2 Kings 10:1
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,
2 Kings 10:1 in other translations
| BSB | Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying: |
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| WEB | Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s sons, saying, |
| ASV | Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up the sons of Ahab, saying, |
| YLT | And Ahab hath seventy sons in Samaria, and Jehu writeth letters, and sendeth to Samaria, unto the heads of Jezreel, the elders, and unto the supporters of Ahab, saying, |
| DARBY | Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the princes of Jizreel, to the elders, and to Ahab's guardians, saying, |
| BBE | Now there were in Samaria seventy of Ahab's sons. And Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the responsible men, and to those who had the care of the sons of Ahab, saying, |
| Webster | And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying, |
What does 2 Kings 10:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 10:1-4
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Jehu sends an ironical letter to the elders of Samaria, telling them to choose one of the best of their master's sons, and put him on the throne; to which they return a submissive answer, 2Kgs 10:1-6. He writes a second letter, and orders them to send him the heads of Ahab's seventy sons; they do so, and they are laid in two heaps at the gate of Jezreel, 2Kgs 10:7, 2Kgs 10:8. Jehu shows them to the people, and excuses himself, and states that all is done according to the word of the Lord, 2Kgs 10:9, 2Kgs 10:10. He destroys all the kindred of Ahab that remained in Jezreel, 2Kgs 10:11. He also destroys forty-two men, the brethren of Ahaziah, king of Judah, 2Kgs 10:12-14. He meets with Jehonadab, and takes him with him in his chariot, 2Kgs 10:15, 2Kgs 10:16. He comes to Samaria, and destroys all that were of the kindred of Ahab there, 2Kgs 10:17. He pretends a great zeal for the worship of Baal, and gathers all his priests together, under the pretense of a grand sacrifice, and slays them all, 2Kgs 10:18-25. He burns Baal's images, and makes his temple a draught house, 2Kgs 10:26-28. But he does not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, and does not prosper, 2Kgs 10:29-31. Hazael vexes Israel, 2Kgs 10:32, 2Kgs 10:33. Jehu dies, having reigned over Israel, in Samaria, twenty-eight years, 2Kgs 10:34-36. Verse 1 Ahab had seventy sons - As he had several wives, he might have many children. The Israelites, from the earliest part of their history, were remarkably fruitful. How amazingly did they multiply in Egypt, even under the hand of the severest oppression! And as to the individuals of whose families we have an account, they are quite remarkable: Rehoboam had thirty-eight sons; Abdon had forty; Tola had thirty; Ahab, seventy; and Gideon, seventy-one. Unto the rulers of Jezreel - It certainly should be, unto the rulers of Samaria; for to them and to that city the whole context shows us the letters were sent. See 2Kgs 10:6. To them that brought up Ahab's children - It appears that the royal children of Israel and Judah were intrusted to the care of the nobles, and were brought up by them, (see 2Kgs 10:6); and to these, therefore, Jehu's letters are directed. It is supposed Isaiah (Isa 49:23) alludes to this custom: Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 10:1-14
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
2 Kings 10:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for 2 Kings 10:1
- Judges 8:30
And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
- 1 Kings 13:32
For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Beth–el, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
- 1 Kings 16:24
And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
- 1 Kings 16:28
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
- 2 Kings 5:3
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
- 1 Kings 21:8-14
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. …
- 2 Chronicles 22:9
And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
- Judges 12:14
And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
- Deuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
- Judges 10:4
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth–jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8 He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah.
12 At the shearing house he slays two and forty of Ahaziah's brethren.
15 He takes Jehonadab into his company.
18 By subtilty he destroys all the worshippers of Baal.
29 Jehu follows Jeroboam's sins.
32 Hazael oppresses Israel.
34 Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu.
seventy sons.
Jud 8:30; 10:4; 12:14
in Samaria.
5:3; 1Ki 13:32; 16:28; 2Ch 22:9
the rulers.
De 16:18; 1Ki 21:8-14
them. Heb. nourishers.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- 2 Kings 10:1
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,
- 2 Kings 10:2
Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;
2 Kings 10:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y TENÍA Achâb en Samaria setenta hijos; y escribió letras Jehú, y enviólas á Samaria á los principales de Jezreel, á los ancianos y á los ayos de Achâb, diciendo: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Or Achab avait 70 fils à Samarie; et Jéhu écrivit des lettres, et les envoya à Samarie aux chefs de Jizreël, aux anciens, et aux gouverneurs des enfants d’Achab, disant: |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und Ahab hatte siebzig Söhne zu Samaria. Und Jehu schrieb Briefe und sandte sie nach Samaria an die Obersten von Jisreel, die Ältesten, und an die Erzieher der Söhne Ahabs, und sie lauteten: |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Erant autem Achab septuaginta filii in Samaria: scripsit ergo Jehu litteras, et misit in Samariam, ad optimates civitatis, et ad majores natu, et ad nutritios Achab, dicens: |