King Jehu (2 Kings 9-10) overview

When it comes to the kings of the Bible, we've probably heard of David and Solomon and maybe even Ahab, but many of us, even if we have heard of the others, cannot recall much about their lives. Such is probably the case for King Jehu. For the avid Bible trivia player, one may remember that King Jehu was known for his fast (and probably reckless) driving. But for what else was he known?

King Jehu may not have made an impression on us today, but he surely made an impression on another king about 2800 years ago. The king of the Assyrian Empire, Shalmaneser III (859-824 B.C.), perceived King Jehu to be so important that he had his monument makers include him on an obelisk. Not only is Jehu's name inscribed in cuneiform but his image is depicted on the Black Obelisk.

But what is the story of King Jehu? The Bible tells us that the prophet Elisha sent one of his apprentice prophets to anoint Jehu as king of Israel (i.e. the Northern kingdom). This king's mission was to "destroy the house of Ahab..." (2 K 9: 7). The destruction of the house of Ahab was to avenge the murder of the prophets by Jezebel, Ahab's wife. Jehu conspired against the current king, King Joram, who was in Jezreel and was recovering from wounds received from fighting the Arameans. King Jehu rode to Jezreel in his chariot, and the tower watchman noticed the driving and remarked that it reminded him of Jehu who "drives like a madman" (2 K 9:20). When two messengers sent out from King Joram did not return to the compound but fell in behind Jehu, King Joram and King Ahaziah rode out to meet Jehu. After an exchange of words, Joram and Ahaziah rode off. Jehu shot an arrow, and it hit Joram between the shoulders and pierced his heart and he died in his chariot. His body was thrown onto the field of Naboth which had been acquired by Jezebel for her husband by having Naboth killed (1 K 21). King Ahaziah also fled and was mortally wounded and died in Megiddo. King Jehu continued his mission and went back to Jezreel, where he found Jezebel looking out a window. He commanded a couple of eunuchs to throw her down to a violent death (2 K 9:33). When she was going to be buried all they found was "her skull, her feet, and her hands" (2 K 9:35). Afterwards, Jehu had Ahab's sons, all seventy of them, "slaughtered" (2 K 10:7) and beheaded, and then he had their heads stacked in two piles at the entrance of the city gate of Jezreel (2 10: 8). The Bible goes on to say that Jehu killed the relatives of Ahaziah, the remaining family members of Ahab, and the ministers of Baal.

God seemed to be pleased with what King Jehu had accomplished (2 K 10:28,30). His sons would be on the throne of Israel for four generations because of his righteousness. However, two verses show that not everything was perfect. Jehu did not "turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat...the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan," (2 K 10:29) nor did he "keep the law of the LORD with all his heart" (2 K 10:31).

So, even though we rarely take note of King Jehu today, in his day he was an important ruler, so important that the ruler of the Assyrian Empire decided to use his image to show how powerful the Assyria king was. God used Jehu to carry out justice to the house of Ahab. What does he have for us? But no matter what God has called us to do, he first calls us to him and him alone. If we only half do what God has called us to do, we disobey. If we do do what he calls us to do and forget to worship him only, then we fail in our mission. Jehu accomplished the first part of his mission, the avenging of the prophet's blood and the killing of Baal's ministers, but Jehu only exchanged one idol for another. He, possibly passively, did not eradicate idolatry but allowed he worship of the golden calves to continue in the land. What we do actively is just as important as what we allow to continue passively.

εἰς + accusative for places = "to"

• εἰς την Γαλιλαιαν -- to Galilee 
• verbs ἐπεστρεψαν [3P Aor Act Ind] from ἐπιστερεφω - I turn around Luke 2:39
• and ὑπεστρεψεν [3S Aor Act Ind] from  ὑποστεφω - I turn back, return Luke 4:14
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Honeymoon in the desert (Jeremiah 2:2)

When two people get married and they're planning a honeymoon, they think of exotic locations. But what about going to a barren desert for a honeymoon? It's probably not even on the list for most of us.

But God compared the beginning of his relationship with Israel to a husband taking his bride to the desert. In the beginning Israel was ready to go wherever God would take them. He was taking them to an inhospitable environment. There was nothing there, but they were ready to follow with no regard to the consequences.

It's a beautiful picture of faith. When one decides to follow the path of God, He will lead them on a life-long adventure in which  they may not know where they are going. But like Israel's journey in the desert, we may not be able to see his providence. We just have to trust He will provide and not chase after so-called "gods"to rescue us when things look dire.

Into the desert they ran hand in hand.

The bride didn't know where they were going,

But she didn't care, she was with her love.

He gave her water, when she had the first hint of thirst.

Never did she suffer from heat,

Despite never having shelter.

The same with the night cold.

There was nothing,

But she was never hungry.

But when the bride wanted to see the water, shelter, and food,

She didn't see anything,

And began to doubt her husband.

She developed physical eyes

And looked to physical gods to provide for her.

Despite her needs being previously met,

She walked by sight and found herself destitute.

Her husband now jilted.

First now last.