Day #186

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2 Kings 9-11 - Audio
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2 Kings 9-11

Chapter 9 – In verses 1-13 Elisha sends one of his student prophets to anoint Jehu king over Israel. This anointing brings the Elijah narratives to a close because God has anointed Jehu to wreak vengen3nce on the house of Ahab thereby fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy against Ahab and all his descendants. In verses 14-37 Jehu wastes little time in driving his chariot madly to pursue Joram and Ahaziah to death and then to throw Jezebel to be devoured by dogs…just as Elijah promised.

v. 26 – The murder of Naboth and the confiscation of his land (I Kings 21) as well as the resulting prophecy against Ahab and Jezebel are key to this passage. Jehu and Joram met at that piece of ground and Joram’s dead body was thrown there. Jehu’s mission was accomplished by ending the violence of the house of Ahab against the innocent, so that peace and order could be restored to Israel.

v. 36 – Elijah earlier prophesied the gruesome death of Jezebel in I Kings 21:23. The exposure of Jezebel’s corpse meant disgrace since burial was now impossible. Now that Jezebel is dead, Jehu turns his attention to Ahab’s sons.

Chapter 10 – This story continues with an ever-expanding massacre. First Jehu fulfills Elijah’s prophecy and satisfies God’s vengenence against Ahab by putting all 70 of his sons to death, (v. 1-17) then killing all of the remaining prophets of Baal (v. 18-27). Yet with all of his zeal, Jehu continues in the sins of Jeroboam, with the result that Israel is still in spiritual and political decline (v. 28-36).

v. 3 – By writing letters to the leading citizens and challenging them to place one of Ahab’s potential heirs on his father’s throne, Jehu forces them to choose sides.

v. 7 – This fulfills the word of God in 9:7-9.

v. 8-10 – Jehu knows who struck down all of these, but the people do not; and he invites them to believe that the heads mean that the revolution is bigger than he is, involving powers more lethal than his. It is truly God who is at work in overthrowing the house of Ahab.

v. 18-19 – Jehu’s strategy is to act enthusiastic while preparing for destruction.

v. 29 – The worship of Baal was only a particularly bad form of the idolatry that was practiced in Israel. Jehu dealt with Baal worship, but does nothing about the golden calves. The golden calves were installed by Jeroboam after leading Israel in revolt against the house of David (I Kings 12:25-30). Israel’s king Jeroboam challenged Jerusalem’s claim to be the only legitimate location for worshipping and offering sacrifices. Jeroboam built “shrines in high places” in Dan and Bethel as rivals to the Jerusalem temple, installed golden calves in each, appointed priests and set festival days.

Chapter 11 – Bloody Athaliah usurps the throne by deadly force, but Jehosheba and Jehoiada preserve the life of Judah’s anointed Joash. The child grows up in hiding until his guardians unveil his royal identity at the temple in Jerusalem and crown him as Judah’s king. Following the death of Athaliah, Jehoiada leads the people of Judah in renewing their covenant with God. The coronation of Joash marks the beginning of a reformation in Judah.

v. 1 – Athaliah is the daughter of Ahab. Her attempt to purge the royal family could have brought the dynasty of David to extinction.

v. 12 – The testimony refers to either the Siniatic covenant or to a more limited document that specified the duties and limitations of kingship.

v. 21 – Joash, introduced by the name in v. 2, will be called Jehoash throughout most of chapter 12, to be called Joash again when his death is reported.