Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 10:3
Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set [him] on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
3. look even [R.V. look ye ] out the best ] The insertion of ‘even’ gives a false emphasis, and the conjunction of the original is merely the mark of the apodosis, and is properly left unrendered in English. No doubt in the popular mind some prince had been marked out as heir to the throne, and some order of succession may have been indicated by Ahab himself, if his elder sons died without issue, but at such a juncture he would be chosen who would rally to him most assistance. Jehu sends his message like one perfectly confident in the effect it will produce.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jehu, placing his adversaries advantages before them in the most favorable light, called upon them to decide what they would do. The unscrupulous soldier shows shrewdness as well as courage, a sharp wit as well as a bold heart.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Thus he speaks, either because he had some notice of their intentions thus to do; or to make trial of them, whether they would do so, or would be true to him and his designs; or to signify to them his intentions of fighting against them, if they did so, that by the terror hereof he might bring them to a compliance with him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons,…. Most fit for government, whether on account of age or proper qualifications, and wisdom, courage, c.
and set him on his father’s throne proclaim him king:
and fight for your master’s house; that the crown may continue in his family; all which he did not desire might be, but in this sarcastic and sneering manner dares them to do it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) The best and meetesti.e., the one you think best qualified in every sense (not merely in the moral sense).
Your masters sons.Your master need not mean Jehoram. The story relates to Ahab (2Ki. 10:1).
His fathers thronei.e., Ahabs throne. (Comp. 2Ch. 17:3; 2Ch. 21:12; 2Ch. 29:2, where David is called the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Hezekiah in turn.)
Fight for your masters house.Jehu thus declares his own warlike intentions, leaving the nobles, whom his prompt and decisive action had taken by surprise, no choice between improvised resistance and instant submission. Knowing Jehus character as a soldier, they chose the latter.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 10:3 Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set [him] on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
Ver. 3. Look even out the best, &c. ] All this Jehu speaketh ironice, or, at least, tentative: that he might feel their pulses and find how they stood affected.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Look even: Deu 17:14, Deu 17:15, 1Sa 10:24, 1Sa 11:15, 2Sa 2:8, 2Sa 2:9, 1Ki 1:24, 1Ki 1:25, 1Ki 12:20
fight for: 2Sa 2:12-17, 1Ki 12:21, Joh 18:36
Reciprocal: 2Ch 18:16 – master
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 10:3. Fight ye for your masters house This he said, because, perhaps, he had received notice of their intentions to do so, and that they were consulting about a successor to Joram: or to try them, whether they would do so, or would be true to him and his designs: or, which is still more likely, he insults over them, and denounces war against them with scorn and derision, being secure of the event, and knowing that they were not able to oppose him.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
10:3 Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and {b} set [him] on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
(b) He wrote this, to prove them whether they would take his side or not.