2 Kings 10:5 kjv
And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
2 Kings 10:5 nkjv
And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight."
2 Kings 10:5 niv
So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: "We are your servants and we will do anything you say. We will not appoint anyone as king; you do whatever you think best."
2 Kings 10:5 esv
So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes."
2 Kings 10:5 nlt
So the palace and city administrators, together with the elders and the guardians of the king's sons, sent this message to Jehu: "We are your servants and will do anything you tell us. We will not make anyone king; do whatever you think is best."
2 Kings 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:7 | "The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts." | God's sovereignty over raising/lowering rulers |
| 1 Kgs 21:21-22 | "Behold, I will bring disaster upon you, and will utterly sweep you away..." | Prophecy against Ahab's house |
| 2 Kgs 9:6-7 | "I anoint you king over Israel... that you may strike down the house of Ahab" | Jehu's divine commission to destroy Ahab's house |
| 2 Kgs 9:25-26 | "...surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons..." | Justice for Naboth's murder being enacted |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south... But God is the Judge:" | God determines who rises to power |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." | Fear as motivator for human action (submission) |
| Isa 2:19 | "They shall go into the caves of the rocks... from before the terror of the LORD" | Extreme fear leading to surrender/hiding |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings;" | God's absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." | Submission to established authority |
| Hos 8:4 | "They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not." | Illegitimate kingship in Israel |
| Matt 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul..." | Contrast between fear of man and fear of God |
| Jer 1:10 | "See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms..." | Divine authority given to instruments of God |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "...every knee should bow... and every tongue confess..." | Ultimate submission to ultimate authority (Christ) |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "...rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness as iniquity..." | Consequences of rebellion against divine will |
| Ps 78:65-66 | "Then the Lord awoke... and He struck down his adversaries in the rear" | Divine judgment on adversaries |
| Amos 9:1 | "I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said: "Strike the capitals of the pillars, that the thresholds may tremble..." | Divine command for destructive judgment |
| Ezek 21:26-27 | "Remove the turban and take off the crown... Until he comes whose right it is..." | Changing of rulers until God's chosen king comes |
| Jas 2:19 | "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" | Belief without full commitment, marked by fear |
| Acts 9:5-6 | "Who are you, Lord? And he said, “I am Jesus... But rise and enter the city..." | Immediate surrender to a compelling authority |
| Heb 10:31 | "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." | The terrifying nature of God's judgment |
2 Kings 10 verses
2 Kings 10 5 Meaning
2 Kings 10:5 details the absolute surrender of the high-ranking officials of Jezreel and Samaria, including the elders, the guardians of the young princes, and city officials, to Jehu. Confronted by his decisive and ruthless action against the reigning king Joram and Ahaziah, they proclaimed themselves as Jehu's total servants, committed to obeying his every command without question. Critically, they relinquished their inherent power to anoint or establish any other king, ceding complete authority to Jehu and trusting him to act as he saw fit, thereby acknowledging his complete ascendancy.
2 Kings 10 5 Context
Chapter 10 of 2 Kings documents the full extent of Jehu’s bloody purge against the house of Ahab, fulfilling the prophecy given by the LORD through Elijah (1 Kgs 21:21-22) and reiterated through the prophet who anointed Jehu (2 Kgs 9:6-10). Having already slain King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah, along with forty-two of Ahaziah's relatives, Jehu demonstrates an overwhelming and relentless force. Verse 5 follows Jehu's challenging declaration in 2 Kings 10:3, asking the leaders of Jezreel to choose and defend the best among the royal heirs to sit on the throne, implying he expected a challenge. However, instead of resistance, they recognized Jehu's immense power, divinely backed mission, and perhaps his ferocity, opting for immediate and total capitulation to save themselves. This verse seals Jehu's de facto control and legitimacy over the Northern Kingdom.
2 Kings 10 5 Word analysis
- So they sent: This implies a coordinated and official communication from the established authorities, namely the elders and guardians of Ahab's family mentioned in 2 Kgs 10:1-2. It signals their active recognition of Jehu's rise and the need to address his overwhelming challenge.
- to him, saying: The message is directed personally to Jehu, affirming his new, albeit violent, ascendancy.
- “We are your servants”: (Hebrew: 'ăvādeyḵā, עֲבָדֶיךָ) - Literally "your slaves." This is a powerful declaration of complete subservience, humility, and willingness to obey without question. In ancient Near Eastern culture, this phrase was used by vassals to a king, or subjects to their lord, denoting total allegiance and surrender of independent will. It signifies a profound shift of loyalty from the former Omride dynasty to Jehu.
- “and we will do all that you command us”: This extends the concept of being "servants" into concrete action—unconditional obedience. It indicates a readiness to carry out Jehu’s will, irrespective of their personal opinions or previous allegiances. This pledge removes any ambiguity about their future compliance.
- “we will not make anyone king”: This is a pivotal statement. It signifies the forfeiture of their king-making prerogative. By this, they disavow any attempt to install another successor from the Omride line, any of the royal sons or other claimants, or even a different candidate. It acknowledges Jehu as the sole and rightful determinant of kingship in Israel at that moment, thereby validating his violent overthrow of the previous dynasty and his anointing.
- “You do whatever seems good to you.”: (Hebrew: ṭōḇ bəʿêneyḵā, טוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ) - Literally "what is good in your eyes." This phrase gives Jehu ultimate discretionary power, empowering him to act freely concerning the royal family without any perceived opposition or interference from these officials. It is a testament to their absolute submission, driven by self-preservation, placing their fate entirely in Jehu’s hands. This grants him the implied authority to purge the remaining members of the royal family as he deems necessary, which he proceeds to do.
2 Kings 10 5 Bonus section
This swift and complete capitulation highlights the fragility of human power structures when God chooses to intervene and judge. The fear that prompted these officials to declare absolute servitude to Jehu, rather than challenging him, speaks volumes about the perceived immediacy and undeniable force of Jehu's ascent. It stands as a stark contrast to any genuine conversion or righteous alignment, being primarily motivated by the desire to escape destruction. Though their motivations were human, their actions effectively enabled God's larger redemptive purpose of cleansing Israel from the idolatrous Omride influence.
2 Kings 10 5 Commentary
2 Kings 10:5 is a concise yet profound illustration of power shift and the consequences of divine judgment. The officials’ response demonstrates abject fear and calculated pragmatism in the face of Jehu's overwhelming display of force, which they perceived, rightly, as being divinely empowered. Their immediate and unequivocal surrender—“We are your servants... we will not make anyone king. You do whatever seems good to you”—was not a moral affirmation of Jehu but a desperate bid for self-preservation and peace. They acknowledged Jehu as the new, uncontested authority by ceding their right to influence the succession, thereby stabilizing his seizure of power. This complete capitulation paves the way for the decisive execution of God's judgment on the wicked house of Ahab, ensuring that no remnant or loyalist faction would arise to challenge Jehu's divinely sanctioned purge. It showcases God's absolute sovereignty in raising and pulling down kings according to His will and justice.