2 Kings 9 9

2 Kings 9:9 kjv

And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:

2 Kings 9:9 nkjv

So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

2 Kings 9:9 niv

I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah.

2 Kings 9:9 esv

And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

2 Kings 9:9 nlt

I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah.

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 9 Meaning

This verse explains that Jehu's mission from the Lord is to utterly destroy the house of Ahab, mirroring the complete destruction previously meted out to the wicked dynasties of Jeroboam and Baasha. It signifies God's complete and final judgment upon Ahab's lineage for their egregious sin and idolatry, specifically the worship of Baal promoted by Ahab and Jezebel.

2 Kings 9 9 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the prophet anoints Jehu king over Israel at God's command (2 Kings 9:6) and issues specific instructions for his divine task. Jehu, a military commander, is tasked not only with kingship but primarily with executing God's long-prophesied judgment on the wicked house of Ahab. Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and their children had led Israel into deep idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, and committed atrocities like the murder of Naboth. The destruction of the house of Ahab, specified in this verse, is presented as a fulfillment of prophecies spoken by Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-24) and reiterated here. Historically, Israel had suffered under corrupt kingship, leading to a profound religious and moral decline. The repeated references to Jeroboam and Baasha underscore a pattern: when kings abandon YHWH for idolatry and wickedness, their dynasties are utterly cut off as a demonstration of God's sovereign justice and His covenant faithfulness.

2 Kings 9 9 Word analysis

• And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat

  • house (בֵּית, beit): Refers to the royal dynasty, including the king, his descendants, and immediate family members. Its destruction signifies the complete eradication of their influence and power, preventing any heir from continuing the line.
  • Ahab (אַחְאָב, Ach'av): King of Israel notorious for promoting Baal worship with his Phoenician wife, Jezebel, and for his injustices (e.g., Naboth's vineyard). The judgment is a direct response to his and his family's sins.
  • like the house of Jeroboam (כְּבֵית יָרָבְעָם, k'veit Yarov'am): Jeroboam I was the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He established calf worship at Dan and Bethel to prevent his subjects from going to Jerusalem, thereby introducing foundational idolatry into the nation. His dynasty was completely wiped out by Baasha as God's judgment (1 Kings 14:10, 1 Kings 15:29). This comparison immediately signals a complete and destructive end. The phrase signifies a definitive and utterly destructive judgment, leaving no one alive who can continue the line or reign. It highlights a repeated divine pattern against kings who lead Israel into idolatry. The use of Jeroboam as the initial standard of wickedness and divine eradication underscores the depth of Ahab's offenses, as his family's destruction would be just as severe and comprehensive.

• and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

  • Baasha (בַּעְשָׁא, Ba'sha): Baasha usurped the throne from Jeroboam's son and then utterly destroyed Jeroboam's house, fulfilling prophecy (1 Kings 15:29). However, Baasha himself continued Jeroboam's idolatrous ways and eventually his own house was likewise utterly cut off by Zimri (1 Kings 16:3, 1 Kings 16:11-12).
  • the son of Ahijah: This refers to Baasha's lineage, emphasizing his identity and establishing him as a specific historical example.
  • and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: This second parallel further solidifies the complete nature of the impending destruction. Baasha's dynasty suffered the same fate as Jeroboam's: complete eradication due to their persistence in the same sins of idolatry that provoked God's wrath. By invoking these two specific historical precedents, the prophetic message conveys a non-negotiable, comprehensive judgment against the house of Ahab, assuring that their dynasty will be entirely cut off, with no male descendant left to succeed them.

2 Kings 9 9 Bonus section

The double reference to Jeroboam and Baasha serves to underscore the prophetic tradition of covenant enforcement. This divine judgment is not arbitrary but flows from the covenant curses pronounced in Deuteronomy against those who forsake YHWH and turn to other gods. The swift, total eradication of the house indicates God's unwavering resolve to purify His people and restore true worship. Jehu's subsequent actions in chapters 9 and 10 illustrate the immediate and ruthless execution of this specific divine command.

2 Kings 9 9 Commentary

This verse functions as a powerful declaration of divine justice, ensuring that Ahab's dynasty, stained by unparalleled Baal worship and grave injustices like the murder of Naboth, would face the same fate as earlier wicked royal houses in Israel. By comparing the house of Ahab to those of Jeroboam and Baasha, the Lord establishes a consistent theological principle: grave disobedience and promotion of idolatry inevitably lead to the complete eradication of a royal lineage. Jehu's mission is not merely a political coup but a divinely ordained act of retribution, fulfilling long-standing prophecies and demonstrating God's unwavering sovereignty over human kingdoms and His intolerance of the widespread wickedness that gripped Israel under Ahab's rule.