2 Kings 10 12

2 Kings 10:12 kjv

And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,

2 Kings 10:12 nkjv

And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds,

2 Kings 10:12 niv

Jehu then set out and went toward Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds,

2 Kings 10:12 esv

Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,

2 Kings 10:12 nlt

Then Jehu set out for Samaria. Along the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,

2 Kings 10 verses

2 Kings 10 12 Meaning

This verse describes Jehu's determined progression towards Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and a stronghold of Ahab's idolatry and Baal worship. After completing the massacre of Ahab's sons and his remaining officials in Jezreel, Jehu sets out, and the verse specifically notes a stop or location along his journey to Samaria: "the shepherds' pooling place on the way." This journey signifies the strategic and resolute execution of God's judgment on the house of Ahab as prophesied through Elijah and enacted through Jehu.

2 Kings 10 12 Context

This verse occurs during Jehu's comprehensive purging of the Ahabide dynasty and Baal worship in Israel, acting as an instrument of God's fierce judgment. Chapter 10 opens with Jehu's ruthless execution of Ahab's seventy sons in Jezreel, following God's command. Having eliminated the direct royal line and many associated officials in Jezreel, Jehu's focus shifts to Samaria, the capital and heart of the corrupt regime. His journey signifies the expansion of his divine mission to eradicate every trace of Ahab's influence and the rampant idolatry, particularly Baal worship, that Ahab and Jezebel had introduced. The mention of a specific stopping point on the way signals a narrative pause before the next significant encounter and further acts of judgment unfold.

2 Kings 10 12 Word analysis

• And he arose and departed (וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ - vayyaqom vayyelekh): This common Hebrew idiom signifies determined and decisive action or beginning a journey. It conveys a sense of purpose and immediacy in Jehu's movement after his actions in Jezreel. The consecutive waw plus imperfect tense verbs emphasizes a series of completed actions, a sequential progression in his mission.
• and went to Samaria (וַיָּבֹא שֹׁמְרוֹנָה - vayyavo Shomronah):
  • שֹׁמְרוֹנָה (Shomronah): "to Samaria." Samaria was the highly strategic and politically significant capital of the Northern Kingdom, established by Omri. Under Ahab and Jezebel, it became the epicenter of state-sponsored Baal worship, contrasting sharply with the covenant God of Israel. Jehu's move towards Samaria represents the continuation of the divine cleansing of Israel's apostasy, targeting the core of idolatrous influence.
• And as he was at the shepherds' pooling place (ה֠וּא עַד־בֵּית עֵקֶד הָרֹעִ֠ים - hu 'ad-bet 'eqed ha-ro'im):
  • בֵּית עֵקֶד (bet 'eqed): "house of the pooling/binding/shearing." This is a significant phrase, debated among scholars. 'Eqed' (עֵקֶד) comes from the root עָקַד ('aqad), meaning "to bind" (as in Gen 22:9, binding Isaac for sacrifice). It can refer to:
    1. A shearing house: A place where sheep were collected and bound for shearing. This would have been a substantial, well-known landmark, implying large flocks and commercial activity, and a practical point for rendezvous or lodging.
    2. A "gathering place" or "collecting place" for shepherds: A rendezvous point where flocks were collected or where shepherds met.
    3. A specific landmark, possibly indicating a place known for its function of binding or containing animals.
    The phrase highlights a specific, identifiable location, implying that readers would recognize it. Its purpose underscores the agricultural and pastoral nature of ancient Israelite society. Its significance in this context is that it serves as the precise location for Jehu's subsequent encounter and massacre of Ahaziah's Judean relatives, making it a place of further divine judgment and bloodshed, not unlike a sacrificial altar but in reverse—man is being cut off.
  • הָרֹעִים (ha-ro'im): "the shepherds." Indicates it was a common and perhaps well-trafficked place for those tending flocks.
• on the way (בַּדָּרֶךְ - ba-derek): Simply "on the road" or "en route." This emphasizes it was an intermediate stop during his journey to the ultimate destination of Samaria.

• "And he arose and departed and went to Samaria": This phrase indicates a purposeful, immediate, and significant change of location. It is more than just travel; it signals Jehu's determination to fulfill his mission comprehensively, moving from Jezreel, a regional capital, to Samaria, the national capital. This relentless pursuit aligns with the divine zeal required for God's judgment against apostasy.
• "And as he was at the shepherds' pooling place on the way": This specific detail, interrupting the continuous flow of Jehu's journey to Samaria, indicates the impending occurrence of a pivotal event at this particular location. The place name itself suggests a common, perhaps public, place where a diverse group might gather. The fact that Ahaziah's relatives are met there in the next verse underscores the unexpected yet divinely orchestrated encounter for further purging.

2 Kings 10 12 Bonus section

The "shepherds' pooling place" (bet 'eqed) has been identified by some scholars with "Bet Eked" (Khirbet el-Quraniye), located about 15-20 kilometers south of Samaria, positioning it as a logical resting or meeting point on the main road between Jezreel and the capital. The term 'eqed (binding/pooling/shearing) might also carry a subtle polemical undertone or at least an ironic one; the "house of binding" for animals now becomes a "house of binding" or capturing for judgment of those related to the idolatrous house of Ahab. God "binds" His enemies for judgment, much as animals are bound for slaughter or shearing. The severity and meticulousness of Jehu's campaign underscore a direct theological confrontation between the singular authority and demand for exclusive worship of Yahweh and the pervasive, politically sanctioned Baal worship that Ahab and Jezebel championed.

2 Kings 10 12 Commentary

2 Kings 10:12 provides a concise yet potent transition in Jehu's divinely commissioned purge of the Ahabide dynasty and Baal worship. Jehu's movement from Jezreel to Samaria signifies the expansion of the divine judgment, systematically targeting the core of idolatry and corruption in the northern kingdom. The detail of the "shepherds' pooling place" is crucial not just as a geographical marker but as a narrative pivot, signaling an imminent encounter for further, extensive bloodshed in God's name. This event underscores the comprehensive and unsparing nature of God's judgment on those who relentlessly violate His covenant through idolatry and evil. It demonstrates how God, through a human instrument like Jehu, methodically executes His justice across different locations, fulfilling ancient prophecies with precise and devastating effect, thereby reinforcing the seriousness with which He treats covenant disloyalty and syncretism within His people.