2 Kings Chapter 10
The Reforms of Jehu
A. Jehu Executes the House of Ahab
1. Ahab’s descendants are executed at Jezreel
(2 Kings 10:1-11)
“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.”
This passage records the first stage of Jehu’s divinely commissioned purge of the entire Ahabite dynasty, an act commanded by God through the prophet Elijah many years earlier. Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria, meaning he had a vast network of heirs capable of attempting to reclaim the throne after Joram’s death. These sons were living in the capital city, surrounded by military resources, fortified walls, and influential guardians. For Jehu, this represented both a political threat and a direct obstacle to fulfilling the word of the LORD. Jehu therefore wrote to the rulers and guardians, challenging them openly to choose a successor from Ahab’s sons and “fight for your master’s house.” This was an intentional psychological strike. Jehu forced them to declare whether they were loyal to Ahab’s dynasty or whether they would submit to the new king whom the LORD had raised up.
The rulers of Samaria immediately recognized the gravity of their situation. They admitted, “Two kings could not stand up to him, how then can we stand,” testifying to the fear Jehu’s swift and decisive actions had already produced. Jehu had killed two kings in one day, and no one dared oppose him. Out of this fear they surrendered completely, pledging, “We are your servants, we will do all you tell us,” making it clear that they would choose survival over loyalty to the fallen dynasty. Jehu tested this loyalty with a second letter, demanding the heads of Ahab’s sons. The guardians carried out the order without hesitation, slaughtering all seventy and placing their severed heads in baskets to present to Jehu. This gruesome display demonstrated both the thorough collapse of Ahab’s support structure and the ruthless efficiency with which Jehu carried out the judgment of God.
When the messenger reported that the heads had arrived, Jehu commanded that they be laid in two heaps at the city gate until morning. This public display served as a warning to all Israel. It testified that the LORD’s word spoken through Elijah had not fallen to the ground. When Jehu addressed the people, he declared, “Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the LORD.” Jehu acknowledged his own responsibility in killing Joram, but he challenged the people concerning the seventy deaths, demonstrating that the leaders of Israel themselves had participated in carrying out God’s judgment. Jehu framed the entire event as proof of God’s sovereignty and justice. Finally, Jehu completed the purge by killing all remaining members of Ahab’s circle in Jezreel, including relatives, political allies, military officers, and priests. He left “none remaining,” ensuring the total destruction of Ahab’s dynasty just as God had decreed.
Jehu’s actions align with the prophecy given in 1 Kings 21, where Elijah pronounced judgment on Ahab’s house after the murder of Naboth. This execution of seventy sons, their heads brought in baskets, is a tragic but righteous fulfillment of divine justice. As early commentators noted, the baskets that once held the fruit of Naboth’s vineyard now carried the heads of Ahab’s own sons, a poetic and severe reversal of Ahab’s sin.
Notes on Key Phrases
“Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria.” This indicates not only biological children but likely grandchildren, extended heirs, and those adopted into the royal household. Their number reveals the power and influence the house of Omri accumulated over decades.
“Fight for your master’s house.” Jehu forced the rulers to take sides. His challenge exposed their fear and lack of resolve, and this boldness broke any remaining allegiance they had to Ahab’s line.
“They took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons.” Jehu’s authority was so overwhelming that the leaders of Samaria became willing participants in eliminating the dynasty they once served.
“Put their heads in baskets.” In the ancient Near East, displaying the severed heads of rebels was a common practice meant to deter insurrection. Jehu uses this exact form of psychological dominance as part of his consolidating of the kingdom.
“You are righteous.” Jehu addressed the people to show that they were not innocent spectators. He reminded them that both he and they had taken part in the judgment God decreed. He framed the event not as political opportunism but divine justice unfolding.
2. Jehu meets 42 members of Ahaziah’s family and executes them
(2 Kings 10:12-14)
“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.”
Jehu continued his God appointed purge as he traveled from Jezreel toward Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom. Along the road at the place called Beth Eked of the Shepherds, he encountered a large group of men identified as the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. The term “brothers” here refers to the royal relatives of Ahaziah, members of the extended Davidic family who were connected with the house of Ahab through marriage. When Jehu questioned them, “Who are you,” they openly declared their identity and explained their purpose. They said, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah, we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” In their minds they were traveling to show honor and offer greetings to the royal family in the northern kingdom, likely unaware that Jehu had already executed King Joram, King Ahaziah himself, and seventy sons of Ahab.
This admission sealed their fate. Jehu’s divine mandate was to execute judgment on all connected with the house of Ahab. Since Ahaziah was a grandson of Ahab and Jezebel through his mother Athaliah, the connection between the two royal houses was close and undeniable. Therefore, these men were not innocent travelers but part of a corrupt and idolatrous dynasty under divine judgment. Their reference to “the sons of the queen mother” demonstrated their allegiance to the line of Jezebel, the very line God had declared He would cut off entirely. Jehu immediately gave the command, “Take them alive,” which did not mean to spare them but to prevent escape or resistance. Once captured, they were taken to the well of Beth Eked, where Jehu had all forty two of them executed without exception. His obedience to God’s judgment was total and uncompromising. As the text states plainly, “He left none of them.”
Notes on Key Phrases
“Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah.”
This was a fatal providence for these men. Their royal connection placed them directly within the scope of God’s declared judgment, because the house of Judah had become entangled with the wicked house of Ahab through intermarriage. Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and therefore both he and his kin were under the shadow of the same condemnation.
“We have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”
Their words unintentionally condemned them. They revealed their loyalty to the dynasty God had rejected. The queen mother they referenced was the position Jezebel once held, now mirrored in Athaliah, who later attempted to destroy the entire royal seed of Judah.
“He left none of them.”
This statement summarizes Jehu’s relentless execution of divine justice. His obedience was complete and immediate, and he carried out the judgment of God with full authority. Some later commentators argue that Jehu exceeded his mandate, but the text itself presents Jehu as acting decisively in accordance with prophetic judgment. The LORD had declared that the house of Ahab would be entirely cut off, and Jehu allowed no survivor connected with that corrupt line to continue.
3. Jehu executes the remainder of Ahab’s family at Samaria
(2 Kings 10:15-17)
“Now when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, ‘Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?’ And Jehonadab answered, ‘It is.’ Jehu said, ‘If it is, give me your hand.’ So he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. Then he said, ‘Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.’ So they had him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to Elijah.”
As Jehu continued his divinely appointed purge, he encountered Jehonadab the son of Rechab on the road. Jehonadab was not a random traveler but a significant and respected spiritual figure in Israel, the founder of the Rechabite movement. Jehu greeted him warmly and immediately tested his allegiance with the question, “Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart.” Jehu wanted assurance that Jehonadab shared his commitment to eradicate the wickedness of Ahab's dynasty. Jehonadab affirmed, “It is,” and Jehu asked for his hand, pulling him up into his own chariot. This act symbolized partnership, agreement, and shared purpose. It also served another motive: Jehu desired the public endorsement of a man who was widely known for purity, obedience, and spiritual integrity. Jehonadab’s presence beside him in the chariot would send a powerful message to all observing Israel.
Jehu then invited him, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.” By this he declared what he considered his righteous passion, a zeal evidenced in his relentless execution of divine judgment upon the house of Ahab. Yet this statement also exposes something deeper. Jehu wanted his zeal seen, recognized, and admired. He wanted a witness to his religious fervor. This reveals a troubling seed of pride in Jehu’s character. True zeal for God directs glory upward. Jehu’s zeal increasingly turned toward self justification and public approval. With Jehonadab riding in his chariot, Jehu proceeded to Samaria, continuing the task of eliminating every remaining descendant and supporter of Ahab. The text emphasizes that Jehu killed all who remained to Ahab “according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to Elijah.” Jehu’s actions fulfilled the long standing prophecy of judgment pronounced decades earlier, proving once again that not one word of the LORD falls to the ground.
Notes on Key Phrases
“He met Jehonadab the son of Rechab.”
Jehonadab was a respected spiritual leader and the founder of the Rechabites, a family and movement characterized by strict obedience, self discipline, and a lifestyle deliberately opposed to the moral compromise and materialism that plagued Israel. Jeremiah 35 records how the LORD used the Rechabites as a living rebuke against Judah’s disobedience. Their commitment stood in stark contrast to the idolatry and decadence promoted by Ahab and his descendants.
Early commentators noted that Jehonadab’s presence carried spiritual weight. His austere, nomadic community refused wine, rejected settled luxury, and lived in deliberate dependence upon God. Josephus adds that Jehu and Jehonadab were long standing friends, united in their disdain for the corruption and extravagance of Israel’s royal court.
“Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart.”
Jehu sought alignment, both political and spiritual. Jehonadab’s endorsement would validate Jehu’s actions before the nation. Jehonadab saw in Jehu an instrument of divine judgment, and Jehu saw in Jehonadab a symbol of national righteousness whose approval could bolster his legitimacy.
“Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.”
This reveals Jehu’s strength and weakness. His zeal was real, bold, and uncompromising. He threw himself into obedience with no hesitation. Yet the desire to have his zeal seen by others indicated pride rising beneath the surface. A truly humble servant of God performs His will without needing an audience. Commentators like Morgan and Knapp note that Jehu’s boastful display revealed a divided heart. His reforms were real, but his motives were mixed. Jehu was zealous for the LORD’s judgment, but not equally zealous for the LORD’s worship.
“He killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria.”
This final sweep completed the prophetic judgment pronounced by Elijah in 1 Kings 21. Every surviving remnant of Ahab’s dynasty, advisers, officers, and supporters was removed. God’s word was fully vindicated. Jehu acted as an instrument of divine justice, ensuring that the corruption introduced by Ahab and Jezebel would no longer infect the nation.
B. Jehu strikes against Baal worship
1. Jehu arranges a big sacrifice for Baal
(2 Kings 10:18-23)
“Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, ‘Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much. Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.’ But Jehu acted deceptively, with the intent of destroying the worshipers of Baal. And Jehu said, ‘Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.’ So they proclaimed it. Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. So they came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was full from one end to the other. And he said to the one in charge of the wardrobe, ‘Bring out vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.’ So he brought out vestments for them. Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the temple of Baal, and said to the worshipers of Baal, ‘Search and see that no servants of the LORD are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.’”
Jehu now turned his attention to the eradication of Baal worship, the most destructive religious corruption introduced by Ahab and Jezebel. His approach was cunning, deliberate, and strategically ruthless. Jehu called the people together and made a shocking proclamation. He declared, “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much.” This was a calculated lie meant to provoke enthusiasm among the Baal worshipers and disarm any suspicion. By appearing to exceed Ahab’s devotion to Baal, Jehu convinced the priests, prophets, and worshipers that a new golden age of Baalism had arrived in Israel. Jehu commanded that every prophet, priest, and loyal follower of Baal be summoned to a great sacrifice. He even added a death threat to enforce attendance, saying, “Whoever is missing shall not live.”
The writer of Scripture clarifies openly that Jehu acted deceptively with the intent of destroying the worshipers of Baal. His deception was not for personal gain but for the execution of divine judgment against the idolatry that had led Israel into deep apostasy. A solemn assembly was proclaimed, and Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel. The response was overwhelming. Every committed Baal worshiper came, filling the temple from one end to the other. This huge turnout demonstrates both how deeply Baalism had penetrated Israel and how effective Jehu’s deception was. The worshipers believed Jehu was sincere, especially when they saw Jehonadab son of Rechab, a respected spiritual figure, standing beside him. The priests of Baal were convinced that these powerful men were now converts joining them in a great sacrifice.
To further identify and isolate the idolaters, Jehu ordered the man in charge of the wardrobe to distribute vestments for all the worshipers of Baal. These ceremonial garments marked each participant clearly and publicly, ensuring that no worshiper of the LORD would accidentally be included among them. Jehu and Jehonadab then entered the temple and issued a final inspection order: “Search and see that no servants of the LORD are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” This search was not for the safety of Baal followers but for the protection of the faithful remnant. Jehu wanted no accidental casualties among those who still honored the true God. This step prepared the way for the destruction that would soon follow in the next verses.
Notes on Key Phrases
“Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much.”
This was deliberate misdirection. Jehu’s false profession of extravagant devotion to Baal was designed to lure every Baal worshiper into one location. Though the words sounded blasphemous, they were spoken as part of a divinely sanctioned judgment upon a false religion that had seduced Israel into spiritual ruin.
“I have a great sacrifice for Baal.”
The text does not specify who was to perform the sacrifice. Commentators note that Jehu did not act as a sacrificing priest. Instead, the phrase served as bait, promising a grand ceremony that Baal worshipers had long desired under a king who appeared friendly to their cause.
“The temple of Baal was full from one end to the other.”
This shows the extent of Israel’s idolatry. Despite the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, the nation still housed a massive population of committed idol worshipers. Jehu’s trap would gather them all for a final judgment.
“Bring out vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.”
These vestments marked every participant as a Baal devotee. Jehu ensured there would be no confusion. Anyone wearing the vestments was an idolater about to fall under judgment.
“Search and see that no servants of the LORD are here.”
Jehu took pains to protect the faithful. This was not indiscriminate slaughter but targeted judgment. Only those devoted to Baal were to be included. Jehu’s method was cold and calculated, but aimed at carrying out the LORD’s command with precision.
2. Jehu wipes out Baal worship in Israel
(2 Kings 10:24-28)
“So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men on the outside, and had said, ‘If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, whoever lets him escape, it shall be his life for the life of the other.’ Now it happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, ‘Go in and kill them, let no one come out.’ And they killed them with the edge of the sword, then the guards and the officers threw them out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. And they brought the sacred pillars out of the temple of Baal and burned them. Then they broke down the sacred pillar of Baal, and tore down the temple of Baal and made it a refuse dump to this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.”
This passage records the climactic moment of Jehu’s divinely appointed purge of Baal worship in Israel. After successfully luring every prophet, priest, and devoted follower of Baal into the temple through his deception, Jehu now sprung the trap. The worshipers believed they were participating in a grand national sacrifice led by a king who claimed to exceed even Ahab’s enthusiasm for Baal. They entered the temple eagerly and began offering sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had already set a ruthless military perimeter. He appointed eighty men outside the temple and charged them with absolute responsibility: if even one Baal worshiper escaped, the guard who let him escape would pay with his own life. This ensured total vigilance and absolute commitment from the soldiers.
When the burnt offering concluded, Jehu gave the decisive order. Turning to the guards and captains, he commanded, “Go in and kill them, let no one come out.” At that moment the soldiers rushed into the temple and slaughtered the Baal worshipers with the edge of the sword. No one escaped. Bodies were thrown out of the temple, clearing the way as the soldiers proceeded into the inner sanctuary, the most sacred area of the Baalite shrine. They removed the sacred pillars, the central objects of Baal worship, and burned them in the sight of the people. Then they tore down the entire temple structure. Scripture states that Jehu made it a refuse dump, a place of filth, humiliation, and contempt. This transformed the once luxurious and politically protected center of pagan worship into the lowest and most degraded space possible. The record concludes triumphantly, “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.” This was the most thorough purge of Baal worship the northern kingdom ever experienced.
Notes on Key Phrases
“As soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering.”
Jehu allowed the sacrifice to proceed. Whether Jehu personally performed the ritual or merely allowed it is not stated. What matters is that he permitted the worshipers to fully commit themselves to the act of idolatry. When the offering concluded, he issued the command. The timing ensured that every Baal devotee was gathered, marked, and fully identified before judgment fell.
“Go in and kill them, let no one come out.”
Jehu’s command was absolute. This was not a battle but an execution of divine judgment. There was no option of surrender or negotiation. The order ensured the end of Baal’s priesthood, its prophets, and its worshiping community in one decisive act.
“They went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.”
The inner room was the most revered space in Baal worship, containing sacred objects used for rituals associated with fertility, storms, and the cultic imagery that Jezebel had aggressively promoted. Jehu’s men penetrated even this forbidden space, leaving nothing untouched by judgment.
“They brought the sacred pillars out of the temple of Baal and burned them.”
The pillars (Hebrew: matzebah) were central to Baal worship, often representing the god himself. Burning these pillars was a direct attack against the idol and a symbolic statement that Baal was powerless to defend his own shrine.
“Then they broke down the sacred pillar of Baal, and tore down the temple of Baal and made it a refuse dump.”
This act completely reversed Ahab’s legacy. Ahab built the temple to honor Jezebel’s pagan religion (1 Kings 16:32). Jehu demolished it and turned it into a public latrine. Clarke observes that the phrase “refuse dump” literally means “a place for human excrement.” This was the ultimate expression of divine contempt toward Baal worship. No king in the northern kingdom ever took such decisive action against idolatry.
Historical-Theological Note
From Jeroboam onward, Israel had been steeped in idolatry. Jeroboam introduced false worship of the true God using golden calves (1 Kings 12:25-33). Subsequent kings followed in these sins until Ahab’s reign escalated the nation’s apostasy into full Baal worship, state protected and state funded. Jehu’s purge dismantled this entire religious system. Though Jehu did not return Israel to true biblical worship, this destruction of Baal’s temple remains the most thorough idol purge in the northern kingdom’s history.
3. The half-way obedience of Jehu
(2 Kings 10:29-31)
“However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. And the LORD said to Jehu, ‘Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.’ But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart, for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.”
This section reveals the tragic weakness behind Jehu’s otherwise bold and decisive actions. Though he destroyed Baal worship with unmatched zeal, Jehu failed to remove the foundational sin that had plagued Israel since its beginning under Jeroboam son of Nebat. Jeroboam introduced a counterfeit religion centered on golden calves at Bethel and Dan. These idols represented a false worship of the true God, a corruption designed to keep Israel from going to Jerusalem where God had commanded worship to take place. Jehu continued this system. He maintained the shrines, upheld the illegitimate priesthood, and kept the nation tied to a counterfeit religious structure. Thus his reform was only partial. Jehu aggressively opposed the worship of Baal, but he tolerated the idolatry that God had condemned from the very beginning of the northern kingdom.
Despite this, the LORD acknowledged the good that Jehu accomplished. God told him, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight… your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” Jehu fully carried out God’s judgment upon Ahab’s dynasty and successfully eradicated Baal worship from Israel. He was rewarded with the longest lasting dynasty in the northern kingdom, extending four generations. Yet Scripture also reveals the divided character behind Jehu’s actions. Jehu did much right, but he did not obey with his whole heart. God saw the zeal, but He also saw the hypocrisy. Though Jehu was an effective instrument of divine judgment, he lacked personal devotion to God’s law and refused to submit himself fully to the LORD’s will.
Notes on Key Phrases
“However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam.”
This is the great condemnation. Jehu destroyed Baal, but preserved the very system that first led Israel into rebellion. Jeroboam’s golden calves at Bethel and Dan were never removed. This shows the difference between being against certain sins and being for the full will of God. As Meyer said, it is easier to denounce the sins of others than to confront the idols of one’s own heart. Jehu hated Ahab’s idolatry, but he loved Jeroboam’s.
Spurgeon observed that Jehu obeyed God only as long as it benefited him. Removing Ahab’s house strengthened Jehu’s rule. Removing Jeroboam’s system would weaken his political grip on Israel, because the calves kept the people away from Jerusalem. Jehu’s obedience went only as far as his self-interest.
“Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight.”
God recognized the good Jehu accomplished. His extermination of Ahab’s house fulfilled the prophetic judgment given to Elijah. His purge of Baal worship was thorough and unmatched by any other king of Israel. For this he received a four-generation dynasty. Yet Scripture also reveals the other side. Hosea 1:4 says, “For in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu.” Both evaluations are true. Jehu was both the LORD’s instrument and a man of mixed motives.
Jehu carried out God’s will, but he exceeded God’s command and shed more blood than God required.
Jehu carried out God’s will, but he sought personal honor and political security in doing so.
Jehu carried out God’s will, but only partially, stopping short of total obedience.
“But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart.”
This is the final and ultimate indictment. Jehu’s obedience was outward, tactical, and politically advantageous. It was not born of a heart that delighted in God. He was selective in his obedience. Poole notes that Jehu followed God as far as his interest permitted, but no further. He remained a stranger to genuine fellowship with God.
Many scholars describe Jehu as a fierce patriot of Israel. He wanted a stronger nation, and he knew Baal worship weakened it. He wanted Israel united under his rule, and he knew that allowing worship in Jerusalem would threaten his authority. Therefore, he promoted worship of Yahweh at the golden calves—which God had always condemned—instead of leading Israel back to the true center of worship in Jerusalem.
Among the kings of the northern kingdom, Jehu was the best of a very corrupted line. He fought against idolatry more than any other, but even he did not do it with all his heart. He was outwardly successful, yet spiritually a failure. As Morgan stated, it is possible to be an instrument in God’s hand and yet never walk in fellowship with Him. Jehu’s zeal destroyed idols, but never touched his own pride. His reforms struck violently at others, but left his personal sin intact. As Spurgeon said, Jehu hated one sin and loved another. He was a reformer in public, but not a worshiper in private.
C. A summary of Jehu’s reign
1. Syria captures large portions of Israel’s territory
(2 Kings 10:32-33)
“In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel, and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan.”
During Jehu’s reign God Himself initiated a process of judgment against the northern kingdom. Scripture states that “the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel,” showing that these military losses were not mere political misfortune but the direct discipline of God. The LORD raised up Hazael of Syria as an instrument of chastisement, allowing him to conquer large stretches of territory that had belonged to Israel for more than six centuries. This land east of the Jordan had been claimed by the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh since the days of Joshua. These regions, especially Gilead and Bashan, were known for rich pasturelands, fortified cities, and economic value. Their loss marked a major decline in Israel’s national strength.
The cutting away of these territories was a covenant judgment. Israel’s idolatry, its refusal to walk in the law of the LORD, and Jehu’s own partial obedience all contributed to this erosion. Though Jehu eliminated Baal worship, he preserved the system of false worship instituted by Jeroboam. Therefore, God diminished the borders of Israel, showing the people that national strength cannot coexist with spiritual rebellion. What was taken from them was land God had graciously given, but which their disobedience had forfeited.
Notes on Key Phrases
“The LORD began to cut off parts of Israel.”
The language is intentional. God Himself acted as the One who pruned away Israel’s territory. Victory, loss, and the rise of enemy nations are under God’s sovereign control. The LORD used Hazael as a rod of correction.
“All the territory of Israel from the Jordan eastward.”
This region had been part of Israel’s inheritance since the conquest. Its loss symbolized not only military weakness but spiritual decline. These borderlands were the first to fall, showing how fragile the nation had become.
2. The summary of the reign of Jehu
(2 Kings 10:34-36)
“Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. And the period that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.”
The historian closes Jehu’s story with the standard royal summary. Jehu’s acts and displays of military power were recorded in the official chronicles of the kings of Israel. He died and was buried in Samaria, the capital he had ruled with a strong but divided heart. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him. Jehu reigned twenty-eight years, one of the longest reigns among the kings of Israel. God honored Jehu’s obedience in executing judgment on Ahab’s house by granting him a stable dynasty and a long period of political control. Yet Jehu’s reign is remembered primarily for its beginning, when he exercised fierce zeal in purging Baal worship. The remainder of his reign was spiritually stagnant, marked by the same false religion that Jeroboam had established.
Jehu had the opportunity, position, and influence to lead Israel into true covenant restoration. He had overthrown Ahab’s house, destroyed Jezebel, wiped out Baal’s priests, and abolished the state-sponsored Baal cult. Yet his refusal to remove the golden calves revealed that his devotion was only partial. He was a man of great potential who never fully turned to God. As a result, the nation remained in spiritual compromise, and his reforms—though dramatic—never produced lasting revival.
Notes on Key Phrases
“And they buried him in Samaria.”
Despite his flaws, Jehu was the best of a corrupt lineage of northern kings. His long reign was God’s reward for the good he accomplished. He was strong, decisive, courageous, and effective in executing divine judgment. Yet he did not walk in wholehearted obedience.
“Twenty-eight years.”
Jehu’s long reign shows that God often grants earthly success even to those whose obedience is partial. Clarke observes that Jehu’s reign, though long, is remembered only for its beginning. After his purge of Baal, the biblical record grows silent. There is no record of deepening devotion, spiritual progress, or covenant restoration.
“How terrible a warning,” Knapp notes, “that a man can do God’s work with great force and yet do it with a heart untouched by humility.” Jehu was God’s instrument but not God’s companion. He accomplished reformation but lacked transformation. His story warns every believer that zeal without heart obedience, and service without fellowship, can result in a life externally powerful but spiritually hollow.
