📖 2 Kings — Chapter 10 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Kings 10:1 And Ahab had Rseventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to Tthem that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,
2 Kings 10:2 Now Ras 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 10:3 RLook even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
2 Kings 10:4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, RBehold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
2 Kings 10:5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, RWe are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
2 Kings 10:6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, RIf ye be Tmine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.
2 Kings 10:7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and Rslew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
2 Kings 10:8 And Rthere came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
2 Kings 10:9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, RYe be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?
2 Kings 10:10 Know now that there shall Rfall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake Tby his servant Elijah.
2 Kings 10:11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his Tkinsfolks, and Rhis priests, until he left him none remaining.
2 Kings 10:12 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the Tshearing house in the way,
2 Kings 10:13 Jehu Tmet 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 Tto salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.
2 Kings 10:14 And he said, RTake them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
2 Kings 10:15 And when he was departed thence, he RTlighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he Tsaluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
2 Kings 10:16 And he said, RCome with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
2 Kings 10:17 And when he came to Samaria, Rhe slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.
2 Kings 10:18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, RAhab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
2 Kings 10:19 Now therefore call unto me Rall the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
2 Kings 10:20 And Jehu said, RTProclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
2 Kings 10:21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. RAnd they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was Tfull from one end to another.
2 Kings 10:22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
2 Kings 10:23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
2 Kings 10:24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, RIf any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
2 Kings 10:25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, RGo in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with Tthe edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
2 Kings 10:26 And they brought forth the RTimages out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
2 Kings 10:27 And they Rbrake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
2 Kings 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
2 Kings 10:29 Howbeit from Rthe sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
2 Kings 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, RBecause thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
2 Kings 10:31 But Jehu RTtook no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
2 Kings 10:32 In those days the LORD began Tto cut Israel short: and RHazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
2 Kings 10:33 From Jordan Teastward, all Rthe land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, Teven Gilead and Bashan.
2 Kings 10:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 10:35 And RJehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 10:36 And Tthe time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 10:1–17 — Ahab’s house is destroyed
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehu’s letters lead Samaria’s leaders to kill Ahab’s sons. Further killings follow, including Ahaziah’s relatives. Jehonadab joins Jehu, who speaks of his zeal. The fulfillment language must be read alongside the severe human cost and Jehu’s own accountability.
Key Truth: Claims of zeal do not put a person beyond moral examination.
Check What You Remember
1. How many sons of Ahab were in Samaria? (2 Kings 10:1)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:1 (KJV).
2. Who joined Jehu’s chariot? (2 Kings 10:15)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:15 (KJV).
3. Which prophet’s word is recalled? (2 Kings 10:17)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 10:18–28 — Jehu destroys Baal worship through deception
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehu pretends to favor Baal, gathers worshippers, and orders their killing before destroying the shrine. This account of an ancient purge does not authorize violence against religious communities today.
Key Truth: Oppose idolatry without treating this narrative as permission for private violence.
Check What You Remember
1. Which god did Jehu pretend to serve? (2 Kings 10:18)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:18 (KJV).
2. How many guards were stationed outside? (2 Kings 10:24)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:24 (KJV).
3. What shrine did they destroy? (2 Kings 10:27)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:27 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Kings 10:29–36 — Partial reform and continued sin
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehu removes Baal worship but keeps Jeroboam’s golden calves. God acknowledges his action against Ahab’s house, yet the narrator says he does not walk wholeheartedly in the law. Territory is lost, and Jehoahaz succeeds him.
Key Truth: One correct action does not excuse continued disobedience.
Check What You Remember
1. Where were the retained golden calves? (2 Kings 10:29)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:29 (KJV).
2. Who succeeded Jehu? (2 Kings 10:35)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:35 (KJV).
3. How many years did he reign? (2 Kings 10:36)
Find it in 2 Kings 10:36 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Hosea 1:4 — This later prophetic word also names the blood of Jezreel and Jehu’s house.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What wrong might you overlook because you have already corrected something else?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How do Samaria’s rulers answer Jehu’s challenge?
2. What does Jehu recognize in Jehonadab before taking him along?
3. What deception gathers Baal’s worshippers?
4. What qualification limits the praise of Jehu’s actions?
5. What promise is made concerning Jehu’s descendants?
Notes
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