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.
And he said, 'Capture them alive.' So they captured them alive and killed them at the pit by the sheep-shearing house, all forty-two men. He didn't let any of them escape.
This verse describes Jehu executing forty-two relatives of the king of Judah as part of his violent campaign to eliminate Ahab's family line.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of 2 Kings, Jehu was a military commander anointed by the prophet Elisha to overthrow the dynasty of the wicked King Ahab and eradicate idolatry in Israel, as part of God's judgment on the nation's unfaithfulness. This verse describes Jehu's command to capture and kill the brothers of Ahaziah, who were relatives of the former royal family, during his campaign to eliminate all threats and consolidate his rule. Such events reflect the brutal power struggles and divine retribution common in the divided kingdom era of ancient Israel.
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