2 Kings 10:16 kjv
And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
2 Kings 10:16 nkjv
Then he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." So they had him ride in his chariot.
2 Kings 10:16 niv
Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." Then he had him ride along in his chariot.
2 Kings 10:16 esv
And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." So he had him ride in his chariot.
2 Kings 10:16 nlt
Then Jehu said, "Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the LORD." So Jehonadab rode along with him.
2 Kings 10 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 25:11 | "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar...has turned back My wrath...because he was zealous..." | Phinehas' zeal saved Israel. |
| Ps 69:9 | "For zeal for Your house has eaten me up..." | Intense passion for God's dwelling/honor. |
| Isa 9:7 | "The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." | God's own passionate commitment ensures His plan. |
| Joel 2:18 | "Then the LORD will be zealous for His land and pity His people." | God's protective zeal for His people. |
| 2 Ki 9:6-7 | "...I have anointed you king...to destroy the house of Ahab..." | Jehu's divine mandate for destruction. |
| 2 Ki 10:28 | "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel." | Fulfillment of Jehu's primary objective. |
| 2 Ki 10:30-31 | "Because you have done well...yet Jehu took no heed to walk in the law..." | God acknowledges Jehu's action, but notes limits. |
| Rom 10:2 | "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." | Zeal can exist without proper understanding. |
| Gal 1:14 | "...being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." | Paul's pre-conversion misdirected zeal. |
| Php 3:6 | "...concerning zeal, persecuting the church..." | Paul's zealous action driven by incorrect belief. |
| 1 Tim 6:12 | "Fight the good fight of faith..." | A call to genuine, spiritual zeal. |
| Rev 3:19 | "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." | A call to rekindle fervor and turn from lukewarmness. |
| Ex 14:13 | "...stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD..." | Moses inviting people to witness God's work. |
| Deut 29:16 | "...you have seen their abominations..." | The people having witnessed foreign idolatry. |
| Jer 35:1-19 | Details Jehonadab (Rechabites) and their obedience to their father's command. | Exemplary fidelity of the Rechabites. |
| Judg 4:4-5 | Deborah, a prophetess, had her authority acknowledged by Barak seeking her presence. | Respected individuals bring validation. |
| Gen 49:6 | "For in their anger they slew a man... in their self-will they hamstrung an ox." | Negative zeal, stemming from wrath or rebellion. |
| Num 11:29 | "Are you zealous for my sake?" | Moses asking if Joshua's jealousy is for him. |
| 2 Chr 29:6 | "...they have been unfaithful to the LORD..." | The general context of unfaithfulness in Israel. |
| Mat 23:27-28 | "...whitewashed tombs... outwardly appear righteous but inwardly full of hypocrisy." | Contrast to Jehu's potentially mixed motives. |
| 2 Cor 7:11 | "...what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation..." | Godly sorrow leading to righteous zeal. |
2 Kings 10 verses
2 Kings 10 16 Meaning
This verse portrays Jehu, newly anointed by God, taking Jehonadab son of Rechab into his chariot to observe Jehu's resolute and fervent actions in purging the land of Baal worship. Jehu explicitly invites Jehonadab to witness his intense commitment, or "zeal," for the Lord God of Israel, publicly demonstrating his alignment with righteousness and seeking the esteemed Jehonadab's endorsement or presence as a righteous observer.
2 Kings 10 16 Context
2 Kings Chapter 10 recounts Jehu's systematic extermination of Ahab's descendants and the worshippers of Baal, fulfilling God's prophecy through Elisha (2 Ki 9:7-10). Jehu has already orchestrated the deaths of King Joram, King Ahaziah, and Jezebel, along with seventy sons of Ahab and all of his remaining prominent officials in Samaria. In verse 15, Jehu encounters Jehonadab, a leader of the Rechabites, a group known for their asceticism, fidelity to ancestral traditions, and deep reverence for the Lord. By inviting Jehonadab into his personal chariot and specifically to witness his "zeal," Jehu is securing a reputable witness for his actions. This move adds a layer of moral legitimacy to the ongoing purge in the eyes of any God-fearing Israelite, contrasting sharply with the deep-seated idolatry that had afflicted the kingdom of Israel under the house of Ahab.
2 Kings 10 16 Word analysis
- So he made him ride: Signifies a deliberate act of inclusion and association. Jehu extends his personal authority and protection, welcoming Jehonadab into his closest confidence, symbolizing unity in purpose.
- him: Refers to Jehonadab, son of Rechab. He represents a group, the Rechabites (Jer 35), known for strict obedience to their ancestor's vows, nomadic lifestyle, and avoidance of corrupting Canaanite practices, including idol worship and alcohol. His reputation for devout living made him a figure of moral authority whose presence could legitimize Jehu's actions.
- chariot: A primary symbol of royal authority, military power, and swift movement in ancient Israel. Being invited into the king's chariot meant sharing in his status and implicitly, his mission. It was a public display of solidarity.
- Come with me: An explicit invitation, not a command. It underscores Jehu's desire for Jehonadab to be an eyewitness, likely to both endorse and understand the divine necessity of the forthcoming actions.
- and see: Emphasizes observation and direct witnessing. Jehu wanted Jehonadab to personally perceive the extent of his commitment.
- my zeal (קִנְאָה, qin'ah): This Hebrew term signifies intense passion, ardor, fervent desire, indignation, or jealousy. Here, it denotes Jehu's strong, driving commitment and enthusiasm for Yahweh, specifically in rooting out idolatry. While qin'ah can be used negatively (e.g., envy), when directed towards God and righteousness, it's generally seen as positive (e.g., God's zeal for His covenant people). However, Jehu's zeal, as later passages show (2 Ki 10:31), was limited; he acted in accordance with God's command but perhaps not out of a perfectly pure heart.
- for the LORD (יהוה, YHWH): Explicitly states the object and divine motivation of Jehu's zeal. It indicates that Jehu's intense actions were consecrated to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, and were aimed at upholding His exclusive worship against the challenge of Baalism.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So he made him ride in his chariot, and said, 'Come with me...'": This sequence highlights Jehu's initiative in recruiting Jehonadab, offering him a position of honor and intimacy. It suggests Jehu desired not just passive acknowledgment, but an active, shared experience in the dramatic events to follow, and perhaps a moral sanction from a highly regarded spiritual leader.
- "'...and see my zeal for the LORD.'": This phrase is the core declaration. Jehu makes a claim about his motivation and identity, connecting his extreme actions directly to a fervent devotion to Yahweh. The "see" implies a public, undeniable manifestation of this internal disposition. It underscores Jehu's understanding (or professed understanding) that his bloody purge was religiously driven and ordained by God.
2 Kings 10 16 Bonus section
The presence of Jehonadab also anticipates the mention of the Rechabites in Jeremiah 35, where their steadfast obedience to their human ancestor's command is presented as a rebuke to disobedient Israel's failure to obey God's commands. Jehu's alliance with Jehonadab momentarily connects this ruthless but divinely-appointed king with a remnant of uncompromising righteousness, highlighting God's concurrent works of judgment and the preservation of fidelity within Israel. The explicit call to "see" his zeal implies a public declaration and perhaps an internal justification by Jehu for his otherwise shocking actions. This action might be seen as Jehu's attempt to shore up spiritual support for his regime after taking the throne through bloodshed, thereby distinguishing his revolution from a mere political coup and presenting it as a religious reformation.
2 Kings 10 16 Commentary
This verse provides insight into Jehu's character and his strategic approach to fulfilling his divine commission. His invitation to Jehonadab reflects a desire for legitimization and validation for his drastic actions. Jehonadab, known for his uncompromised devotion to God and traditional Israelite values, provided an essential witness for Jehu, signaling to the wider populace that these events were not merely a ruthless power grab, but a righteous purging ordered by Yahweh. While Jehu expressed zeal "for the LORD," 2 Kings 10:31 later reveals that this zeal was not comprehensive, as Jehu did not fully turn from the sins of Jeroboam, the calf worship at Bethel and Dan. This subtly complexifies Jehu's motivation; he was zealous in destroying Baal but not equally zealous in obeying all of God's commands. This duality serves as a cautionary tale: outwardly impressive acts for God can sometimes stem from mixed motives or partial obedience. It reminds believers that true zeal for the Lord involves not just overt actions against evil, but a full-hearted and consistent adherence to His word in all areas of life.