Title: Jehu/2 Kings 9:1-10:29
Jehu/2 Kings 9:1-10:29
Unlike the southern kingdom of Judah, the northern kingdom of Israel continued to change its dynasty. The Jeroboam dynasty, which rebelled against Rehoboam and divided the kingdom and became the first king of northern Israel, ended after 22 years with Jeroboam and 1 year and 23 years with Nadab his son. The Baasa dynasty, which served as Nadab's subordinates and established a second dynasty after defeating Nadab and establishing a second dynasty, ended again after 24 years of Baasa, 1 year of his son Elah, and 25 years. The third dynasty could be called Zimri, and Zimri, who served as Ella's subordinate, killed Ella and became king, was defeated by Omri, and that dynasty ended on the 7th day. The fourth dynasty, the Omri dynasty, was the fourth dynasty that came to power over Zimri after being a subordinate of Elah. The Omri dynasty lasted for 45 years, including 12 years of Omri, 22 years of Ahab, 1 year of Ahaziah, Ahab's eldest son (1 Kings 22:51), and 12 years of Ahaziah's younger brother Joram (Jehoram) (2 Kings 3:1). ended in Jehu was the tenth king of northern Israel after he defeated Joram.
Prophecy through Elijah
“Anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, and you shall also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and Elisha son of Abel-meholah Shaphat to be a prophet in your place.” 1 Kings 19:15,16) This prophecy about Jehu was dated at least 15 years ago. This is what happened in 2 Kings 9. Joram went to Ramoth Gilead and was wounded while fighting Hazael king of Syria. So, reluctantly, he left his troops there and went to the nearest Jezreel for treatment. Jezreel was the summer palace of the kings of Israel. At that time, the young prophet Elisha sent came to Jehu, who was in Ramoth, Gilead, and asked him to go to the closet. He poured oil on his head and said, “The word of God is, ‘I have anointed you king over Israel; ' and ran away (2 Kings 9:6-10).
Annihilate the house of Ahab
Jehu, who was crowned king at Ramoth in Gilead, went straight to Jezreel and killed Joram and his nephew Ahaziah, king of Judah, who had been there to visit him. Ahaziah was murdered after continuing friendship with the wicked. And he killed Ahab's 70 sons in Samaria and all those belonging to Ahab's house (2 Kings 10:11,17).
Prophecy as a tool for the fulfillment of prophecy
What happened to Jehu did not happen suddenly. It was all ordained by God in advance. However, God did not accomplish everything at once, but unfolded the history and anointed Jehu when the energy of history was ripe. Elijah literally interpreted the word to anoint Jehu and did not immediately follow him and pour oil. In 1 Kings 21:21,22, God said to Ahab through Elijah, 'I will bring calamity upon you, and will wipe you away, and destroy all who belong to you. And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah...' He used the personality of Jehu to make the prophecy fulfilled.
The selfish motive of prognosis
After killing all 70 of Ahab's princes, Jehu said to the people, 'You are all innocent people, but I am the one who killed my master. But who killed these princes? Aren't they the ones who educated these princes?' Then he said, 'Are they all murderers who killed their master like me? It is not so' theory. It was only a fulfillment of what God had said through Elijah (2 Kings 10:9,10). It was wrong for Jehu to do this. He had accomplished his own political purpose in the name of carrying out the will of God.
And Jehu slew all the prophets of Baal. This was a good thing. But this too was not done out of pure faith, but out of selfish motives for himself. Jehu knew that the Baal worshipers were very close to the Ahabs. So, in order to completely destroy Ahab's power, the Baal worshipers were annihilated. For the safety of his kingship, Jehu continued to commit the sins of the kings of Israel (2 Kings 10:29). Jehu was used as an instrument of God, but he was a man who worked for his kingship rather than God's command.