Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 10

Verses 1-36

Here begins the second section of the Book, that which deals with the rapid and fearful corruption of the whole nation. The story alternates between Israel and Judah, and both sections of the nation sink deeper and ever deeper into sin and decay. Jehu is still to the front as a veritable scourge of God. First he was occupied in the work of sweeping out Ahab's posterity, and it was done with terrific speed. He then turned himself against Baalism, and with a thoroughness that is nothing short of terrible he broke and destroyed it.

Yet the story of Jehu is one of personal failure. When proceeding against Baal worship, his words to Jehonadab, "Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah," are in themselves a revelation of a proud spirit. While he was an instrument in the hand of God, nevertheless, strange as it may appear, he was in private life corrupt. "He departed not from the sins of Jeroboam"; he "took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah." How terrible a warning is the story of this man-that it is possible to be an instrument in the hand of God and yet never be in fellowship with Him.