Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. New Living Translation When the letter arrived, the leaders killed all seventy of the king’s sons. They placed their heads in baskets and presented them to Jehu at Jezreel. English Standard Version And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. Berean Standard Bible And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Berean Literal Bible And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the sons of the king and slaughtered seventy men, and they put their heads in the baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. King James Bible And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel. New King James Version So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. New American Standard Bible When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. NASB 1995 When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. NASB 1977 And it came about when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. Legacy Standard Bible Now it happened that when the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. Amplified Bible When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Berean Annotated Bible And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel (God sows). Christian Standard Bible When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Holman Christian Standard Bible When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all 70, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. American Standard Version And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel. Contemporary English Version And when these people read Jehu's second letter, they called together all 70 of Ahab's descendants. They killed them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel. English Revised Version And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel. GOD'S WORD® Translation When the letter came to the men, they slaughtered all 70 heirs. They put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. Good News Translation When Jehu's letter was received, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. International Standard Version When the letter from Jehu arrived, the city leaders arrested the king's sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. NET Bible When they received the letter, they seized the king's sons and executed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. New Heart English Bible It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. Webster's Bible Translation And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. World English Bible When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, at the coming in of the letter to them, that they take the sons of the king, and slaughter seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and send [them] to him at Jezreel, Berean Literal Bible And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the sons of the king and slaughtered seventy men, and they put their heads in the baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass, at the coming in of the letter unto them, that they take the sons of the king, and slaughter seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and send unto him to Jezreel, Smith's Literal Translation And it will be when the letter came to them, and they will take the sons of the king and slaughter seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and send to him to Jezreel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when the letters came to them, they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezrahel. Catholic Public Domain Version And when the letters had arrived to them, they took the sons of the king, and they killed the seventy men. And they placed their heads in baskets, and they sent these to him at Jezreel. New American Bible When the letter arrived, they took the princes and slew all seventy of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. New Revised Standard Version When the letter reached them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, seventy persons; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd as soon as the letter reached them, they took the king's sons and slew them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when the letter had arrived, they took the sons of the King and they slaughtered them, seventy men, and they placed their heads in reed baskets and they sent them to him in Yizreil. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel. Brenton Septuagint Translation And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew them, even seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezrael. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jehu Slaughters Ahab's Family…6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city. 7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”… Cross References And when the letter arrived, 2 Kings 19:14 So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 1 Kings 21:8 Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 2 Samuel 11:14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. they took the sons of the king 2 Kings 25:7 And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. 2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2 Chronicles 22:8-9 So 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. / Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah, and Jehu’s soldiers captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. So Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So no one was left from the house of Ahaziah with the strength to rule the kingdom. and slaughtered all seventy of them. Judges 9:5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. 1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. They put their heads in baskets 2 Samuel 20:21-22 That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” / Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 4:8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.” 1 Samuel 17:54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent. and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 2 Kings 9:15-16 but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.” / Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him. 2 Kings 9:30-37 Now 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. … 1 Kings 21:23 And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 1 Kings 21:21-24 This 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. / I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’ / And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ … 2 Kings 9:7-10 And 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. / The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel. / I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. … Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel. slew seventy 2 Kings 10:9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these? 2 Kings 11:1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. Judges 9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Jump to Previous Arrived Baskets Death Heads Jehu Jezreel Jizreel Killed King's Letter Persons Princes Seventy Slaughtered SlewJump to Next Arrived Baskets Death Heads Jehu Jezreel Jizreel Killed King's Letter Persons Princes Seventy Slaughtered Slew2 Kings 10 1. Jehu, by his letters, causes seventy of Ahab's sons to be beheaded8. He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah 12. At the shearing house he slays forty-two of Ahaziah's brothers 15. He takes Jehonadab into his company 18. By subtilty he destroys all the worshippers of Baal 29. Jehu follows Jeroboam's sins 32. Hazael oppresses Israel 34. Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu And when the letter arrived This phrase refers to the letter sent by Jehu, who had been anointed king of Israel and tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab. The letter was sent to the rulers of Samaria, the elders, and those who reared Ahab's sons. This action demonstrates the use of written communication in ancient Israel to convey royal commands and the authority Jehu wielded even before fully consolidating his power. they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel Persons / Places / Events 1. JehuAnointed by God as king over Israel, Jehu is tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab as part of divine judgment. 2. Ahab's Sons Seventy sons of Ahab, representing the continuation of Ahab's dynasty, which was steeped in idolatry and sin. 3. Jezreel A significant location in Israel where Jehu receives the heads of Ahab's sons, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's judgment. 4. The Elders and Guardians Local leaders and caretakers of Ahab's sons who comply with Jehu's command, demonstrating the fear and authority Jehu commanded. 5. The Letter A written command from Jehu to the elders and guardians, demanding the execution of Ahab's sons to solidify his rule and fulfill God's judgment. Teaching Points Divine Justice and JudgmentGod's justice may seem severe, but it is always righteous and purposeful. The eradication of Ahab's lineage was a fulfillment of divine prophecy and a cleansing of Israel from idolatry. The Consequences of Sin Ahab's sins had far-reaching consequences, affecting his entire family. This serves as a warning about the impact of our actions on future generations. Obedience to God's Commands Jehu's actions, though violent, were in obedience to God's specific command. This highlights the importance of aligning our actions with God's will, even when it is difficult. The Fear of the Lord The elders' compliance with Jehu's command reflects the fear and respect for God's anointed leader. It reminds us of the importance of respecting God's authority and those He appoints. The Role of Leadership Jehu's decisive actions demonstrate the responsibility of leaders to uphold God's standards and execute justice, even when it involves difficult decisions. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 10:7?2. How does 2 Kings 10:7 demonstrate God's judgment against Ahab's house? 3. What lessons on obedience can we learn from Jehu's actions in this passage? 4. How does this verse connect to God's promise in 1 Kings 21:21-22? 5. What does this passage teach about the consequences of idolatry and sin? 6. How can we apply the principle of divine justice in our daily lives? 7. Why did Jehu order the beheading of Ahab's sons in 2 Kings 10:7? 8. How does 2 Kings 10:7 align with the concept of divine justice? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 10:7? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 10? 11. Does the swift eradication of Ahab’s lineage in 2 Kings 10:7, 11 align with historical records outside the Bible? 12. What events are described in 2 Kings? 13. How does 2 Kings 10:1-11 reconcile mass slaughter with the broader biblical prohibition against murder? 14. Where is the archaeological evidence for Jehu's widespread purge and the destruction of the Baal temple in 2 Kings 10:27? What Does 2 Kings 10:7 Mean And when the letter arrivedJehu’s message reached the officials in Samaria who were guarding Ahab’s heirs (2 Kings 10:1–6). In that letter he challenged them to choose a successor for Joram and fight—knowing they would shrink from opposing the man whom God had already anointed king (2 Kings 9:6–10; 1 Kings 19:16). Their fear of Jehu—and of the LORD who backed him—set the stage for what followed. Much earlier Elijah had foretold that every male of Ahab’s house would perish (1 Kings 21:21–24), and now the prophecy was moving swiftly toward completion. they took the sons of the king • These seventy were the royal princes—sons or grandsons of Ahab—raised in Samaria’s palaces (2 Kings 10:1). • By seizing them, the city’s leaders chose self-preservation over loyalty to the old dynasty, echoing the officials of Jericho who cooperated with Joshua (Joshua 2:8-14). • The action also shows how God can use even the fearful choices of men to fulfill His declared word (Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 46:10-11). and slaughtered all seventy of them • This grim act was not random violence; it was the execution of divine judgment announced years earlier (1 Kings 21:17-29) and reaffirmed through Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 9:7-9). • Totality matters. Just as God had commanded Saul to destroy Amalek completely (1 Samuel 15:2-3), so every potential heir of Ahab had to be removed to prevent a return to Baal-dominated rule. • The scene reminds us that the LORD is patient but not permissive; when the time for judgment arrives, it is thorough (Nahum 1:2-3). They put their heads in baskets • In the ancient Near East, severed heads verified the death of an enemy (1 Samuel 17:54; 2 Samuel 4:7-12). • Baskets offered a practical way to transport the grisly “proof,” while also underscoring the completeness of the purge: nothing less than visible evidence would satisfy. • Though shocking to modern sensibilities, the brutality highlights how seriously God views idolatry and covenant treachery (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel • Jezreel was where Ahab stole Naboth’s vineyard and where Jezebel later died (1 Kings 21:1-19; 2 Kings 9:30-37). The heads arriving there underscore divine retribution coming full circle at the very scene of earlier sin. • The delivery also signaled the officials’ submission to Jehu, acknowledging him as God’s chosen instrument (2 Kings 10:8-10). • Jehu’s reform would soon extend to wiping out Baal worship entirely (2 Kings 10:18-28), showing that God’s judgments aim not only to punish but also to purge evil and restore true worship. summary 2 Kings 10:7 records a chilling yet purposeful moment in Israel’s history: the local leaders accept Jehu’s God-backed authority, execute Ahab’s seventy heirs, and send proof to Jezreel. Each clause spotlights the unstoppable fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy, the seriousness of covenant violations, and the lengths to which God will go to cleanse His people from entrenched idolatry. (7) And slew.--Rather, butchered, or slaughtered. The way in which the writer speaks of this massacre--"they took the king's sons, and butchered seventy persons"--shows that he did not sympathise with Jehu's deeds of blood. His interest rather centres in the fact that the predictions of Elijah were fulfilled by the wickedness of Jehu. (See 2Kings 10:10.)In baskets.--Rather, in the baskets. The word (d-d) means a "pot" elsewhere (1Samuel 2:14). In Psalm 81:6, the LXX. renders ???????; here it gives ?????????? ("pointed baskets"). Verse 7. - And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons. Having committed themselves by their answer to Jehu's first letter, the Samaritan great men seemed to themselves to have no choice, on receiving his second, but to allow themselves to become the tools and agents of his policy. They accordingly put the seventy princes to death without any hesitation, though they can scarcely have done so without reluctance. And put their heads in baskets. Thus concealing their bloody deed as long as they could. In the Assyrian sculptures, those who slay the king's enemies carry the heads openly in their hands, as though glorying in what they have done. And sent him them to Jezreel. Jehu had bidden them to bring the heads to him; but this was a degradation to which they did not feel bound to submit. They therefore sent the heads by trusty messengers.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Andוַיְהִ֗י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be when the letter הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ (has·sê·p̄er) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book arrived, כְּבֹ֤א (kə·ḇō) Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go they took וַיִּקְחוּ֙ (way·yiq·ḥū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3947: To take the king’s הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king sons בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son and slaughtered וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ (way·yiš·ḥă·ṭū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat all seventy שִׁבְעִ֣ים (šiḇ·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number) of them, אִ֑ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person put וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ (way·yā·śî·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set their heads רָֽאשֵׁיהֶם֙ (rā·šê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7218: The head in baskets, בַּדּוּדִ֔ים (bad·dū·ḏîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1731: A pot, a basket and sent וַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּ (way·yiš·lə·ḥū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out them to Jehu אֵלָ֖יו (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to at Jezreel. יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃ (yiz·rə·‘e·lāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 3157: Jezreel -- 'God sows', two Israelites, also two cities in Israel, also a valley in Northern Israel Links 2 Kings 10:7 NIV2 Kings 10:7 NLT 2 Kings 10:7 ESV 2 Kings 10:7 NASB 2 Kings 10:7 KJV 2 Kings 10:7 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 10:7 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 10:7 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 10:7 French Bible 2 Kings 10:7 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 10:7 It happened when the letter came (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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