25 February 2010

Jehu killed 42 of Ahaziah's family (and God approved of this killing)


After Jehu killed what remained of Ahab's family in Jezreel, he went to Samaria and met with the family of king Ahaziah of Judah.
And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And ... met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen. 2 KIngs 10:12-13
It was a short, productive meeting. Jehu had only one action item: kill all the attendees.
And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them. 2 KIngs 10:14
That's all that 2 Kings says about it. But the killing is also covered in 2 Chronicles.
The destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him. 2 Chronicles 22:7-9
So we know that the killing of Ahaziah's 42 relatives was "of God" -- which means that God approved of these killings.
But was it part of Jehu's hit list from God?
I guess God only knows that, and he's not telling.
(I guess even God has the right to remain silent.)


God's next killing: Jehu and his partner show their zeal for the Lord by killing the rest of Ahab’s family

4 comments:

twillight said...

The answer lies in the original start. Did biblegod sent Jehu on this killing-row, or he just started to fullfil his (or Elija's?) promise.
It's blurry now, but as far as I remember, this is only a "god approved killing", and not a direct "killing by god".


You know what my first thought was? Why not make a computer-game from it?
In the style of that ancient Robocop-game, or something seems a good way to introduce how caring this god is...

skanksta said...

The Lord killeth and the Lord haveth his killings taken away...

I agree with twilight - not clear enough to give to Yahweh, but Steve, WHEN are you gonna up killing no.90 (Moabites) to 5,000 from 1,000 ?

Steve Wells said...

Thanks twillight and skanksta.

I'll keep it as a God-approved killing.

And I haven't forgotten about the #90 total. I'll go over and take a look.

Matthew Blanchette said...

Why didn't anybody try to stop Jehu? Nobody lets crazed killers who say they're from God run amok today; where was that common sense in Bible times?