2 Kings 10:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jehu's second letter demands proof of loyalty: the leaders must execute Ahab's seventy sons and bring their heads to Jezreel.
What Does 2 Kings 10:6 Mean?
Having received their pledge, Jehu tests it with a terrible command. If they are truly his, they must take the lives of the seventy heirs in their care and deliver the proof to Jezreel by the next day. The men who raised these children are made to destroy them. The narrative records the horror plainly, without softening it.
This is the grim execution of the judgment Elijah foretold against Ahab's house for its bloodshed and idolatry. The Bible does not present such scenes as models to imitate but as sober history -- the wages of a dynasty that shed innocent blood now returning upon it. We read it trembling, sobered by how sin sets in motion consequences that fall heavily, and longing for the day when judgment gives way to the mercy secured in Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 10:6
What does 2 Kings 10:6 mean?
Jehu's second letter demands proof of loyalty: the leaders must execute Ahab's seventy sons and bring their heads to Jezreel.