Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 10:15
And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart [is] with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give [me] thine hand. And he gave [him] his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
15. Jehonadab the son of Rechab ] We are told (1Ch 2:55) that the house of Rechab belonged to the Kenites. The marriage of Moses to a Kenite wife (Jdg 1:16) led to the Kenites going up with the children of Judah into the wilderness, and so they came to dwell among the people of Israel. We read of them several times in the history of Israel. Jael, who slew Sisera, was the wife of Heber the Kenite (Jdg 4:17), and Saul shewed kindness to the Kenites when he was sent to destroy Amalek (1Sa 15:6). Of Jehonadab (the name is also written Jonadab) we learn (Jer 35:6-7) that he forbade his descendants to drink wine, or to live in cities, and follow settled occupations. They were always to lead a nomad life; we find too that this ordinance of Jonadab had been observed down to the days of Jeremiah. It is clear therefore that he, who was able to lay it down, and cause it to be kept, must have been a man of much influence, and one whose friendship and countenance might serve Jehu’s cause at the outset of his reign. We see also that Jonadab was thoroughly at one with Jehu in the destruction of Baal-worship. We may therefore count his kinsmen as among the more faithful portion of the people of Israel. With the double form, Jonadab and Jehonadab, compare Johanan and Jehohanan, Joiada and Jehoiada, Joram and Jehoram.
Josephus ( Ant. IX. 6. 6) describes Jonadab as ‘a good man and a just, who had been long a friend of Jehu, and who greeted him and began to applaud all that he had done according to God’s will for the destruction of the house of Ahab’.
Is thine heart right ] Here the LXX. adds ‘with my heart’, and later in the verse after Jonadab’s answer ‘It is’ there is inserted in the LXX. ‘And Jehu said’. These insertions make the dialogue more distinct, but there is no need to suppose that anything has fallen out from the Hebrew text in either place.
If it be ] The Hebrew is literally ‘and it is’. But this form is often employed as equivalent to ‘if it is’. Cf. Jdg 6:13, where ‘if the Lord be with us’ is literally ‘and the Lord is with us’. See also Driver, Heb. Tenses, 149.
into the chariot ] For a great personage to cause another to ride with him in his chariot was a mark of distinction. Cf. 1Ki 20:33. It is noteworthy that Jehu appears to have attached much importance to Jonadab’s support and sympathy. He must therefore have considered that the people of Samaria would be influenced thereby, and if they were likely to be so influenced we may judge that many in Israel regarded a servant of Jehovah with a respect which even the Baal-worship and calf-worship had not been able to destroy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jehonadab (compare the margin) belonged to the tribe of the Kenites, one of the most ancient in Palestine Gen 15:19. Their origin is unknown, but their habits were certainly those of Arahs. Owing to their connection with Moses (Num 24:21 note), they formed a friendship with the Israelites, accompanied them in their wanderings, and finally receivcd a location in the wilderness of Judah Jdg 1:16. The character of this chief, Jonadab, is best seen in the rule which he established for his descendants Jer 35:6-7 – a rule said to be still observed at the present day. It would seem that he sympathised strongly with Jehus proceedings, and desired to give the countenance of his authority, such as it was, to the new reign. According to the Hebrew text, Jehu saluted (or blessed) Jehonadab. According to the Septuagint and Josephus, Jehonadab saluted (or blessed) the king. Further, the Hebrew text runs – And Jehonadab answered, It is, it is. Give (me) thy hand. And he gave (him) his hand, and took him up to him into the chariot. Our translators appear to have preferred the Septuagint; but the Hebrew is more graphic. Jehu was no doubt glad to have the countenance of Jehonadab on his public entrance into Samaria. The ascetic had a reputation for sanctity, which could not fail to make his companionship an advantage to the but half-established monarch.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ki 10:15
Is thine heart right.
The right state of the heart
For the sake of order I bring the subject before you under four general heads of discourse. If our hearts be right, they will be right.
I. If the state of our hearts be right, then will they be right with God. A heart truly right with God implies,
1. That we venerate Him.
2. That we entirely submit ourselves to Him.
3. That by the cultivation of a devotional spirit, we maintain a sacred intercourse with Him.
We ask, then, Is thine heart right with God? Does it venerate Him? submit to Him? aspire after Him? You know the state of your own heart: Answer these inquiries as before God.
II. If our hearts be right, they are right with Christ. Till this be the case, the heart cannot ever be right with God.
1. When it accepts His sacrifice as the only ground on which to claim the remission of sins.
2. The heart is not right with Christ unless it loves Him.
3. When the heart is right with Christ, there is an habitual confidence in His intercession. Is thine heart thus right with Christ? Dost thou thus believe in Him? thus love Him? thus habitually confide in Him?
III. If our hearts be right, they are right with the Church of Christ. I mean, by this expression, the whole company of his militant and professing people here on earth; the spiritual Israel of God. Now, when the heart is in a right state,
1. The Church is avowed.
2. Its members are loved.
3. When our heart is right with the Church, we feel that we are identified with it. Here, too, let me ask, Is thine heart right? Dost thou avow thyself a member of Christs church? love its members? identify thyself with its interests? and labour to promote them?
IV. If the heart be light, it will be right with itself. There are strange oppositions and divisions in the heart; and this cannot be a right state of it There is opposition between conviction and choice. Many know the good, who choose it not, who make no effort for its attainment. There is opposition between Will and power. To Will is indeed present with them, but how to perform they find not. There is the struggle between the flesh and the spirit; the counteraction of graces by opposite evils There is the stunted growth. The seed is at least so far choked, that there is no fruit unto perfection. When it is thus with us, the heart is manifestly wrong. When it is right, it exerts an enlightened sway over the whole man: All its powers are in obedient order, all its graces fruitful and abundant. We therefore again ask, Is thine heart right With itself? Is it divided, and therefore faulty? or has God united it, that it may fear His name?
1. Perhaps our heart is wrong.
2. Perhaps it is in part right.
3. Know and use the means by which this may be accomplished.
Exercise faith in the Saviour, live in habitual watchfulness and self-denial, keeping the heart with all diligence, for that out of it are the issues of life. (R. Watson.)
Is thine heart right
Those were the proud words of one, who little knew what was in his own heart. But they contain an inquiry, of no small importance to every fallen child of Adam. Is thine heart right–
I. In its views of religious truth? Has it formed a right judgment concerning thy natural condition, as a sinner against God; and respecting the way of bettering that condition? I am aware that many regard this as the proper business of the understanding, rather than of the heart. Hence they excuse their erroneous views in religion, by pleading want of ability to discover the truth. Hence the poor think it enough to say, I am no scholar! And persons, far Wiser than they in worldly wisdom, have pretended, that a man is not responsible for what he believes, and that it is not his fault if he be mistaken. On the one hand we are informed, that with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
II. In its dependance? On what is it actually resting, as the ground of its hopes for eternity? Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
III. In its choice? In what does it delight? what does it esteem to be the chief good?
IV. In its intentions and purposes? Having discovered the truth–rested on Christ–chosen the Lord for your welcome portion–what is now your object in life?
V. In its actual influence on thy conduct? Many, alas, woefully deceive themselves, by forming excellent resolutions–never to be put in practice. In such a ease, let self-flattery pretend what it may, the heart must be wrong. Remember, in conclusion, that if the heart be not right, nothing else is right. Even the better parts of your conduct, for want of this, will still be offensive in the sight of that God, who seeth not as man seeth. If you be conscious that your heart is not right, then remember that God is greater than your heart, and knoweth all things. It may be safe from human scrutiny–but not from his eye. If you would have your heart set right, bring it to God in faith and prayer. He will give you a new one–a clean one–a perfect one. (J. Jowett, M. A.)
A right heart
The first theory of the Gospel is, that the heart of man is all wrong. God said to Noah, The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth (Gen 8:21). David says, They are all gone aside; they are altogether become filthy. Jeremiah says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Christ gives some terrible pictures of the human heart; He likened it to a sepulchre full of corruption.
I. A heart that is right is a trustful heart. The Christian life begins With faith in Christ, and is all through sustained by faith in Christ. Faith in Christ leads the anxious, inquiring heart into rest. A triple foundation: the promises of God, the witness of the Spirit, and the testimony of experience.
II. A heart that is right is a consecrated heart. A heart that is not wholly Christs cannot be right Consecration is the way to purity. It is the full surrender of ourselves to God. The giving up of everything that would hinder the Divine life in the soul. Many Christians are not happy because there is something they keep back from God. There must be a giving up of self. The whole question is, self or Christ. There is a voice coming from Calvarys Cross, which tells us we must not live unto ourselves, but unto Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us.
III. A heart that is right is a pure heart. The Saviours teaching was always toward the heart. Out of the heart are the issues of life. He said little about the intellect; but a great deal about the heart.
IV. A heart that is right is at rest. That which the soul needs is rest; it needs to feel that it is Gods, and that God is its possession. (C. E. Crosthwaite.)
The evil heart
Samuel Marsden, the New Zealand missionary, well known for his piety and humility, when told one day by a friend how he was slandered, exclaimed: Sir, these men do not know the worst. Why, sir, if I were to walk through the streets with my heart laid bare, the very boys would pelt me!
Heart right
When Sir Walter Raleigh had laid his head upon the block, says an eloquent divine, he was asked by the executioner whether it lay aright. Whereupon, with the calmness of a hero and the faith of a Christian, he returned an answer, the power of which we all shall feel when our head is tossing and turning on deaths uneasy pillow,–It matters little, my friend, how the head lies providing the heart be right: (R. Steele.)
Purity of heart
It does not consist in the external exercise of religion; the heart does not always write itself upon the outward actions. These may shine and glister, while that in the meantime may be noisome and impure. In a pool you may see the uppermost water clear, but if you cast your eye to the bottom, you shall see that to be dirt and mud. To rate a mans internals by his externals, and what works in his breast by what appears in his face, is a rule very fallible. For we often see specious practices spread over vile and base principles; as a rotten, unwholesome body may be clothed with the finest silks. There are often many leagues distance between a mans behaviour and his heart. (R. South.)
Acquaintance with our own heart
I remember once holding on by the ground on the top of Vesuvius, and looking full into the crater all swirling with sulphurous flames. Have you ever looked into your hearts like that, and seen the wreathing smoke and the flashing fire that are there? (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Give me thine hand.—
Christian hand-shaking
Jehu had been making an exterminating assault upon the idolatry of his day, and Jehonadab conies out to offer him congratulation. They meet half-way: and one exclaims to the other, in all the ardour of friendly recognition, Give me thy hand! The mode of salutation is different in different countries. In some lands they kneel before the visitor. In some, fall on their faces; in others they stand upright and give a slight bend to the neck. But when two persons, believing in the same thing, and working for the same object, and trusting in the same God, and hoping for the same heaven, come face to face, look each other in the eye, and cross palms with a tight grip, and shake hands, that is human equality and Christian brotherhood. I fall down before no man in obeisance: I gaze down upon no man in arrogance; but, looking into the face of friend and foe, I am ready to exclaim in the words of Jehu to Jehonadab, Give me thy hand! Come, now, and let us get near to each other in a plain, loving, Christian talk. My brother! my sister! my child!
I. Let us join hands in Christian welcome.
II. Again: let us cross hands in congratulation.
III. Again: let us join hands of Christian sympathy.
IV. Again: let us join hands in a bargain. (T. De Witt Talmage.)
The hand-grip of loyalty
On drove Jehu, determined to get the lines of government into his hands and make sure of his standing ground. On his way to Samaria, the true capital of Israel (for Jezreel was the seat of the summer palace only), he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, on the highway. Now Jehonadab was a respectable, conservative sort of a citizen, with a good name for quiet steady purpose, the kind of man who would be of the greatest help to Jehu if only he were thoroughly committed to him and could be counted upon for loyal support. Jehu did not purpose to be in any doubt as to where people stood. He must know whether they were for him or against him. One cannot help but admire that in Jehu. There was no neutral ground in him, and he would not endure it in others. So when he met Jehonadab he stopped his horses and saluted him, and said, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab looked straight back into his eyes and said, It is. Jehu said, If it be, give me thine hand. And as Jehonadab reached out his hand Jehu took it with a warm, strong grip that lifted him right up into his chariot beside him, and they drove on together in the young kings chariot to Samaria. From this story of Jehu there are some pertinent and helpful lessons to be drawn.
1. Gods call is personal. When the young prophet came to Jehu, and standing before the group of captains said he had a message for one of them, and Jehu asked which one, the prophet answered, To thee, O captain. It was a personal message, and when Jehu followed him away he knew nothing except that he was following the prophet of the Lord God to receive a message from God, and thus he was called to His kingdom. So God sends personal messages to every one of us. The call to salvation is personal to you. God has made us as individuals, Each has his own personal mind and heart, his own personal needs, his individual requirements. Each of us has ability and talent that are peculiar to ourselves.
2. There is no peace save in goodness. When King Joram came out to meet Jehu he was very anxious to have peace, but Jehu could still feel the oil of God upon his head and hear the words of the prophet in his ears commanding him to stamp out the wickedness that had devastated the land. So Jehu answered that there could be no peace while Jezebel with her witchcrafts and her wickedness lived.
3. Only by giving our whole selves to God and throwing our full force on the Lords side can we please Him. See Jehu as the wicked king turns to fly. A weak turning back now will mean failure and overthrow. He has been called upon for serious and solemn work, and he must not hesitate. Many of our attacks on evil are of no avail, and the arrows fall harmless against the enemies of God and man, because we pull with a faint heart and a weak hand.
4. We must choose sides for or against Jesus. We cannot be neutral. When Jehu stood under the window of the summer palace in Jezreel, with painted Jezebel leaning out in accusation, he cried aloud, so that all the officers of the palace could hear, Who is on my side? Who? There could be no neutrality after that. They had to choose between Jezebel and Jehu, and it did not take them long to make the choice. They east out that old painted viper who had brought such sorrow on the land. So our King Jesus, who has the right to be your King, is saying.to you, Who is on My side? Who? You must choose between your sins and Jesus
5. It is loyal hearts that Christ wants. Everything else is secondary. Are you loyal to Me? that is the question of Jesus. When Jehu met Jehona-dab he said to himself, Ah, there is Jehonadab. A very nice kind of a man. He could be worth a great deal to me. But it all depends on whether he is loyal or not. If his heart is with me, he is worth more than a regiment of soldiers; but if he is not for me, loyally, he might do me a great deal of damage. So when he is close enough to Jehonadab he stops and calls to him, saying, Jehonadab, is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab looks back with honest eyes and says, It is. And Jehu answers, If it be, give me thine hand. And out comes the hand of the other man, and Jehu takes it in a great strong grip, and not only by the strength of his grasp, but by the look in his eyes, he makes Jehonadab know what he means. And he steps right up in the chariot, and rides on with the king in honour and peace. What a suggestive illustration is this of what Jesus Christ is saying to every one of you who have not yet given Him assurance of your earnest loyalty. He is knocking at the door of your heart. It is your heart He wants; your loyal and loving service. And He is saying to you, If you will but make up your mind, if you will but open your heart to Me, if you will but give Me your loyal hand-grip, then we shall go on the way together. Jehonadab was safe in the kings chariot. You shall be safe when the Kings loving strong hand lifts you up in the chariot beside Himself and you ride onward in peace and honour towards heaven. (L. A. Banks, D.D)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 15. Jehonadab the son of Rechab] For particulars concerning this man, his ancestry, and posterity, see the notes on Jer. 35.
Is thine heart right] With me, in the prosecution of a reform in Israel; as my heart is with thy heart in the true religion of Jehovah, and the destruction of Baal?
It is.] I wish a reform in the religion of the country; I am his friend who shall endeavour to promote it.
Give me thine hand.] This has been generally considered as exacting a promise from Jehonadab; but does it mean any more than his taking him by the hand, to help him to step into his chariot, in which Jehu was then sitting? Jehonadab was doubtless a very honourable man in Israel; and by carrying him about with him in his chariot, Jehu endeavoured to acquire the public esteem. “Jehu must be acting right, for Jehonadab is with him, and approves his conduct.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jehonadab the son of Rechab; a Kenite, 1Ch 2:55, and a man of singular prudence and piety; as appears from this history, and from Jer 35:6.
Coming to meet him, to congratulate with him for the destruction of that wicked family, and to encourage and advise him to proceed in fulfilling the will of God revealed to him.
He saluted him; Jehu saluted Jehonadab.
Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? dost thou heartily approve of and affect me, and my present proceedings, as my heart doth as sincerely cleave to thee as thine own heart doth?
Give me thine hand, as a sign of friendship and consent. See Gal 2:9. These may be the words, either,
1. Of Jehu; and so here is an ellipsis, If it be, for And Jehu said, If it be. Compare 1Ki 20:34. Or,
2. Of Jehonadab, who having said, It is, adds, If it be, i.e. if thine heart be with mine, as thou sayest it is, give me thine hand. But this the ellipsis is larger than the former. And it seems not so decent and proper for Jehonadab, a stranger and subject, to speak thus to the king, as for the king to say so to him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15-18. Jehonadab the son ofRechab(See 1Ch 2:55). Aperson who, from his piety and simple primitive manner of life (Jer35:1-19), was highly esteemed, and possessed great influence inthe country. Jehu saw in a moment the advantage that his cause wouldgain from the friendship and countenance of this venerable man in theeyes of the people, and accordingly paid him the distinguishedattention of inviting him to a seat in his chariot.
give me thine handnotsimply to aid him in getting up, but for a far more significant andimportant purposethe giving, or rather joining hands, being therecognized mode of striking a league or covenant, as well as oftestifying fealty to a new sovereign; accordingly, it is said, “he[Jehonadab] gave him [Jehu] his hand.”
2Ki10:18-29. HE DESTROYSTHE WORSHIPPERS OFBAAL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when he was departed thence,…. From Betheked, or the shearing house:
he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; a Kenite, a descendant of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, a wise and good man, as appears by the laws and rules he gave to his posterity, who continued to the times of Jeremiah, and were then observant of them, Jer 35:6 this good man hearing of Jehu’s coming to the throne, and of his destruction of the idolatrous family of Ahab, and of his zeal for the worship of God, and against idolatry, came forth from his tent to meet him, and congratulate him upon it:
and he saluted him; Jonadab saluted Jehu, according to Abarbinel; or “blessed him” r, wished him all happiness in his kingdom, and success in the reformation of it; though most understand it of Jehu’s saluting Jonadab, which seems best to agree with the following:
and said to him, is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? that is, hast thou the same cordial affection and sincere respect for me as I have for thee?
and Jehonadab answered, it is: to which some join the next clause, and read, “and it is”; which is doubling the answer, for the confirmation of it, as Kimchi says; though he also observes, that the latter may be interpreted as the answer of Jehu, by way of interrogation, “is it?”,
then give me thine hand; and to the same purpose is our version,
if it be, and he gave [him] his hand; Jonadab gave Jehu his hand as a token of sincere friendship s, and cordial respect, and for the confirmation of the covenant between them, as Ben Melech; who also observes, that Jehu might bid him give him his hand to help him up into the chariot, since it follows,
and he took him up to him into the chariot; to ride with him to Samaria; the company of such a man, so famous for wisdom and goodness, he knew would give him much countenance among the people, and sanction to what he did.
r “et benedixit ei”, V. L. Montanus. s “Ipse pater dextram Anchises”, &c. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 3. prope finem. Vid. Servium in ib. Vid. Cornel. Nepot. Vit. Themistocl. l. 2. c. 8. & Datam. l. 14. c. 10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
As Jehu proceeded on his way, he met with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and having saluted him, inquired, “Is they heart true as my heart towards thy heart?” and on his replying , “it is (honourable or true),” he bade him come up into the chariot, saying , “if it is (so), give me thy hand;” whereupon he said still further, “Come with me and see my zeal for Jehovah,” and then drove with him to Samaria, and there exterminated all that remained of Ahab’s family. Jehonadab the son of Rechab was the tribe-father of the Rechabites (Jer 35:6). The rule which the latter laid down for his sons and descendants for all time, was to lead a simple nomad life, namely, to dwell in tents, follow no agricultural pursuits, and abstain from wine; which rule they observed so sacredly, that the prophet Jeremiah held them up as models before his own contemporaries, who broke the law of God in the most shameless manner, and was able to announce to the Rechabites that they would be exempted from the Chaldaean judgment for their faithful observance of their father’s precept (Jer 35). Rechab, from whom the descendants of Jehonadab derived their tribe-name, was the son of Hammath, and belonged to the tribe of the Kenites (1Ch 2:55), to which Hobab the father-in-law of Moses also belonged (Num 10:29); so that the Rechabites were probably descendants of Hobab, since the Kenites the sons of Hobab had gone with the Israelites from the Arabian desert to Canaan, and had there carried on their nomad life (Jdg 1:16; Jdg 4:11; 1Sa 15:6; see Witsii Miscell. ss. ii. p. 223ff.). This Jehonadab was therefore a man distinguished for the strictness of his life, and Jehu appears to have received him in this friendly manner on account of the great distinction in which he was held, not only in his own tribe, but also in Israel generally, that he might exalt himself in the eyes of the people through his friendship.
(Note: According to C. a Lapide, Jehu took him up into his chariot “ that he might establish his authority with the Samaritans, and secure a name for integrity by having Jehonadab as his ally, a man whom all held to be both an upright and holy man, that in this way he might the more easily carry out the slaughter of the Baalites, which he was planning, without any one daring to resist him. ” )
– In , “is with regard to thy heart honourable or upright?” is used to subordinate the noun to the clause, in the sense of quoad (see Ewald, 277, a.). , “all that remained to Ahab,” i.e., all the remaining members of Ahab’s house.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Interview between Jehu and Jehonadab; the Worshippers of Baal Destroyed. | B. C. 884. |
15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah. 18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. 19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. 22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. 23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. 25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Jehu, pushing on his work, is here,
I. Courting the friendship of a good man, Jehonadab the son of Rechab,2Ki 10:15; 2Ki 10:16. This Jehonadab, though mortified to the world and meddling little with the business of it (as appears by his charge to his posterity, which they religiously observed 300 years after, not to drink wine nor dwell in cities, Jer. xxxv. 6, c.), yet, upon this occasion, went to meet Jehu, that he might encourage him in the work to which God had called him. The countenance of good men is a thing which great men, if they be wise, will value, and value themselves by. David prayed, Let those that fear thee turn to me, Ps. cxix. 79. This Jehonadab, though no prophet, priest, or Levite, no prince or ruler, was, we may suppose, very eminent for prudence and piety, and generally respected for that life of self-denial and devotion which he lived: Jehu, though a soldier, knew him and honoured him. He did not indeed think of sending for him, but when he met him (though it is likely he drove now as furiously as ever) he stopped to speak to him and we are here told what passed between them. 1. Jehu saluted him; he blessed him (so the word is), paid him the respect and showed him the good-will that were due to so great an example of serious godliness. 2. Jehonadab assured him that he was sincerely in his interest and a hearty well-wisher to his cause. Jehu professed that his heart was right with him, that he had a true affection for his person and a veneration for the crown of his Nazariteship, and desired to know whether he had the same affection for him and satisfaction in that crown of royal dignity which God had put upon his head: Is thy heart right? a question we should often put to ourselves. “I make a plausible profession, have gained a reputation among men, but is my heart right? Am I sincere and inward with God?” Jehonadab gave him his word (It is), and gave him his hand as a pledge of his heart, yielded to him (so giving the hand is rendered, 2 Chron. xxx. 8), concurred and covenanted with him, and owned him in the work both of revenge and of reformation he was now about. 3. Jehu took him up into his chariot and took him along with him to Samaria. He put some honour upon him, by taking him into the chariot with him (Jehonadab was not accustomed to ride in a chariot, much less with a king); but he received more honour from him, and from the countenance he gave to his present work. All sober people would think the better of Jehu when they saw Jehonadab in the chariot with him. This was not the only time in which the piety of some has been made to serve the policy of others, and designing men have strengthened themselves by drawing good men into their interests. Jehonadab is a stranger to the arts of fleshly wisdom, and has his conversation in simplicity and godly sincerity; and therefore, if Jehu be a servant of God and an enemy to Ball, he will be his faithful friend. “Come then” (says Jehu), “come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord; and then thou wilt see reason to espouse my cause.” This is commonly taken as not well said by Jehu, and as giving cause to suspect that his heart was not right with God in what he did, and that the zeal he pretended for the Lord was really zeal for himself and his own advancement. For, (1.) He boasted of it, and spoke as if God and man were mightily indebted to him for it. (2.) He desired it might be seen and taken notice of, like the Pharisees, who did all to be seen of men. An upright heart approves itself to God and covets no more than his acceptance. If we aim at the applause of men, and make their praise our highest end, we are upon a false bottom. Whether Jehu looked any further we cannot judge; however Jehonadab went with him, and, it is likely, animated and assisted him in the further execution of his commission (v. 17), destroying all Ahab’s friends in Samaria. A man may hate cruelty and yet love justice, may be far from thirsting after blood and yet may wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, Ps. lviii. 10.
II. Contriving the destruction of all the worshippers of Baal. The service of Baal was the crying sin of the house of Ahab: that root of this idolatry was plucked up, but multitudes yet remained that were infected with it, and would be in danger of infecting others. The law of God was express, that they were to be put to death; but they were so numerous, and so dispersed throughout all parts of the kingdom, and perhaps so alarmed with Jehu’s beginnings, that it would be a hard matter to find them all out and an endless task to prosecute and execute them one by one. Jehu’s project therefore is to cut them all off together. 1. By a wile, by a fraud, he brought them together to the temple of Baal. He pretended he would worship Baal more than ever Ahab had done, v. 18. Perhaps he spoke this ironically, or to try the body of the people whether they would oppose such a resolution as this, and would resent his threatening to increase his predecessor’s exactions, and say, “If it be so, we have no part in Jehu, nor inheritance in the son of Nimshi.” But it rather seems to have been spoken purposely to deceive the worshippers of Baal, and then it cannot be justified. The truth of God needs not any man’s lie. He issued a proclamation, requiring the attendance of all the worshippers of Baal to join with him in a sacrifice to Baal (2Ki 10:19; 2Ki 10:20), not only the prophets and priests, but all, throughout the kingdom, who worshipped Baal, who were not nearly so many as they had been in Elijah’s time. Jehu’s friends, we may suppose, were aware of what he designed, and were not offended at it; but the bigoted besotted Baalites began to think themselves very happy, and that now they should see golden days again. Joram had put away the image of Baal, ch. iii. 2. If Jehu will restore it, they have what they would have, and come up to Samaria with joy from all parts to celebrate the solemnity; and they are pleased to see the house of Baal crowded (v. 21), to see his priests in their vestments (v. 22), and themselves perhaps with some badges or other to notify their relation to Baal, for there were vestments for all his worshippers. 2. He took care that none of the servants of the Lord should be among them, v. 23. This they took as a provision to preserve the worship of Baal from being profaned by strangers; but it was a wonder that they did not, by this, see themselves brought into a snare and discern a design upon them. No marvel if those that suffer themselves to be deceived by Baal (as all idolaters were by their idols), are deceived by Jehu to their destruction. 3. He gave order for the cutting of them all off, and Jehonadab joined with him therein, v. 23. When a strict search was made lest any of the servants of God should, either for company or curiosity, have got among them–lest any wheat should be mixed with those tares, and when eighty men were set to stand guard at all the avenues to Baal’s temple, that none might escape (v. 24), then the guards were sent in to put them all to the sword and to mingle their blood with their sacrifices, in a way of just revenge, as they themselves had sometimes done, when, in their blind devotion, they cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out, 1 Kings xviii. 28. This was accordingly done, and the doing of it, though seemingly barbarous, was, considering the nature of their crime, really righteous. The Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God. 4. The idolaters being thus destroyed, the idolatry itself was utterly abolished. The buildings about the house of Baal (which were so many and so stately that they are here called a city), where Baal’s priests and their families lived, were destroyed; all the little images, statues, pictures, or shrines, which beautified Baal’s temple, with the great image of Baal himself, were brought out and burnt (2Ki 10:26; 2Ki 10:27), and the temple of Baal was broken down, and made a dunghill, the common sink, or sewer, of the city, that the remembrance of it might be blotted out or made infamous. Thus was the worship of Baal quite destroyed, at least for the present, out of Israel, though it had once prevailed so far that there were but 7000 of all the thousands of Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal, and those concealed. Thus will God destroy all the gods of the heathen, and, sooner or later, triumph over them all.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
CHRISTIAN HAND-SHAKING
2Ki 10:15.
THIS text comes to us out of this ancient history, and yet its purport is perfectly understood, since time has not changed that best method of salutationhand-shaking. There is every reason to believe that the hearty hand-grasp is one of the customs that will survive the centuries, and be more and more emphasized by Christian civilization. Other methods of greeting are going out already, and despite their age are doomed. Falling on the knees, or flat on the face before a visitor, however distinguished, is an act of such servile suggestion that it will not survive the growing doctrine of equality in birth. The holy kiss is condemned as too familiar, while the stiff-necked bow has so little suggestion of greeting in it that the growing doctrine of the brotherhood discountenances it. Jehus speech to Jehonadab expresses many of the most modern and noble sentiments of society. Give me thine hand, spoken in the ardor of friendly recognition, and accompanied by the warm touch of palms, is the best expression of equality, humanity, brotherhood, and love. Whatever kid-gloved society accepts, the Church of Christ cannot afford to adopt anything less cordial and hearty than a warm handclasp. If Christians hope to make conquest of this world, they must make more, not less, of the ancient yet goodly custom. Give me thy hand ought to be the constant speech of Christs followers.
It is one of the best ways to show sincere friendliness. That Christians should foe friendly goes without saying. The most friendly man that ever trod our earth was our Lord. Truly as Pastor Stalker says, His behavior in this beautiful relationship is the very mirror in which all true friendship must see and measure itself. He not only called His disciples friends, but the humblest heart that ever sought Him out found Him the friend above all others, and was prepared to sing of His reception,
Ive found a friend, O such a friend!
He loved me eer I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him.
And what Christ excelled in, Christians should cultivate. There are not a few people, professed followers of Christ, whose practices in this matter of making friends belie their pretentions. They carry no kindly, kindling eye, no stock in trade of smiles, no open hand for their fellows. They are indifferent to Solomons proverb, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly, Christs injunction, This is My commandment that ye love one another, moves them but little more.
I met a man a few days since who has a wide reputation for winning men to the church where he is a member. I asked a brother minister the secret of this mans success, and he said, It is his friendly spirit. What business have we, who are Christians, to let this wonderful power of winning men to weal or woe, become the special property of sleek sinners, blind piggers, and strumpets? You know how cordially men are greeted by those that seek their ruin. Shall we, who are saved ourselves, neglect this saving power of the Christian handclasp? No! not if we would win men to our company; not if we would win them to good living and a saving God. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him (1Jn 2:10).
Sincere sympathy is also best expressed by the hand-shake. The moment a man of successes or sorrows sees his neighbors, and shakes hands with them, he knows how they feel toward him. The fingertips are great telltales in this matter.
There is a mistaken, yet prevalent notion, that men never crave sympathy save in sorrows hour. On the contrary, there is no time when the heart hungers more for some tenderness than on occasion of good success. The working lad, whose small wage went up a dollar a week at the end of the first month, hurries every step of the way home to see his widow mothers face flash delight as he makes his advance known. If the flesh fail the extra dollar avails him nothing as against his disappointment. The valedictory address is no joy to him whose parents take no part in the applause. The merchant husband must have the lively sympathy of his own house in money-making days, or else his gain is good for nothing. The minister of the Gospel, even, is not satisfied with a success in soul-winning and kingdom building if it bring no kindly word of appreciation. To be met, on occasions of success, by some trusted friend who, with honest face and truthful tongue, says, That is good. Give me thy hand, enhances the joys of the hour as nothing else, save Gods approval, can possibly do!
But sorrows hour, while not the only one, is a special occasion of sympathy. This world, while it has in it much laughter, is also given to much weeping. The people who live near Lakewood cemetery tell me that they sometimes think that tears are never dried from human faces. Day upon day the heartbroken come in great companies and almost endless processions, to lay away their dead. Where so much sorrow is, much sympathy must be, or else the burden would break humanitys heart. When sickness and poverty and death wring the heart, there are few such panaceas for the pain as to have some loving one come and hold the hand in friendly grasp, and let us feel the electric current of tenderness and love course our whole being, reviving every drooping, despairing fiber of the flesh, energy of the intellect, and affection of the heart.
When, years ago, the steamer Boston went down, there were many theories regarding the probable method of her loss. One captain, a man wise in sea affairs, said to an American clergyman, I have sailed much in the same latitude where the Boston went down, and I do not think the icebergs struck her, but the waves sometimes go in threes, and if three waves strike a ship in quick succession, there is but little hope. I think one wave struck her and knocked in the bows, and another that filled the hatches, and the next sank her. So I have noticed, said that preacher, that troubles sometimes go in three surgessickness, poverty and bereavement dashing upon the soul, and then there is awful danger. That is the time when men need the shake of the hand that shall so fill them with a sense of human sympathy and love as to lift them above the wave, and aid them against giving up to go down in despair. Better than all medical stimulants, better than all changes of climate, better than company of angels, in an hour like that, is a strong human hand that lays hold upon the trembling palm of another, and by its tender pressure proves the saving truth of sweet, sweet human love.
My Christian brother! Where is your hand? Out with it to every suffering, sorrowing soul, and let its shake illustrate afresh Swains hymn:
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight,
When those who love the Lord,
In one anothers peace delight,
And thus fulfil His Word.
When each can feel his brothers sigh,
And with him bear a part;
When sorrow flows from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart.
The shake of the hand is also one good way of giving warm welcome to men. Christians need to keep that ever in mind for the Churchs sake, and the sake of Christ. The one most marked fault of Christs Church today is its failure to give warm welcome to those who come to worship in its courts. We have some Christians who count themselves hosts in the House of God. We have others who, though members, behave always as if they were visitors. Instead of welcoming others, and especially strangers, they stand on their dignity as if they were invited guests, and the pastor and officials must hunt them out and greet them or they go home mad. I never knew a Christian of that sort that was worth his salt. If we are Gods children, it is ours to act as hosts in our Fathers house.
There is one phase of southern social life that I would like to see introduced into northern church life, and that is hospitality. When you knock at the door of a Kentucky home, as a stranger, the universal response is, Come in! and your welcome is not less courteous or cordial than if you were a friend. That is as it ought to be in church life! When a stranger enters that door, he ought to get kindly greeting at its threshold by usher, and when he goes out of it he ought to leave behind newly made acquaintances and friends. There are some strangers who give Christs people no chance to show themselves friendly. They slip into Gods house, insist on sitting on a back seat, and shoot out ere the echo of the final amen has died away. The fact that they find Christs followers unfriendly is their own fault. There are other strangers who are so stiff when approached that they chill even Christian ardor. And then, there are others that sit in the same pew with professed Christians, sing from the same book of sacred song, and wait in vain for any further recognition from the inhospitable host of Gods house. If there is one thing that hurts a pastor more deeply than another, it is to find out, after the days work is done, that the hundreds of church members were not sufficiently interested and active to speak to, secure names and addresses of the three dozen strangers that sat along side of them. I speak it to your shame. Out with hands! Compel them to do Christs work, and if they are so palsied with timidity or fear as not to give cordial grasp to strangers and guests, better consider throwing them into the garbage box when you get home. It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched (Mar 9:43).
This church has made a reputation for its cordiality to strangers. That fact only shows how remiss other churches are in this matter, for we are far from perfect in the performance of that duty. We are too much given to shaking each others hands, first, when the first that we should shake, according to customs of courtesy, is the visitors hand, the strangers hand. They are our guests, and as Gods children we cant afford to be indifferent or slothful hosts in His holy house. Let our salutation to our Sunday guests be, Give me thy hand, and our Fathers house will soon be full.
We can seal covenants also by hand-shake. There are many enterprises of Christian nature that are nurtured in the church. The support of the local work, the gifts to our home mission causes, the effort to evangelize our city, the interest in missions world-wide. Every church member must assume some attitude to all of these. I thank God for those who, when they hear of a good purpose, put out the fingers, heartily saying, Give me thy hand! I will help on that, and I pray Him to increase their kind.
Our latest report on membership showed that we have 3,200 names on our books. But the people who are really our members are those who join hands with us in good works. A name on the church book stands for nothing. Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Come now, my indolent brother, my indifferent sister, Give me thy hand, and let us agree together to work for what Samuel Rutherford used to pray, an empty hell and a full Heaven.
Finally, let me say, We can help men heavenward by a hand-shake. God knows we need to help one another. None of us liveth to himself, and none are self-sufficient. With our sins and sorrows and sufferings we are much like that company of lepers that a visitor to Moravian hospital on the Cape of Good Hope saw. One leper was reading the Bible, but he had his fingers so eaten off that he couldnt turn the leaves. Near him, another without arms, yet with good feet, takes on his back one who has lost feet, and had kept his hands, and carries him to the helpless reader that he might turn the leaf and let him travel on in the study of the sacred page and the ascent to Heaven. Yes, we need help; we need to give help.
The sinful man needs our hand-shake. Never in time; I think never in eternity, will I forget the youthful companion who took me by the hand when my heart was pierced with the arrow of conviction, and pressed into my hand his own hearts sympathy and love. It helped me, God only knows how much, toward the light. There are more people waiting in hope of such help than we commonly suspect.
I read years since the story of a little girl who fell in love with a Christian young lady who visited her sick sister. This little girl clung to the visitor at every departure, as if she couldnt let her go, until one day the young lady, looking into the earnest, childish eyes, saw a deeper meaning than ever before, and questioned, My darling, do you love Jesus? The child drew her into her little bed-room, and throwing her arms about her neck, burst into tears saying, Oh, Miss Alice, I have been praying for six months that you would speak to one about Jesus, and now you have, and youll help me to understand Him and love Him. I was beginning to fear youd never say anything to me about Him.
The man who has lost hope needs the Christian hand. It is related that a drunken gardener, who was supposed to be hopelessly addicted to drink, was sobered and saved by the kindly hand-shake of Mr. Coleridge. Henry Ward in a sermon tells how he stopped one day and shook hands with a plain carpenter who was working on his Brooklyn church. The man looked pleased, and holding on to the great preachers hand, he said, Now, sir, you do not know how much good your hand-shake does me. I shall go home to-night and tell my wife and children that the great preacher shook hands with me and asked if I was getting along well, and they will talk about that for a week.
You folks that live in fine houses, on elegant streets, dont know how much good you might do plain men by showing them that you consider them somebody. No wonder Beecher said, I owe that man many good sermons, for that sermon on handshaking which he preached to me. Hands! They were given, I believe, to help men higher and toward Heaven! How poorly we use them! Brother! Sister! Give me thy hand! Let us begin below the friendly shake, for do we not hope to shake hands all round in Heaven ere long? The loved ones are waiting to greet us there. John, Paul, Peter and Paysona Heavenly host that no man can number, await our coming, and shall not earth know something of that cordiality and love that will abound Heaven?
Fuente: The Bible of the Expositor and the Evangelist by Riley
B. JEHU AND JEHONADAB 10:1517
TRANSLATION
(15) And he departed from there, and found Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he blessed him, and said unto him, Is your heart right as my heart is with your heart? And Jehonadab said, It is. If it is, give me your hand. And he gave his hand, and he took him up unto him into the chariot. (16) And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot. (17) When he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained to Ahab in Sa maria, until he had destroyed him according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken to Elijah.
COMMENTS
Between Beth-eked and Samaria, Jehu happened upon the great Kenite chief Jehonadab, the founder of a remarkable sect of conservative Yahwists. Jehonadab was somewhat of an ascetic who required his sons to live in tents, to possess neither house, nor field, nor vineyard, and to abstain wholly from the use of wine (cf. Jer. 35:8-10). Jehu was anxious for the endorsement of this noted leader, and so he blessed him, i.e., greeted him, and inquired whether or not this zealous servant of the Lord was sympathetically inclined toward the revolution. Without a moments pause, the Kenite chief cast his lot with Jehu, for he had chafed many years in the presence of Ahabs religious policy. Having received from Jehonadab a positive and enthusiastic endorsement, Jehu extended his hand to the venerable old man and took him up into his chariot. This action would at once honor the patriarch, and at the same time suggest to the populace that the two men were in accord with regard to the bloody anti-Ahab policy (2Ki. 10:15).
Jehonadab evidently approved of the measures already taken by Jehu, and the general hinted to him that further severe measures were about to be taken. These acts Jehu referred to as my zeal for the Lord. Though Jehonadab did not know exactly what Jehu had in mind, he must have had a good idea of what was about to happen. So being in agreement with Jehus cause, the patriarch agreed to ride to the capital with the general. So they, i.e., Jehu and his attendants, made provision for Jehonadab to ride in the royal chariot (2Ki. 10:16). When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu slew all that remained of Ahabs house, viz., the daughters of Ahab, and the wives and perhaps families of the seventy sons already slain. This action fulfilled the word which God had spoken against the house of Ahab by the mouth of Elijah the prophet (2Ki. 10:17).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(15) Jehonadab the son of Rechab.Comp. Jer. 35:6-11; and 1Ch. 2:55. Ewald supposes that the Rechabites were one of the new societies formed after the departure of Elijah for the active support of the true religion. Their founder in this sense was Jonadab, who, despairing of being able to practise the legitimate worship in the bosom of the community, retired into the desert with his followers, and, like Israel of old, preferred the rough life of tents to all the allurements of city life. Only unusual circumstances could induce them (like their founder, in the present instance) to re-enter the circle of common life. The son of Rechab means the Rechabite.
And he saluted him.It was important to Jehu to be seen acting in concert with a man revered for sanctity, and powerful as a leader of the orthodox party.
Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?The Hebrew is: Is there with thy heart right (sincerity)? but this does not agree with the rest of the question. Some MSS. omit the particle eth (with); but the original reading is probably preserved in the Vatican LXX: Is thy heart right [i.e., sincere, honest] with my heart, as my heart with thy heart? This secures a parallelism of expression. (Syriac: Is there in thy heart sincerity, like that of my heart with thy heart?)
If it be.Literally, An it be (the old English idiom, i.e., and it be). Jehu makes this reply. The LXX. (Alex.) has: And Jehu said; Vulg., saith he; Syriac, It is, and it is; and he said to him (perhaps an accidental transposition).
Give me thine hand.As a pledge of good faith and token of amity. Striking hands sealed a compact. (Comp. Isa. 2:6; and Cheynes Note.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him The name is written Jonadab in Jer 35:6; Jer 35:10; Jer 35:19. The house of Rechab were descendants of the Kenites, (1Ch 2:55,) who journeyed with the Israelites through the wilderness, (Num 10:29,) and had settled in various parts of the land. Jdg 1:16; Jdg 4:11; 1Sa 15:6. This Jehonadab had brought all his father’s house to pledge themselves to abstain from wine, and to pursue the nomadic habits of their ancestors, and always dwell in tents. See Jeremiah 35. He was doubtless, therefore, well known in Israel as a man of great austerity; he had probably mourned over the prevailing idolatry, and now, hearing of what Jehu had done and said, he recognised in him a minister of Jehovah to execute judgment on the wicked house of Ahab, and went forth to meet him, and declare to him that his heart was with him in this ministry of judgment.
Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart Jehu was anxious to know if, in this bloody work, which he might well fear would not be very popular in Israel, he had the sympathy and approval of the distinguished pietist Jehonadab. To have his sympathy would be no small advantage to his cause. So he asks: Is thy heart really in sympathy with mine in this ministry of Divine judgment?
If it be There is nothing in the Hebrew that answers well to if. It should be rendered: Jehonadab answered, It is, yea, it is; give me thy hand. Jehonadab did not leave Jehu to do all the talking. He first offered his hand to the conqueror, and then Jehu gave him his hand and took him into his chariot. So Jehu found him a helper in his work of doom.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Baal-Worship Discontinued.
v. 15. And when he was departed thence, v. 16. And he, v. 17. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, v. 18. And Jehu gathered all the people together and said unto them, v. 19. Now, therefore, call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting; for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal. Whosoever shall be wanting, v. 20. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it, v. 21. And Jehu sent through all Israel. And all the worshipers of’ Baal came, v. 22. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, v. 23. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshipers of Baal, Search and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord but the worshipers of Baal only, v. 24. And when they, v. 25. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, v. 26. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, v. 27. And they brake down the image of Baal, v. 28. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2Ki 10:15. Jehonadab, the son of Rechab See the notes on Jeremiah 35 and Bedford’s Script. Chronol. l. vi. c. 2. To give the hand, signifies to promise. When, therefore, we are told, that Jehu asked Jehonadab to give him his hand, we are not to suppose it was that he might assist him in getting up into the chariot, but that Jehonadab would give him an assurance that he would assist him in the prosecution of his designs. See Pilkington’s Remarks, and Ezr 10:19.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The honorable testimony the Holy Ghost hath given of this man in another part of sacred scripture, demands our attention. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of him in great commendation as the honored father of the house of the Rechabites at a period distant from this above 300 years. And when we behold him coming out of his retirement to thank Jehu for his services to the Lord; it may serve to leach us that in the worst of times the Lord hath a seed that serve him in the earth, See Jer 35:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 10:15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart [is] with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give [me] thine hand. And he gave [him] his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
Ver. 15. He lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab. ] A Kenite of Jethro’s stock, 1Ch 2:55 famous for his piety and holy life, and highly esteemed of the people. See Jer 35:6 . Josephus saith, that he was of Jehu’s old acquaintance. Whether he were or not, now he desires his approbation, and therefore takes him along.
Is thine heart right, as my heart is?
And Jehonadab answered, It is.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jehonadab. He was a Kenite (1Ch 2:55), descendants of the father-in-law of Moses (Num 10:29. Jdg 1:16; Jdg 4:11. 1Sa 15:6). See Jer 35.
as = according as.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jehonadab
Called Jonadab, Jer 35:6; Jer 35:8; Jer 35:10; Jer 35:14; Jer 35:16; Jer 35:18; Jer 35:19.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
lighted on: Heb. found, 2Ki 10:13, 2Ki 9:21, *marg.
Jehonadab: Jer 35:6, Jer 35:8, Jer 35:14-19, Jonadab
Rechab: 1Ch 2:55
saluted: Heb. blessed, Gen 31:55, Gen 47:7, Gen 47:10
Is thine heart right: 1Ch 12:17, 1Ch 12:18, Joh 21:15-17, Gal 4:12
give me: Ezr 10:19, Eze 17:18, Gal 2:9
he took him: Jehu asked for the hand of Jehonadab not merely for the purpose of assisting him into the chariot, but that he might give him an assurance that he would assist him in the prosecution of his desires; for giving the hand is considered as a pledge of friendship and fidelity, or a form of entering into a contract, among all nations. Mr. Bruce relates, that when he entreated the protection of a sheikh, the great people who were assembled came, “and after joining hands, repeated a kind of prayer, of about two minutes long; by which they declared themselves and their children accursed, if ever they lifted their hands against me in the tell, (or field) in the desert, or on the river; or, in case that I, or mine, should fly to them for refuge, if they did not protect us at the risk of their lives, their families, and their fortunes, or, as they emphatically expressed it, to the death of the last male child among them.” Another striking instance occurs in Ockley’s History of the Saracens. Telha, just before he died, asked one of Ali’s men if he belonged to the emperor of the faithful; and being informed that he did, “Give me then,” said he, “your hand, that I may put mine in it, and by this action renew the oath of fidelity which I have already made to Ali.” Act 8:31
Reciprocal: 1Ki 20:33 – and he caused 2Ki 10:23 – Jehonadab Psa 94:16 – rise up Jer 35:2 – the house Lam 5:6 – given
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 10:15-16. He lighted on Jehonadab A Kenite, (1Ch 2:55,) and a man of singular prudence and piety, as appears from this history, and from Jer 35:6; from him descended the race of the Rechabites. And he saluted him That is, Jehu saluted Jehonadab. It is likely Jehonadab was in great favour with the people, on account of the strictness of his life and virtue, and that this, in part, induced Jehu to speak so kindly to him, and court his friendship. And said, Is thy heart right, &c. Dost thou love me as sincerely and fervently as I love thee, and approve of my present proceedings, as I approve of thy institutions? If it be, give me thy hand As a sign of friendship and fidelity. These seem to be the words of Jehu. And he said, Come, and see my zeal for the Lord For the vindication of his honour, and the execution of his commands. Do not believe my words, but mine actions, which thine eyes shall behold. So they made him ride in his chariot The servants opened the door of his chariot, and Jehu took him up into it. And while he thus put some honour upon Jehonadab, he received more honour from him. For all pious and sober people would think the better of Jehu when they saw Jehonadab in the chariot with him. This is not the only time, says Henry, that the piety of some has been made to serve the policy of others; and that designing men have strengthened themselves by drawing good men into their interests.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
10:15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab [coming] to meet him: and he {g} saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart [is] with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give [me] thine hand. And he gave [him] his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
(g) For he feared God, and lamented the wickedness of those times: therefore Jehu was glad to join with him: of Rechab read Jer 35:2.