Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 10:11

So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolk, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

11. and his kinsfolks ] R.V. familiar friends. The word indicates those who were well known to him, [LXX. ] and contains no notion of kinship. It is rendered, by A.V. ‘familiar friends’ in Job 19:14, and ‘acquaintance’ in Psa 31:11 and in several other places. The final s in kinsfolks makes the form unusual in English.

and his priests ] On this word, which is most frequently rendered ‘priests’, see note on 1Ki 4:2, where it is pointed out that ‘chief ruler’ or ‘principal officer’ appears sometimes to be its meaning. That sense appears more appropriate here, where the family and the acquaintances of Ahab’s family are spoken of. The priests of Ahab, who would be the Baal-priests, would be included in the wholesale destruction of the Baal-worship described later on in this chapter.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

So Jehu slew – Rather, And Jehu slew. The reference is to fresh executions (compare 2Ki 10:17). He proceeded on his bloody course, not merely destroying the remainder of the kindred of Ahab, but further putting to death all the most powerful of Ahabs partisans.

His priests – Not the Baal priests generally, whose persecution came afterward 2Ki 10:19, but only such of them as were attached to the court.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. Jehu slew all] So it appears that the great men who had so obsequiously taken off the heads of Ahab’s seventy sons, fell also a sacrifice to the ambition of this incomparably bad man.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

All his great men; whom he had advanced and made great in wealth, for honour, and quality; who had been partners with him in his sins, and who were likely to be avenged of his death.

His priests; his domestic priests, which had waited upon Ahab and Jezebel in their idolatrous services, and were fed at the kings table. Compare 1Ki 18:19. Or, his chief officers of state, as that word is sometimes used; of which see 2Sa 8:18, compared with 1Ch 18:17.

Object. These were included in

his great men mentioned before.

Answ. Yet may they well be mentioned apart, as a distinct and the most eminent sort of them.

He left him none remaining, to wit, in that place and kingdom; for he did leave some of the royal seed of Judah, 2Ki 1:1,2.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel,…. Which to do, and to justify himself in so doing, was the design of what he said in the preceding verses:

and his great men; his ministers of state and counsellors, that advised him to, and abetted him in his idolatrous practices, and so justly suffered for the same; and perhaps some of them at least were those very men that cut off the heads of his sons in complaisance to Jehu:

and his kinsfolks: more distantly related to him or his acquaintance and familiars, his associates in sin and wickedness:

and his priests: who officiated for him and offered his sacrifices to Baal; the priests he kept in his palace, and ate at his table:

until he left him none remaining; either of his kindred or his priests, that is, that were at Jezreel; for there were others at Samaria, 2Ki 10:17.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The effect of these words was, that the people looked quietly on when he proceeded to slay all the rest of the house of Ahab, i.e., all the more distant relatives in Jezreel, and “all his great men,” i.e., the superior officers of the fallen dynasty, and “all his acquaintances,” i.e., friends and adherents, and “all his priests,” probably court priest, such as the heathen kings had; not secular counsellors or nearest servants (Thenius), a meaning which never has, not even in 2Sa 8:18 and 1Ki 4:5.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(11) So.Rather, And. The verse relates further massacres.

In Jezreel.The seat of the court.

His great meni.e., high officials of his court; persons who owed their exaltation to him.

Kinsfolks.Rather, his friends (literally, his known ones; familiares ejus).

Priests.See Notes on 2Sa. 8:18; 1Ki. 4:5; 1Ch. 18:17.

None remaining.No survivor.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

11. Slew all that remained There was yet remaining in Jezreel not a few of the court favourites and friends of the royal family, and these Jehu proceeded at once to slay, and probably in presence of all the people. None dared oppose or resist him, for the people felt, as he had shown, that this was a fulfilling of prophecy.

Great men State officers who were then in Jezreel.

Kinsfolks Distant relatives, or intimate acquaintances, who had been accustomed to receive court favours.

Priests His private court priests, who were devoted to the calf-worship which Jeroboam had established, and Ahab had continued to encourage.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ki 10:11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

Ver. 11. So Jehu slew all. ] Neither was this cruelty, but zeal and justice; because according to God’s will, which is the rule of righteousness. There cannot be a better or more noble act, than to do justice upon obstinate malefactors. a It was therefore without good reason that the Roman laws forbade the common executioner, as accursed, to dwell within the city, or to draw breath therein. Doth not God truss up notoriously wicked men sometimes with his own bare hand? and are not his angels executioners of his judgments, as on the Sodomites, Sennacherib, &c.?

And his priests. ] His household chaplains: and had not Baal’s priests now some cause to be afraid of Jehu?

Until he left none remaining. ] This had been well done, but that he had ill aims; and so there was malum opus in bona materia. Works materially good, may never prove so formally and eventually.

a Cic., pro Rabir.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)