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II Kings 10

מלכים ב׳ פרק י׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 10 of 25 | Day: 132 of 742

Date: June 23, 2026


קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 10 completes the purge that chapter 9 began, carrying Jehu’s revolution from the killing of individual kings to the systematic eradication of an entire dynasty and the cult it had sponsored. The chapter unfolds in three great movements: the destruction of Ahab’s seventy sons in Samaria, the slaughter of the kinsmen of Ahaziah, and the elaborate trap by which Jehu exterminates the worshippers of Baal. Throughout, the narrative keeps one eye on prophecy and the other on Jehu’s character, and the tension between the two — between the man as God’s chosen instrument and the man as a calculating, blood-soaked operator — is the chapter’s deepest theme.

The opening movement is a masterpiece of political maneuver. Rather than march on Samaria, Jehu writes to the city’s elders and to the guardians rearing Ahab’s seventy sons, daring them to set one of the princes on the throne and fight. Paralyzed by fear — if two kings could not stand against Jehu, how could they? — they capitulate utterly, declaring themselves his servants. Jehu’s second letter is the trap sprung: bring me the heads of your master’s sons by tomorrow. When the seventy heads arrive in baskets and are piled in two heaps at the city gate, Jehu stages a public reckoning. He tells the people they are righteous, then asks pointedly who struck down all of these — for he killed only the king, while the elders of the city killed the seventy. The commentators (Rashi, Radak, and Metzudat David) read the speech as a deliberate piece of self-exoneration: Jehu spreads the guilt onto the notables of Samaria even as he proclaims that not one word the Lord spoke against the House of Ahab through Elijah has fallen to the ground.

The middle of the chapter introduces a figure who will matter for centuries: Jehonadab son of Rechab, the ancestor of the ascetic Rechabites whom Jeremiah would later praise (Jeremiah 35). Jehu, having just slaughtered forty-two kinsmen of Ahaziah at Beth-eked, meets Jehonadab and tests his loyalty — Is your heart upright with me as mine is with yours? — then pulls him up into the chariot with the invitation, Come and see my zeal for the Lord. The pairing is telling: Jehu wants a witness of recognized piety to legitimate the bloodshed as religious zeal. With Jehonadab beside him he completes the destruction of Ahab’s survivors in Samaria, again framed as the fulfillment of the word God had spoken to Elijah.

The chapter’s climactic third movement is the annihilation of Baal worship by ruse. Jehu announces that whereas Ahab served Baal a little, he will serve him much, and proclaims a great sacrifice, summoning every prophet, priest, and worshipper of Baal on pain of death. The text states plainly that Jehu acted with cunning (be-okvah) in order to destroy them. Vestments are distributed so the worshippers can be identified and none can slip away, a precaution worshippers of the Lord are first cleared out, and eighty armed men are posted at the doors. When the offering is complete, Jehu gives the signal and his men put the entire assembly to the sword; the temple of Baal is torn down and, in a calculated desecration, turned into latrines to this day. Yet the chapter ends on a deliberately mixed verdict. God rewards Jehu with a dynasty to the fourth generation — Rashi and Radak identify the prophet who conveyed this as Yonah ben Amitai, and the four generations as Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah — but the same passage indicts him: Jehu did not abandon the golden calves of Jeroboam at Bethel and Dan, nor did he walk in God’s Torah with all his heart. The reward and the rebuke stand side by side, and the chapter closes with the first territorial losses to Hazael, a sign that even a divinely sanctioned purge cannot secure a kingdom whose worship remains compromised.


פרק י׳ · Chapter 10

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וּלְאַחְאָ֛ב שִׁבְעִ֥ים בָּנִ֖ים בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן וַיִּכְתֹּב֩ יֵה֨וּא סְפָרִ֜ים וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח שֹׁמְר֗וֹן אֶל־שָׂרֵ֤י יִזְרְעֶאל֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְאֶל־הָאֹמְנִ֥ים אַחְאָ֖ב לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

Ahab had seventy descendants in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of Jezreelaof Jezreel Emendation yields “of the city.” and to the guardians of [the children] of Ahab, as follows:

Jehu turns from killing kings to destroying the dynasty: he writes to the elders, officials, and guardians rearing Ahab's seventy sons in Samaria (Rashi: the guardians who raised Ahab's children).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְאֶל הָאֹמְנִים אַחְאָב. אוֹמְנִים אֶת בָּנָיו.
And to the custodian of Achov's children. Those who brought up his children.1The literal translation is, "and to those who raised Achov."

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹ֨א הַסֵּ֤פֶר הַזֶּה֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִתְּכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם וְאִתְּכֶם֙ הָרֶ֣כֶב וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים וְעִ֥יר מִבְצָ֖ר וְהַנָּֽשֶׁק׃

English:

“Now, when this letter reaches you—since your master’s sons are with you and you also have chariots and horses, and a fortified city and weapons—

His letter dares them — since they hold the princes, the chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons (Rashi: the strength to wage war) —
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְאִתְּכֶם הָרֶכֶב וְהַסּוּסִים. וְיֵשׁ בָּכֶם כֹּחַ לְהִלָּחֵם.
And with you are the chariot[s] and the horses. And they have strength to wage war.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וּרְאִיתֶ֞ם הַטּ֤וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֔ם וְשַׂמְתֶּ֖ם עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א אָבִ֑יו וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ עַל־בֵּ֥ית אֲדֹנֵיכֶֽם׃

English:

select the best and the most suitable of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

to choose the best of their master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for the dynasty; a challenge designed to expose their weakness.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ מְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ הִנֵּה֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַמְּלָכִ֔ים לֹ֥א עָמְד֖וּ לְפָנָ֑יו וְאֵ֖יךְ נַעֲמֹ֥ד אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

English:

But they were overcome by fear, for they thought, “If the two kings could not stand up to him, how can we?”

But they are paralyzed by fear, reasoning that if the two kings (Rashi: Joram and Ahaziah) could not stand against Jehu, neither can they.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
שְׁנֵי הַמְּלָכִים. יוֹרָם וַאֲחַזְיָהוּ.
Two kings. Yorom and Achazyohu.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּ֣יִת וַאֲשֶׁ֪ר עַל־הָעִ֟יר וְהַזְּקֵנִים֩ וְהָאֹמְנִ֨ים אֶל־יֵה֤וּא ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָֽ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ נַעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹא־נַמְלִ֣ךְ אִ֔ישׁ הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃

English:

The steward of the palace and the governor of the city and the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your subjects, and we shall do whatever you tell us to. We shall not proclaim anyone king; do whatever you like.”

The palace steward, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians surrender utterly, declaring themselves Jehu's servants and refusing to crown anyone.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב אֲלֵיהֶם֩ סֵ֨פֶר ׀ שֵׁנִ֜ית לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־לִ֨י אַתֶּ֜ם וּלְקֹלִ֣י ׀ אַתֶּ֣ם שֹׁמְעִ֗ים קְחוּ֙ אֶת־רָאשֵׁי֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֹ֧אוּ אֵלַ֛י כָּעֵ֥ת מָחָ֖ר יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה וּבְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־גְּדֹלֵ֥י הָעִ֖יר מְגַדְּלִ֥ים אוֹתָֽם׃

English:

He wrote them a second time: “If you are on my side and are ready to obey me, take the heads of the attendants ofbthe attendants of Force of Heb. uncertain; cf. next verse. your master’s sons and comeccome Targum and Septuagint read “and bring them.” to me in Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the princes, seventy in number, were with the notables of the town, who were rearing them.

Jehu's second letter springs the trap: bring me the heads of your master's sons in Jezreel by this time tomorrow — the seventy princes being reared by the city's notables.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וּבְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ אֶת גְּדֹלֵי הָעִיר וְגוֹ'. כָּל זֶה כָּתַב בַּסֵּפֶר, וַאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ חֶשְׁבּוֹנָם, שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ וְהֵם עִם גְּדוֹלֵי הָעִיר הַמְּגַדְּלִים אוֹתָם.
The sons of the king [number] seventy men, and the great men of the city, etc. All this was written in the letter, "And I know their count, seventy men, and they are with the elders of the city who are raising them.2Alternatively, "now the kings sons, etc." until the end of the verse was not written in the letter. Rather, it is a comment by [Yirmiyahu] the author of the Book of Kings.—Radak

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י כְּבֹ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ אֶת־רָֽאשֵׁיהֶם֙ בַּדּוּדִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃

English:

But when the letter reached them, they took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel.

When the letter arrives they slaughter all seventy princes, place their heads in baskets, and send them to Jehu in Jezreel.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בַּדּוּדִים. סִירוֹת.
In pots. [In] pots.3Alternatively, "in baskets" which were loosely woven so the heads would be visible from the outside.—Ralbag

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ וַיַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֵבִ֖יאוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר שִׂ֣ימוּ אֹתָ֞ם שְׁנֵ֧י צִבֻּרִ֛ים פֶּ֥תַח הַשַּׁ֖עַר עַד־הַבֹּֽקֶר׃

English:

A messenger came and reported to him: “They have brought the heads of the princes.” He said, “Pile them up in two heaps at the entrance of the gate before morning.”

Told the heads of the princes have arrived, Jehu orders them piled in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning — staging a public spectacle.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
צִבֻּרִים. חֳמָרִין, דְּגוּרִין, מונטי"ס בְּלַעַ"ז.
Piles. Mounds. [And Targum Yonoson rendered] דְּגוּרִין [=mounds],4See Targum in Shemos 8:10 who renders דְּגוֹרִין for חֳמָרִים [=piles]. moncels, in O.F.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֤י בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וַיֵּצֵ֣א וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם צַדִּקִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֜י קָשַׁ֤רְתִּי עַל־אֲדֹנִי֙ וָאֶהְרְגֵ֔הוּ וּמִ֥י הִכָּ֖ה אֶת־כׇּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃

English:

In the morning he went out and stood there; and he said to all the people, “Are you blameless?dAre you blameless? Or “You are blameless.” True, I conspired against my master and killed him; but who struck down all of these?

At dawn Jehu addresses the people with calculated rhetoric: 'You are righteous' — I conspired against and killed the king, but who struck down all of these? (Rashi, Radak, and Metzudat David: he shifts the guilt onto the men of Samaria who did the killing).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
צַדִּקִים אַתֶּם. כֻּלְּכֶם בְּעֵינֵיכֶם צַדִּיקִים, וּמַחֲזִיקִים אוֹתִי בְּחֶזְקַת רָשָׁע, עַל שֶׁהָרַגְתִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְעַתָּה רְאוּ, הִנֵּה אֲנִי קָשַׁרְתִּי עַל אֲדוֹנִי וָאֶהְרְגֵהוּ, אֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה מִי הִכָּה, אֲנִי לֹא הֲרַגְתִּים, אַךְ מֵאֵלֶּה תֵדְעוּ אֵפוֹא, כִּי גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ הִיא עֲלֵיהֶם, וְהַהוֹרְגָם צַדִּיק הוּא, וּמְקַיֵּם אֶת מִצְוַת הַמָּקוֹם.
"You are righteous." In your eyes you are all righteous, and you consider me as being wicked because I killed the king. But look, now I revolted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? I did not kill them. But from these you will know then that it is a decree of the King upon them, and whoever kills them is righteous and fulfills the commandment of the Omnipresent.

פסוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

דְּע֣וּ אֵפ֗וֹא כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יִפֹּ֜ל מִדְּבַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אַ֔רְצָה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב וַיהֹוָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּיַ֖ד עַבְדּ֥וֹ אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃

English:

Know, then, that nothing that GOD has spoken concerning the House of Ahab shall remain unfulfilled, for GOD has done what was announced through Elijah—God’s servant.”

He declares the proof of prophecy: nothing the Lord spoke against the House of Ahab will fall to the ground, for God has fulfilled what He announced through Elijah His servant.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣ךְ יֵה֗וּא אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֤ים לְבֵית־אַחְאָב֙ בְּיִזְרְעֶ֔אל וְכׇל־גְּדֹלָ֖יו וּמְיֻדָּעָ֣יו וְכֹהֲנָ֑יו עַד־בִּלְתִּ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ל֖וֹ שָׂרִֽיד׃

English:

And Jehu struck down all that were left of the House of Ahab in Jezreel—and all his notables, intimates, and priests—till he left him no survivor.

Jehu then strikes down all who remained of the House of Ahab in Jezreel — its notables, intimates, and priests — leaving no survivor.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ וַיָּבֹ֔א וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמְר֑וֹן ה֛וּא בֵּֽית־עֵ֥קֶד הָרֹעִ֖ים בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

English:

He then set out for Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds,

He sets out for Samaria, and on the way reaches Beth-eked of the shepherds.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בֵּית עֵקֶד הָרֹעִים. בֵּית כְּנִישַׁת רָעֲיָא. עֵקֶד. לְשׁוֹן קֶשֶׁר, מְקוֹם אֲסֵפַת רוֹעִים.
The gathering place of the shepherds. [Targum Yonoson] renders בֵּית כְּנִישַׁת רָעֲיָא [=the house where shepherds gather]. Gathering. An expression of binding, the place where shepherds gather.5I.e., the shepherds come together at one place. Alternatively, בֵּית עֶקֶד is the shearing place for sheep, because shepherds tie [=עוֹקֵד] the sheep prior to shearing them.—Radak

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וְיֵה֗וּא מָצָא֙ אֶת־אֲחֵי֙ אֲחַזְיָ֣הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִ֣י אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אֲחֵ֤י אֲחַזְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וַנֵּ֛רֶד לִשְׁל֥וֹם בְּנֵ��י־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבְנֵ֥י הַגְּבִירָֽה׃

English:

Jehu came upon the kinsmen of King Ahaziah of Judah. “Who are you?” he asked. They replied, “We are the kinsmen of Ahaziah, and we have come to pay our respects to the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”

There he meets the kinsmen of Ahaziah of Judah, who say they have come to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother (Rashi: Jezebel; Radak: they were unaware Jehu had killed Joram).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וּבְנֵי הַגְּבִירָה. אִיזֶבֶל.
And the queen's sons. Ezevel.6They were unaware that Yeihu killed Yehorom, otherwise they would have fled.—Radak

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֔ים וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּם חַיִּ֑ים וַיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם אֶל־בּ֣וֹר בֵּֽית־עֵ֗קֶד אַרְבָּעִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־הִשְׁאִ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ מֵהֶֽם׃ {ס}        

English:

“Take them alive!” he said. They took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two of them; he did not spare a single one.

Jehu orders them taken alive and then slaughtered at the pit of Beth-eked — forty-two men, not one spared.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֡ם וַיִּמְצָ֣א אֶת־יְהוֹנָדָב֩ בֶּן־רֵכָ֨ב לִקְרָאת֜וֹ וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲיֵ֧שׁ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֣ יָשָׁ֗ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר לְבָבִי֙ עִם־לְבָבֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָדָ֥ב יֵ֛שׁ וָיֵ֖שׁ תְּנָ֣ה אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן יָד֔וֹ וַיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ אֵלָ֖יו אֶל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה׃

English:

He went on from there, and he met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming toward him. He greeted him and said to him, “Are you as wholehearted with me as I am with you?” “I am,” Jehonadab replied. “If so,” [said Jehu,] “give me your hand.” He gave him his hand and [Jehu] helped him into the chariot.

Continuing on, Jehu meets Jehonadab son of Rechab and tests his loyalty — 'Is your heart upright with me as mine is with you?' — then pulls him up into the chariot (the ancestor of Jeremiah's Rechabites, Jeremiah 35).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו. יֵהוּא. הֲיֵשׁ אֶת לְבָבְךָ יָשָׁר. וְשָׁלֵם [עִם] מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה, כַּאֲשֶׁר לְבָבִי שָׁלֵם עִם לְבָבֶךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹנָדָב יֵשׁ וָיֵשׁ תְּנָה אֶת יָדֶךָ. וֶאֱחֹז בָּהּ, וְהַעֲלֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ אֶל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה.
And said to him. [I.e.,] Yeihu [said to him]. "Is your heart upright." Wholehearted in what I am doing, as I am wholeheartedly with your heart? And Yehonodov said, "It sure is, give me your hand." And hold it and take me up to you, to the chariot.7I.e., to Yeihu's chariot. Alternatively, "Give me your hand" was spoken by Yeihu who then pulled Yehonodov up into his chariot.—Radak Or, he asked for a handshake as a gesture to confirm their amicable relationship.—Metzudas Dovid

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְכָ֣ה אִתִּ֔י וּרְאֵ֖ה בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י לַיהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּרְכִּ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ׃

English:

“Come with me,” he said, “and see my zeal for GOD.” And he was taken along in the chariot.

Jehu invites him, 'Come and see my zeal for the Lord' — wanting a witness of recognized piety to frame the bloodshed as religious zeal.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹא֙ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וַ֠יַּ֠ךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים לְאַחְאָ֛ב בְּשׁ��מְר֖וֹן עַד־הִשְׁמִד֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ {פ}

English:

Arriving in Samaria, [Jehu] struck down all the survivors of [the House of] Ahab in Samaria, until he wiped it out, fulfilling the word that GOD had spoken to Elijah.

Arriving in Samaria, Jehu strikes down all the survivors of Ahab's house there until he wipes it out, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken to Elijah.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ יֵהוּא֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַחְאָ֕ב עָבַ֥ד אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל מְעָ֑ט יֵה֖וּא יַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ הַרְבֵּֽה׃

English:

Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal little; Jehu shall serve him much!

Jehu now turns on the Baal cult by ruse, gathering the people and proclaiming: Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much!

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֣ה כׇל־נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֡עַל כׇּל־עֹבְדָ֣יו וְכׇל־כֹּהֲנָיו֩ קִרְא֨וּ אֵלַ֜י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יִפָּקֵ֗ד כִּי֩ זֶ֨בַח גָּד֥וֹל לִי֙ לַבַּ֔עַל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִפָּקֵ֖ד לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶ֑ה וְיֵהוּא֙ עָשָׂ֣ה בְעׇקְבָּ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן הַאֲבִ֖יד אֶת־עֹבְדֵ֥י הַבָּֽעַל׃

English:

Therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests: let no one fail to come, for I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever fails to come shall forfeit his life.” Jehu was acting with guile in order to exterminate the worshipers of Baal.

He summons every prophet, priest, and worshipper of Baal to a great sacrifice on pain of death — the text stating plainly that Jehu acted with cunning in order to exterminate them.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בְעָקְבָּה. בְּמִרְמָה, לְשׁוֹן: וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי.
With cunning. With guile, an expression of "וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי [=he beguiled me]."8Bereishis 27:36.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵה֗וּא קַדְּשׁ֧וּ עֲצָרָ֛ה לַבַּ֖עַל וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ׃

English:

Jehu gave orders to convoke a solemn assembly for Baal, and one was proclaimed.

Jehu orders a solemn assembly proclaimed for Baal, and it is duly announced.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
קַדְּשׁוּ עֲצָרָה. הַכְרִיזוּ אֲסֵפָה, לִהְיוֹת נֶעֱצָרִים לְבֵית הַבַּעַל.
"Sanctify an assembly." [I.e.,] announce an assembly,9Alternatively, "Announce a cessation of work [= עֲצָרָה]." See Rashi in Bamidbar 29:35. that they assemble in the temple of the Baal.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יֵהוּא֙ בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ כׇּל־עֹבְדֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל וְלֹא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־בָ֑א וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיִּמָּלֵ֥א בֵית־הַבַּ֖עַל פֶּ֥ה לָפֶֽה׃

English:

Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, not one remained behind. They came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was filled from end to end.

Word goes throughout Israel and every Baal-worshipper comes, not one staying away; they fill the temple of Baal from end to end.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־הַמֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה הוֹצֵ֣א לְב֔וּשׁ לְכֹ֖ל עֹבְדֵ֣י הַבָּ֑עַל וַיֹּצֵ֥א לָהֶ֖ם הַמַּלְבּֽוּשׁ׃

English:

He said to the wardrobeewardrobe Meaning of Heb. uncertain. manager, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal”; and he brought vestments out for them.

Jehu has the wardrobe-keeper bring out vestments for all the worshippers (Metzudat David: so they would be identifiable by their dress and none could slip away).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
עַל הַמֶּלְתָּחָה. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: לְדִמְמָנָא עַל קוֹמַטְרַיָּא, אַרְגָּזִים וְקֻפְסָאוֹת, שֶׁכּוֹרְכִין בְּתוֹכָן וְגוֹנְזִין תַּכְשִׁיטֵי עוֹבְדֵי הַבַּעַל.
Of the wardrobe. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, "לְדִמְמָנָא עַל קוֹמַטְרַיָּא [=to the one appointed over the wardrobe]," chests and boxes in which they wrap and store the ceremonial garments of the Baal worshipers.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֥א יֵה֛וּא וִיהוֹנָדָ֥ב בֶּן־רֵכָ֖ב בֵּ֣ית הַבָּ֑עַל וַיֹּ֜אמֶר לְעֹבְדֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל חַפְּשׂ֤וּ וּרְאוּ֙ פֶּן־יֶשׁ־פֹּ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ מֵעַבְדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אִם־עֹבְדֵ֥י הַבַּ֖עַל לְבַדָּֽם׃

English:

Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab came into the temple of Baal, and they said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and make sure that there are no worshipers of GOD among you, but only worshipers of Baal.”

Jehu and Jehonadab enter and have the worshippers search the temple to ensure that only Baal-worshippers, and no servants of the Lord, are present.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת זְבָחִ֣ים וְעֹל֑וֹת וְיֵה֞וּא שָֽׂם־ל֤וֹ בַחוּץ֙ שְׁמֹנִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּלֵט֙ מִן־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מֵבִ֣יא עַל־יְדֵיכֶ֔ם נַפְשׁ֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

English:

So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But Jehu had stationed eighty of his men outside and had said, “Whoever permits the escape of a single one of those whom I commit to your charge shall forfeit life for life.”

As the sacrifices begin, Jehu stations eighty of his men outside with the warning that whoever lets a single one escape will forfeit his own life.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נַפְשׁוֹ תַּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ. נֶפֶשׁ הַשּׁוֹמֵר תַּחַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַנִּמְלָט.
You will forfeit your life for his life. The life of the guard shall be [forfeit] for the life of the one who escapes.10Because of his negligence.—Metzudas Dovid

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֞י כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ ׀ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הָעֹלָ֗ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵ֠ה֠וּא לָרָצִ֨ים וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים בֹּ֤אוּ הַכּוּם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יֵצֵ֔א וַיַּכּ֖וּם לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וַיַּשׁ��לִ֗כוּ הָרָצִים֙ וְהַשָּׁ֣לִשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ עַד־עִ֥יר בֵּית־הַבָּֽעַל׃

English:

When Jehu had finished presenting the burnt offering, he said to the guards and to the officers, “Come in and strike them down; let no one get away!” The guards and the officers struck them down with the sword and left them lying where they were; then they proceeded to the interiorfinterior Lit. “city.” of the temple of Baal.

When the offering is complete, Jehu gives the signal; the guards and officers put the entire assembly to the sword and press on into the inner sanctum of the temple.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ. וְרָמוּ רָהֲטַיָּא וְגַבְרַיָּא קְטִילִין, הִשְׁלִיכוּ חֲלָלִים אֶת עוֹבְדֵי הַבַּעַל.
Threw them out. [Targum Yonoson] (renders), "וְרָמוּ רָהֲטַיָּא וְגַבְרַיָּא קְטִילִין [=and the couriers and the mighty warriors cast cadavers]," they cast down the cadavers of the Baal worshipers.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת בֵּית־הַבַּ֖עַל וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ׃

English:

They brought out the pillarsgpillars Emendation yields “sacred posts”; cf. Deut. 12.3. of the temple of Baal and burned them.

They bring out the sacred pillars of the temple of Baal and burn them.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַֽיִּתְּצ֔וּ אֵ֖ת מַצְּבַ֣ת הַבָּ֑עַל וַֽיִּתְּצוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיְשִׂמֻ֥הוּ (למחראות) [לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת] עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃

English:

They destroyed the pillarhpillar Emendation yields “altar.” of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case.

They smash the pillar of Baal and tear down the temple, turning it into latrines to this day (Rashi and Radak: a privy — a calculated desecration).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
לְמָחֳרָאוֹת. לְשׁוֹן בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא, וְכֵן: לֶאֱכֹל אֶת חוֹרָאֵיהֶם.
Into an outhouse. An expression meaning a privy, and similarly [it states], "to eat their excrement [=חוראיהם]."11Yeshayahu 36:12.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

Thus Jehu eradicated the Baal from Israel.


פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

רַ֠ק חֲטָאֵ֞י יָרׇבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־נְבָט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱטִ֣יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־סָ֥ר יֵה֖וּא מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם עֶגְלֵי֙ הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּדָֽן׃ {פ}

English:

However, Jehu did not turn away from the sinful objects by which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin, namely, the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan.

Yet the verdict turns: Jehu does not abandon the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat — the golden calves at Bethel and Dan remain.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
רַק חֲטָאֵי יָרָבְעָם וְגוֹ'. מִדְּאָגָה שֶׁלֹּא תָשׁוּב הַמַּמְלָכָה לְבֵית דָּוִד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְיָרֵא יָרָבְעָם.
However, from the sins of Yerovom, etc. Out of fear, that the kingdom return to the House of Dovid, as Yerovom had feared.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־יֵה֗וּא יַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־הֱטִיבֹ֙תָ֙ לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת הַיָּשָׁר֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּלְבָבִ֔י עָשִׂ֖יתָ לְבֵ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב בְּנֵ֣י רְבִע��֔ים יֵשְׁב֥וּ לְךָ֖ עַל־כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

GOD said to Jehu, “Because you have acted well and done what was pleasing to Me, having carried out all that I desired upon the House of Ahab, four generations of your descendants shall occupy the throne of Israel.”

God rewards Jehu for executing His will against the House of Ahab with a dynasty to the fourth generation (Rashi and Radak: the prophet was Yonah ben Amitai; the four are Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah).
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל יֵהוּא. בְּיַד יוֹנָה. בְּנֵי רְבִעִים. אַרְבַּע דּוֹרוֹת, תַּחַת שֶׁהִשְׁמַדְתָּ אֶת בֵּית אַחְאָב שֶׁמָּלְכוּ אַרְבַּע דּוֹרוֹת, עָמְרִי, וְאַחְאָב, וַאֲחַזְיָה, וִיהוֹרָם.
Adonoy said to Yeihu. Through Yonah. Four generations of your sons. Four generations12The four generations of Yeihu's descendants are: Yehoachaz, Yehoash, Yorovom and Zecharyoh. [as reward] for your having destroyed the house of Achov, which reigned for four generations: Omri, Achov, Achazyoh, and Yehorom.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וְיֵה֗וּא לֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ר לָלֶ֛כֶת בְּתֽוֹרַת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכׇל־לְבָב֑וֹ לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מֵעַל֙ חַטֹּ֣אות יָרׇבְעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

But Jehu was not careful to follow the Teaching of GOD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.


פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם הֵחֵ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה לְקַצּ֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּכֵּ֥ם חֲזָאֵ֖ל בְּכׇל־גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

In those days GOD began to reduce Israel; and Hazael harassed them throughout the territory of Israel

In those days God begins to reduce Israel, as Hazael strikes at its territory throughout the land.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
לְקַצּוֹת. כְּמוֹ: קַצְתִּי בְּחַיָּי.
To show His disgust. As in, "קַצְתִּי בְּחַיָּי [=I am disgusted with my life]."13Bereishis 27:46.14Alternatively, "began to cut [=לְקַצוֹת] into Yisroel" as in Devorim 25:12, "you shall cut off [=וְקַצוֹתָ]."—Metzudas Tzion Or, "began to strike at those living at the border [=קָצֶה]," i.e., those living in the eastern part of Eiver Hayardein.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִזְרַ֣ח הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֔ד הַגָּדִ֥י וְהָראוּבֵנִ֖י וְהַֽמְנַשִּׁ֑י מֵֽעֲרֹעֵר֙ אֲשֶׁר־עַל־נַ֣חַל אַרְנֹ֔ן וְהַגִּלְעָ֖ד וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃

English:

east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer, by the Wadi Arnon, up to Gilead and Bashan.

The losses are concrete: all of Gilead east of the Jordan — the Gadites, Reubenites, and Manassites — from Aroer by the Arnon up to Gilead and Bashan.

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֵה֛וּא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה וְכׇל־גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

The other events of Jehu’s reign, and all his actions, and all his exploits, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.


פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב יֵהוּא֙ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֹׁמְ��֑וֹן וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ יְהוֹאָחָ֥ז בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

English:

Jehu rested with his ancestors and he was buried in Samaria; he was succeeded as king by his son Jehoahaz.


פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וְהַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָלַ֤ךְ יֵהוּא֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ {פ}

English:

Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.


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