore, their mention of the queen mother did not help them.

b. He left none of them: This was characteristic of Jehu: whole-hearted and energetic obedience.

i. Some believe that the execution of Ahaziah’s family was an example of Jehu going too far. “The sword of judgment, so far as the expressed purpose of Jehovah was concerned, should have been confined to the house of Ahab. But a reckless and ambitious hand was wielding it, and it devoured beyond the allotted limits.” (Knapp)

(Guzik)

Going too far?

History has shown us where religions have gone too far including in the name of Jesus and for just printing the Holy Bible. The executors of so called judgments view themselves as a Jehu wielding their swords for their religion. 

Martin Luther was a target of those who held power in the church over the laity.

Luther's theological views were revolutionary for his time. His main beliefs included:

• Salvation through Faith Alone: Luther taught that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, rather than earned through good works.
• Sola Scriptura: He emphasized that the Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith and practice, rejecting the authority of the Pope and church traditions.

Major Contributions

Luther's contributions to Christianity and society include:

Contribution	Description
95 Theses	In 1517, he published his 95 Theses, criticizing the sale of indulgences and other church practices.
Translation of the Bible	He translated the Bible into German, making it accessible to the laity and influencing the German language.

Some people go too far trying to force their beliefs on others and I believe as Martin Luther that salvation is achieved through Faith Alone, that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, rather than earned through good works. 

Because this is what the Bible, Jesus and the apostles taught.

Saul who became Paul convinced me because he went from killing the followers of Jesus to dying for Him.

Have you ever heard of the Foxe’s Book of Martyrs?

Blessings 

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

2 Kings 10:1-11 House of Ahab

 “Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying: Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, choose the best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?” And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.” Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying: If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them. So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Indeed I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the Lord has done what He spoke by His servant Elijah.” So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.” II Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria: These were a significant danger to the anointed King Jehu. First, they were the descendants of Ahab and had a great interest in battling back to keep the throne of Israel among the dynasty of Omri. Second, they were in Samaria, the capital city of Israel – meaning they were away from Jehu, who killed King Joram in Jezreel.

b. Fight for your master’s house: Jehu challenged any partisans of the house of Omri to declare themselves and prepare to fight fortheir master’s house.

c. When the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons: Jehu’s letter – and his previous bold action against Joram and Ahaziah – powerfully persuaded the leaders of Israel to execute the sons of Ahab on behalf of Jehu.

d. Put their heads in baskets and sent them to him: The nobles were so afraid of Jehu that they sent this grim evidence of their obedience.

i. “It was a contemporary custom throughout the ancient east to ‘pile-up’ the heads of the captured rebels by the main city gate as a public warning against rebellion.” (Wiseman)

ii. “This was suitable to Ahab’s sin. He had sent for baskets of grapes out of Naboth’s vineyard at Jezreel; and now the heads of his sons are brought thither in baskets.” (Trapp)

e. You are righteous: When the people saw the severed heads of 70 descendants of Ahab, they feared that judgment had gone too far and they would be punished for it. Jehu assured them that they had done right – and that none had the right to accuse him, because he acted at the command of God.

i. “You are righteous in your own eyes, and you look upon me as a traitor, and rebel, and murderer, because I have risen against and slain my master, which I acknowledge I have done. But if I am guilty, you are not innocent, and therefore cannot accuse me; for I have killed one, but you a great number.” (Poole)

(Guzik)

House of Ahab

King Ahab and queen Jezebel were ruthless and utterly evil! They led the people away from the one true God. 

The prophecy concerning the house of Ahab and its demise unfolded as foretold and God used Jehu as His instrument of judgment.

“This was suitable to Ahab’s sin. He had sent for baskets of grapes out of Naboth’s vineyard at Jezreel; and now the heads of his sons are brought thither in baskets.” (Trapp)

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But take heart ❤️ because scripture also says: “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sow of the Spirit, continue to do good and do not lose heart!

Blessings 

Sow of the Spirit

2 Kings 9:30-37 True Peace!

 “Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot. And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.” ’ ”” II Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭30‬-‭37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Is it peace, Zimri: Jezebel called Jehu Zimri after the man who assassinated King Elah of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-12), when Zimri was also the servant of Elah, a commander in his army. It was her way of calling Jehu a despicable rebel.

i. It was also an implied threat, because the brief reign of Zimri was ended by Omri, who was the father of Ahab and the father-in-law of this same Jezebel. By implication Jezebel said, “The dynasty of Omri will defeat you just like it defeated Zimri.”

ii. “Doubtless Jezebel’s adornment was intended to create a queenly appearance in the face of impending death and served as a royal burial preparation.” (Patterson and Austel)

iii. “Her innate vanity manifested itself up till the last.” (Knapp)

b. So they threw her down: The eunuchs at the window probably worked for Jezebel, but they quickly responded to Jehu’s request for support. They probably had long despised this wicked, pagan queen.

i. Jehu emphatically answered her question about peace. “There cannot be true peace so long as we permit the infidelities and charms of some Jezebel of the soul-life to attract and affect us… Whatever its charms, it must be flung out the window before we can be at peace.” (Meyer)

c. He trampled her underfoot: In ancient near eastern cultures, this desecration of the dead body was a fate worse than death. Yet Jehu was completely untroubled at the ugly end of Jezebel; he ate and drank after trampling over her dead body and passing over the pavement splattered with her blood.

i. “Her brains, that devised mischief against the servants of God, are strewed upon the walls.” (Trapp)

d. This is the word of the LORD: God’s promise against Jezebel and the house of Ahab was exactly and righteously fulfilled (1 Kings 21:19, 21:23-25).

i. “Jehoram’s blood manureth that plat that was wrung from Naboth, and Jezebel shall add to this compost. Oh, garden of herbs dearly bought, royally dunged!” (Trapp)

ii. Yet as the house of Jehu became corrupt, it also would face judgment. Hosea 1:4speaks of judgment to come upon the house of Jehu: I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. (Guzik)

True Peace!

Meyer’s comment bears repeating!

“There cannot be true peace so long as we permit the infidelities and charms of some Jezebel of the soul-life to attract and affect us… Whatever its charms, it must be flung out the window before we can be at peace.” (Meyer)

Samson had his Jezebel in Delilah! 

“Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.” ‭‭Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Samson died an early death because of his sin with Delilah, she was his Jezebel! 

But at least he turned back to the Lord in the last moments of his life!

Do you have true peace?

Blessings 

2 Kings 9:27-29 Inglorious

 “But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, “Shoot him also in the chariot.” And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there. And his servants carried him in the chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the City of David. In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So Jehu pursued him: Jehu had no direct command or commission from God to bring judgment upon the king of Judah, but he did anyway. Consciously or unconsciously, he was guided by God and he killed Ahaziah.

b. He fled to Megiddo, and died there: Ahaziah was happy to associate himself with the Northern Kingdom of Israel and their wicked kings. Therefore he died in the same judgment that came upon the king of Israel.

i. Ahaziah was also a blood relative of Ahab (Ahab was his grandfather), therefore making him liable under the judgment that came upon Ahab and his descendants.

ii. 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 also records the reign of Ahaziah and his inglorious end at the hands of Jehu. The reconciliation of the details of the death of Ahaziah between 2 Chronicles 22 and 2 Kings 9 is complicated, but definitely possible. Adam Clarke – among other commentators – carefully works out the details.

iii. When Ahaziah was killed in battle, they gave him a dignified burial – not for his own sake, but only because his ancestor Jehoshaphat was a godly man (2 Chronicles 22:9). (Guzik)

Inglorious “Causing shame and loss of honor”. 

As the world turns and I look around at society many people can be seen as inglorious like Ahaziah with the association’s that they keep and or by their actions. The way they dress, drive, judge, illicit drugs, spoken words, opinions on social media and the list goes on. 

Just yesterday when driving to town I had two vehicles almost hit me head on because they were in a hurry and decided to pass without regard to safety of others. I also can’t seem to go shopping anymore or camping without someone nearby doing drugs. 

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone asked themselves WWJD, what would Jesus do? 

Blessings 

2 Kings 9:25-26 I Will Repay, Says the Lord!

 “Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the Lord laid this burden upon him: ‘Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will repay you in this plot,’ says the Lord. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord.”” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD: This confirms that Jehu saw himself as a fulfiller of God’s will in bringing judgment on the house of Ahab. (Guzik)

I Will Repay, Says the Lord!

God is the ultimate judge! If you have been wronged rest assured He will repay you for it is written:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The human side of us wants to avenge when we have been wronged, when the courts fail to bring justice! But take solace in this, I will repay, says the Lord!

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If your name is in the Book of Life then you have nothing to worry about because Jesus took the punishment for your sins.

Is your name in the Book of Life?

Blessings 

2 Kings 9:14-20 Is It Peace?

 “So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria. But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, “If you are so minded, let no one leave or escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.” So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram. Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company of men.” And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ” So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not coming back.” Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”” II Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Is it peace: Upon seeing the company of Jehu approach, King Joram wanted to know if this mysterious group came in peace. As he waited to recover full strength in Jezreel, Joram was fundamentally insecure in his hold on the throne and easily suspected threats.

b. What have you to do with peace: Jehu meant that the soldier should not regard this as a time of peace, but a time of conflict – a time to violently overthrow the throne of Joram and the dynasty he came from.

i. When two messengers did not return but instead joined the company of Jehu, it showed that he enjoyed popular support among the troops of Israel, and King Joram did not.

c. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously: Jehu was such an intense man that his personality could be easily seen in the way he drove a chariot. (Guzik)

Is It Peace?

I am reminded what Jesus said! How do we know Jesus said it? Because it’s in red letters in the bible!

““Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Following Jesus will have consequences as it can divide families. I recall a friend’s comment, he said his father said to him, you always went overboard on things and you are going overboard on this Jesus stuff too! 

Are you all in on Jesus?

Blessings