2 Kings 10 Commentary
You may want to check the estimated portion of land that the LORD promised Abraham. It is big and includes much of what is Saudi Arabia today. Under Joshua, Israel could only occupy a smaller subset of the bigger promise. The occupation was largely on paper, as much of the land still remained in enemy hands.
King David united the nation, and Solomon increased its influence and extent, but it was still the same very small subset of the promise. Jehu has become king over one of the two pieces of the original united kingdom that we saw under David and Solomon
It is under Jehu that we see the disappearance of the Trans-Jordan tribes during a conquest mounted by Aram. This is a huge turning point in the fortunes of the nation. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead and Bashan all disappear. It is a low point.
But we know Israel has lived with a rope around its neck from the moment Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. He had declared them as Israel’s new gods who brought them out of Egypt. It is this sin that other kings down the line have perpetuated, including Jehu.
This chapter started with bloodshed as the house of Ahab is exterminated completely, all in accordance with the word of the LORD through the prophet Elijah. Ahab’s fate and that of the entire nation lay in the hands of the word of the LORD.
Hazael’s military campaign against Israel wasn’t one of peace. Don’t think of conquest here as one where national flags and administrations change peacefully. It was the kind that made the great prophet Elisha weep as the LORD showed him a movie of these events.
We should not be bothered too much by the killings here. Jehu was killing corpses. A man without God is a corpse. Israel has lived without God for a long time. They have spurned chance after chance to reconnect to the life-giver. So they have remained lifeless in the sight of their Maker. It is a matter of getting rid of deadwood!
However, the death of the righteous is precious in the eyes of the LORD. They actually don’t die; they simply transition. The story of Elijah’s transitioning on the wings of fire gives us a good picture.
Of course, the LORD has acted tough on Ahab – like he deserved any better. But we need to remind ourselves of the generosity of the LORD. So generous is the LORD God that even a mere public show of repentance by Ahab earned him another chance – a pause to the sentence. You guess a genuine heart from Ahab was going to reverse everything!
And for Jehu, are these works of righteousness enough to lead him to the true worship of the LORD? It appears Jehu is just fulfilling a task list without any real connection with the Task Master. He hasn’t kept the law of the LORD with all his heart. Sad.
More resources, visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 