Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 10:2
Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons [are] with you, and [there are] with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armor;
2. Now [R.V. And now ] as soon as this letter cometh to you ] Only an extract from the letter is here given, which the Hebrew correctly represents, and which R.V. has shewn by its translation. See a similar instance before, chap. 2Ki 5:6.
a fenced city ] This must refer to the city of Samaria, which probably was better fortified than Jezreel, and which had been especially cared for by the family of Omri by whom it was built.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A fenced city – Or, fenced cities. If Samaria had refused to acknowledge Jehu, many other Israelite towns would have been sure to follow the example.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. A fenced city also] All here seems to refer to Samaria alone; in it were the magazines and implements of war, c. No reader need be told that these letters were all ironical. It was the same as if he had said, “Ye have no means of defence Israel is with me: if you yield not up yourselves and the city, I will put you all to the sword.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you,…. Sons of Ahab, and some of Joram, and all either the sons or grandsons of Ahab:
and there are with you chariots and horses; military ones:
a fenced city also: as Samaria was, well walled and fortified, and able to hold out a long siege:
and armour; of all sorts, to arm themselves and people with in their defence.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Now as soon as this letter cometh.Rather, And now when this letter cometh. Only the conclusion of the letter, containing the gist of it, is reported here. (Comp. 2Ki. 5:6.)
Seeing your masters sons . . . look even out (2Ki. 10:3).Rather, there are with you both your masters sons, and the chariots and the horses,and a fenced city, and the armoury: so look out the best, &c.
A fenced city.All the versions but the Arabic have fenced cities; and so Josephus. There is a tone of mocking irony in Jehus challenge to the nobles of Samaria, who were probably as luxurious and cowardly now as in the days of Amos, a few years later (Amo. 3:12; Amo. 6:3-6). (Comp. also Isa. 28:1-10.) By his careful enumeration of their resources, he as good as says that his defiance is not the fruit of ignorance.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2, 3 .
As soon as this letter cometh Most expositors have regarded this letter of Jehu as ironical. Thus Kitto: “There was a latent irony in this letter, for the writer must well have known the real state of the case, and how little likely it was that they would take up the cause of a fallen house, known to have been doomed of God.” But whatever Jehu may have known or thought of their probable feeling and action in the case, the language of this epistle, particularly the closing challenge fight for your master’s house is that of bold and menacing defiance rather than of irony, and involves an order for them either to surrender or else prepare for war. Bahr paraphrases it thus: “I am king; but if ye, who have in your possession the chariots, and horses, and arms, are desirous of placing a prince of the house of Ahab on the throne, you thereby begin a war with me.” Very likely he expected to intimidate them, and bring them to submission by this threat.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 10:2 Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons [are] with you, and [there are] with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;
Ver. 2. Now as soon as this letter cometh to you. ] A concise and stately kind of writing, much like that of the king of Syria to the king of Israel. 2Ki 5:6 So the Hebrews note of Esau, in his meeting with Jacob, Gen 33:4-15 that he uttereth his mind in few words, whenas Jacob is more full and fuse in his expressions. But ornamentum epistolae est ornamentis carere, saith a master of rhetoric, a Plainness is the greatest grace of an epistle.
a Politian.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as soon: 2Ki 5:6
Reciprocal: Gal 4:1 – That