New International Version“You have your master’s sons with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons. Now as soon as this letter reaches you,
New Living Translation“The king’s sons are with you, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons. As soon as you receive this letter,
English Standard Version“Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons,
Berean Standard Bible“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,
King James BibleNow 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;
New King James VersionNow 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,
New American Standard Bible“And now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses, and a fortified city and the weapons,
NASB 1995“Now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses and a fortified city and the weapons,
NASB 1977“And now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses and a fortified city and the weapons,
Legacy Standard Bible“So now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses and a fortified city and the weapons,
Amplified Bible“Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons (male descendants) are with you, as well as chariots and horses and a fortified city and weapons,
Christian Standard BibleYour master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, so when this letter arrives
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhen this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry,
American Standard VersionAnd 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 fortified city also, and armor;
Contemporary English VersionYour town is strong, and you're protected by chariots and an armed cavalry. And I know that King Ahab's descendants live there with you. So as soon as you read this letter,
English Revised VersionAnd 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;
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Your master's heirs are with you, and you have chariots, horses, fortified cities, and weapons. As soon as this letter reaches you,
Good News Translation"You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. So then, as soon as you receive this letter,
International Standard Version"As soon as you receive this letter (since your master's children are with you, you have chariots and horses there with you, and you are protected by a walled city and weaponry),
NET Bible"You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives,
New Heart English Bible"Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons.
Webster's Bible TranslationNow 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 fortified city also, and armor; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,
World English Bible“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 armor, Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“And now, at the coming in of this letter to you, and sons of your lord [are] with you, and the chariots and the horses, and a fortified city, and the armor, [are] with you,
Young's Literal Translation And now, at the coming in of this letter unto you, and with you are sons of your lord, and with you are the chariots and the horses, and a fenced city, and the armour,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd now when this letter comes to you, and with you your lord's sons, and with you chariots and horses, and a fortified city, and weapons; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAs soon as you receive these letters, ye that have your master's sons, and chariots, and horses, and fenced cities, and armour,
Catholic Public Domain Version“Immediately when you receive these letters, you who have your lord’s sons, and chariots, and horses, and reinforced cities, and weapons,
New American Bible“Since your master’s sons are with you, as well as his chariots, horses, fortified city, and weaponry, when this letter reaches you
New Revised Standard Version“Since your master’s sons are with you and you have at your disposal chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow as soon as this letter reaches you, seeing your master's sons are with you and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons;
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated“In the moment that this letter has come to you and the sons of your Master with you, and chariots and horses with you, and the fortified cities and a supply of arms OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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, fortified cities also, and armour;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationNow then, as soon as this letter shall have reached you, whereas there are with you the sons of your master, and with you chariots and horses, and strong cities, and arms,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jehu Slaughters Ahab's Family1Now 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: 2“When thisletterarrives,sinceyour master’ssonsare with youand you havechariotsand horses,a fortifiedcityand weaponry,3select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”…
Cross References 1 Kings 21:21This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free.
1 Kings 21:24Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”
1 Kings 21:29“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”
2 Kings 9:7And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:8The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel.
2 Kings 9:9I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah.
2 Kings 9:10And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.
2 Kings 9:22When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
2 Kings 9:30-37Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window. / And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?” / He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three eunuchs looked down at him. ...
2 Kings 11:1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
2 Chronicles 22:8So while Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the rulers of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers who were serving Ahaziah, and he killed them.
Hosea 1:4Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
Matthew 23:35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Luke 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Romans 11:4And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Treasury of Scripture Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armor; as soon 2 Kings 5:6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I havetherewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. Jump to Previous ArmorArmourArmsCarriagesChariotsCitiesCityFencedFortifiedHorsesLetterMaster'sReachesSoonStraightWalledWeaponsJump to Next ArmorArmourArmsCarriagesChariotsCitiesCityFencedFortifiedHorsesLetterMaster'sReachesSoonStraightWalledWeapons2 Kings 10 1.Jehu, by his letters, causes seventy of Ahab's sons to be beheaded8.He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah12.At the shearing house he slays forty-two of Ahaziah's brothers15.He takes Jehonadab into his company18.By subtilty he destroys all the worshippers of Baal29.Jehu follows Jeroboam's sins32.Hazael oppresses Israel34.Jehoahaz succeeds JehuWhen this letter arrivesThis phrase indicates the use of written communication, which was common in the ancient Near East for official and royal correspondence. Letters were often delivered by messengers and could carry significant authority. In the context of 2 Kings, Jehu's letter is a strategic move in his campaign to consolidate power and eliminate the house of Ahab, fulfilling the prophecy given to Elijah ( 1 Kings 21:21-24). since your master’s sons are with you
The "master's sons" refers to the sons of Ahab, the former king of Israel. Jehu is addressing the leaders of Samaria, where Ahab's descendants were being raised. This phrase highlights the political tension, as these sons were potential claimants to the throne, posing a threat to Jehu's rule. The presence of these royal heirs in Samaria underscores the city's importance as a political and military center. and you have chariots and horses
Chariots and horses were symbols of military strength and power in ancient Israel and its surrounding regions. They were crucial for warfare, providing speed and mobility. The mention of these assets suggests that the leaders of Samaria had the means to defend the city and support a rival king, making Jehu's challenge more formidable. This also reflects the broader biblical theme of reliance on military might versus trust in God (Psalm 20:7). a fortified city
Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was a well-fortified city, strategically located on a hill, making it difficult to besiege. Its fortifications would have included walls, gates, and towers, providing a strong defense against attackers. The city's fortification is significant in the narrative, as it represents the last stronghold of Ahab's dynasty, which Jehu is determined to overthrow. and weaponry
The mention of weaponry indicates the preparedness for conflict and the potential for resistance against Jehu's coup. Weapons in ancient Israel included swords, spears, bows, and shields. The presence of such armaments in Samaria suggests that the city was ready for battle, emphasizing the challenge Jehu faced in securing his rule. This also ties into the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty over human conflicts and the futility of opposing His will (Isaiah 54:17). Persons / Places / Events 1. JehuThe newly anointed king of Israel, tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab as part of God's judgment. 2. Ahab's SonsThe seventy sons of Ahab, representing the continuation of Ahab's dynasty, which Jehu is commanded to destroy. 3. SamariaThe capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where Ahab's sons are located. 4. Chariots and HorsesSymbols of military strength and power, indicating the resources available to Ahab's sons. 5. Fortified CityRepresents the stronghold and defense mechanisms in place to protect Ahab's lineage. Teaching Points Divine Judgment and Fulfillment of ProphecyGod's word is always fulfilled, as seen in the judgment against Ahab's house. Believers can trust in the certainty of God's promises and warnings. The Futility of Human StrengthDespite having chariots, horses, and fortified cities, Ahab's sons could not escape God's judgment. This teaches us to rely on God rather than human resources. Obedience to God's CommandsJehu's actions, though violent, were in obedience to God's specific command. This challenges us to discern and obey God's will, even when it is difficult. The Consequences of SinAhab's family faced destruction due to their idolatry and sin. This serves as a warning about the serious consequences of turning away from God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of 2 Kings 10:2?
2.How does 2 Kings 10:2 demonstrate God's judgment on Ahab's descendants?
3.What role do the elders play in fulfilling God's plan in 2 Kings 10:2?
4.How can we discern God's will when facing difficult decisions like in 2 Kings 10:2?
5.What lessons from 2 Kings 10:2 apply to confronting sin in our lives?
6.How does 2 Kings 10:2 connect to God's justice throughout the Bible?
7.How does 2 Kings 10:2 reflect God's justice in the Old Testament context?
8.What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 10:2?
9.How does 2 Kings 10:2 align with the overall theme of divine retribution in Kings?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 10?
11.2 Kings 2:11 - How do we reconcile a 'chariot of fire' with natural laws and observable phenomena?
12.Do 2 Kings 13:7's figures of 50 horsemen and 10 chariots conflict with known military realities, or is there supporting archaeological evidence?
13.How does 2 Kings 10:1-11 reconcile mass slaughter with the broader biblical prohibition against murder?
14.Why do the numbers listed in 2 Chronicles 9:25 about Solomon's horses and chariots differ from related passages like 1 Kings 4:26?What Does 2 Kings 10:2 Mean When this letter arrives– Jehu’s message reaches the elders and guardians in Samaria, calling for an immediate response. • The timing underscores divine urgency; God’s judgment does not wait (Isaiah 55:11;Jeremiah 1:12). • A written letter carries official, binding force, echoing other prophetic letters that demanded decisive action (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). • Receiving the letter places the recipients at a crossroads—obedience or resistance—much like the choices set before Israel earlier (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
since your master’s sons are with you– The “sons” are the seventy male heirs of Ahab, potential claimants to the throne. • Their presence in Samaria shows how deeply Ahab’s dynasty was entrenched (1 Kings 16:29-33). • Guardians are implicitly reminded of their duty, yet the letter tests where their ultimate allegiance lies—family loyalty or God’s directive through Jehu (Exodus 20:3;Matthew 10:37). • God’s justice targets the entire corrupt line, fulfilling Elijah’s earlier prophecy against Ahab’s house (1 Kings 21:21-24).
and you have chariots and horses– Jehu acknowledges their military resources. • Chariots and horses symbolized royal power and security (1 Kings 10:26;Psalm 20:7). • By listing these assets, Jehu removes any excuse for inaction: they cannot claim weakness (Judges 4:3). • The verse subtly contrasts earthly might with God’s sovereign plan; however strong the arsenal, it cannot thwart divine judgment (Psalm 33:16-17;Proverbs 21:31).
a fortified city and weaponry– Samaria’s walls and armaments represent maximum human defense. • Fortified cities were considered impregnable (2 Chronicles 17:2;Nahum 3:12), yet Jehu’s challenge exposes their ultimate vulnerability before God’s decree (Isaiah 26:1-2). • The mention of defenses emphasizes the completeness of Ahab’s resources: heirs, military, and strongholds. Nothing was lacking—except God’s favor (Psalm 127:1). • The guardians must decide: trust the fortress or submit to the prophetic word, recalling Jericho’s fall despite its walls (Joshua 6:1-20).
summary2 Kings 10:2 confronts Samaria’s leaders with a stark reality: though they hold Ahab’s heirs, military power, and strong defenses, God’s judgment through Jehu is unstoppable. The verse exposes the futility of relying on human strength against divine purpose and invites readers to place their confidence not in earthly resources but in obedient alignment with God’s revealed word. (2) Now as soon as this letter cometh.-- Rather, And now when this letter cometh. Only the conclusion of the letter, containing the gist of it, is reported here. (Comp. 2Kings 5:6.) Seeing your master's sons . . . look even out(2Kings 10:3).--Rather,there are with you both your master's sons, and the chariots and the horses,and a fenced city, and the armoury:so look out the best, &c. A fenced city.--All the versions but the Arabic have "fenced cities;" and so Josephus. There is a tone of mockingirony in Jehu's challenge to the nobles of Samaria, who were probably as luxurious and cowardly now as in the days of Amos, a few years later (Amos 3:12;Amos 6:3-6). (Comp. alsoIsaiah 28:1-10.) By his careful enumeration of their resources, he as good as says that his defiance is not the fruit of ignorance. . . . Verse 2. - Now as soon as this letter cometh to you. In the East at this time, and in most parts of it to the present day, letters can only be sent by special messengers. There is no public post. Kings and private individuals must equally find persons who will undertake to carry and deliver their despatches. Even the post organized by Darius Hystaspis was not one that went daily, but only one kept ready for the king to use when he had occasion for it. Seeing your master's sons are with you. "Your master's sons" must mean Joram's sons; by which we learn that, unlike his brother Ahaziah ( 2 Kings 1:17), Joram had male offspring who survived him, and were now with the rest of Ahab's descendants, at Samaria. And there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armor; literally, the chariots, and the horses, a fenced city also, and the armor. The main chariot force of the country, and the chief arsenal, containing both armor and arms, were naturally at Samaria, the capital, and might thus be regarded as at the disposition of the Samaritan municipality. Jehu scornfully challenges them to make use of their resources against him. He is quite ready for a contest. Let them do their worst. The LXX. have "fenced cities" ( πόλειςὀχυραί) instead of "a fenced city;" but the existing Hebrew text is probably right Samaria was the only fortified town in their possession.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew “When thisהַזֶּה֙(haz·zeh)Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatletterהַסֵּ֤פֶר(has·sê·p̄er)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5612:A missive, document, writing, bookarrives,כְּבֹ֨א(kə·ḇō)Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gosinceוְעַתָּ֗ה(wə·‘at·tāh)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258:At this timeyour master’sאֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם(’ă·ḏō·nê·ḵem)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 113:Sovereign, controllersonsבְּנֵ֣י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonare with youוְאִתְּכֶ֖ם(wə·’it·tə·ḵem)Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 854:Nearness, near, with, by, at, amongand you haveוְאִתְּכֶם֙(wə·’it·tə·ḵem)Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 854:Nearness, near, with, by, at, amongchariotsהָרֶ֣כֶב(hā·re·ḵeḇ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7393:A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstoneand horses,וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים(wə·has·sū·sîm)Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483:A swallow, swift (type of bird)a fortifiedמִבְצָ֖ר(miḇ·ṣār)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4013:A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defendercityוְעִ֥יר(wə·‘îr)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892:Excitementand weaponry,וְהַנָּֽשֶׁק׃(wə·han·nā·šeq)Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5402:Military equipment, arms, an arsenal
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OT History: 2 Kings 10:2 Now as soon as this letter comes (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
