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英文原文
We have in this chapter, I. A further account of Jehu's execution of his commission. He cut off, 1. All Ahab's sons, 2Ki 10:1-10. 2. All Ahab's kindred, 2Ki 10:11-14,17. 3. Ahab's idolatry: his zeal against this he took Jonadab to be witness to (2Ki 10:15,16), summoned all the worshippers of Baal to attend (2Ki 10:18-23) and slew them all (2Ki 10:24,25), and then abolished that idolatry, 2Ki 10:26-28. II. A short account of the administration of his government. 1. The old idolatry of Israel, the worship of the calves, was retained, 2Ki 10:29-31. 2. This brought God's judgments upon them by Hazael, with which his reign concludes, 2Ki 10:32-36.
1-14
Death of Ahab's Sons; the Death of Ahaziah's Brethren (884 BC)
亞哈眾子之死；亞哈謝弟兄之死（主前884年）
¹ 亞哈在撒馬利亞有七十個兒子。耶戶寫了信，送到撒馬利亞，給耶斯列的首領、長老，和教養亞哈孩子的人，說：
² 你們這城裡既有你們主人的眾子，又有車馬，又有堅固城和兵器；你們接了這信，
³ 就當在你們主人的眾子中，選出一個最好、最合宜的，使他坐他父親的寶座，為你們主人的家爭戰。
⁴ 他們卻甚懼怕，說：看哪，兩個王尚且不能在他面前站立得住，何況我們呢？
⁵ 家宰、邑宰和長老，並教養孩子的人，打發人去見耶戶，說：我們是你的僕人，凡你所吩咐我們的都必遵行；我們不立誰作王；你看怎樣好，就怎樣行吧。
⁶ 耶戶又給他們寫信說：你們若歸順我，肯聽從我的話，明日這時候，要將你們主人眾子的首級帶到耶斯列來見我。那時王的兒子七十人都在撫養他們的城中大人物那裡。
⁷ 信一到他們那裡，他們就拿下王的眾子，殺了七十人，把他們的頭裝在筐裡，送到耶斯列耶戶那裡。
⁸ 有使者來告訴他說：他們把王眾子的頭帶來了。耶戶說：將它們分作兩堆，放在城門口，等到早晨。
⁹ 早晨，耶戶出來站著，對眾民說：你們都是公義的；看哪，我背叛我的主人，將他殺了；但這些人都是誰殺的呢？
¹⁰ 你們當知道，耶和華論亞哈家所說的話，沒有一句落空的；因為耶和華藉他僕人以利亞所說的話，如今都成了。
¹¹ 於是耶戶擊殺了亞哈家在耶斯列所剩下的人，和他的一切大臣、親族，以及他的祭司，直到滅盡，沒有留下一個。
¹² 他起來前行，到了撒馬利亞。正在路上的剪羊毛之屋那裡，
¹³ 耶戶遇見猶大王亞哈謝的弟兄，就問他們說：你們是誰？他們回答說：我們是亞哈謝的弟兄；我們正下去要問王和太后的眾子安。
¹⁴ 耶戶吩咐說：活捉他們。他們就活捉了他們，在剪羊毛之屋的坑邊將他們殺了，共四十二人，沒有留下一個。
我們剛才看見耶戶安然佔據耶斯列，因約蘭和耶洗別而誇勝；如今我們必須留意他接下來的行動。他知道亞哈全家必須被剪除，所以繼續這流血的工作，並沒有虛假行事，也沒有半途而廢（Jer 48:10）。
I. 他借亞哈眾子在撒馬利亞自己的監護人之手，使他們全被斬首。亞哈有七十個兒子（或孫子），這是基甸的數目（Jdg 8:30）。在這樣多的人頂他的名，他的家族看來必定能延續；然而卻一次全被根除。這樣滿袋的箭，也不能保護他的家免受神的報應。人丁興旺的家族若是敗壞，就不可指望長久亨通。亞哈的這些兒子如今在撒馬利亞——一座堅固的城——也許是因與亞蘭爭戰的緣故被帶到那裡作為安全之地，或是聽見耶戶叛變的消息才去的；與他們同在的有耶斯列的首領，就是朝廷的大官，他們到撒馬利亞去要保護自己，或商議當如何行。他們當中尚未成年的有導師隨行，受託按著與他們身分地位相稱的學問教導他們，但恐怕他們也把他們教養在父家的偶像崇拜之中，使他們都成為巴力的敬拜者。耶戶認為不宜帶兵到撒馬利亞去毀滅他們，卻為了使神的手在其中顯得更加顯著，就讓他們的監護人成了他們的殺手。1. 他向與他們同在的人發出挑戰，要他們出頭保護他們（2Ki 10:2,3）。「你們這些誠心擁護亞哈家、完全與它利益相關的人，如今正是你們出頭的時候。撒馬利亞是堅固的城；你們佔有它；你們有兵可用；你們可以在王族中挑選一個最合適的人來統領你們；你們知道，除非他是你們主人兒子中最好、最合宜的，否則你們並非必須受長子約束。你們若還有志氣，就當表現出來，使其中一人坐他父親的寶座，以性命和財產來擁護他。」這並不是他願意他們這樣行，也不是指望他們會這樣行，而是借此責備他們的膽怯，以及他們完全無力對抗神的旨意。「你們若敢，就行吧，看看結果如何。」那些背棄自己信仰的人，常常連帶失去了感覺和勇氣，當受責備。2. 他借此從他們得了降服。他們明智地自己商議：看哪，兩個王尚且不能在他面前站立，都成了他怒氣下的犧牲；何況我們呢？（2Ki 9:4）。於是他們送來投降書：我們是你的僕人， 你的臣民，凡你所吩咐我們的都必遵行，不論是非，也絕不立任何人與你競爭。他們見與他相爭毫無益處，所以順服他對他們有利。我們更當用這理據勸服自己歸服大能的神。許多君王和大人物都因自己的惡行而在神的震怒前仆倒；何況我們呢？我們惹主發怒麼？我們比他還強麼？ 不，我們要麼屈身，要麼折斷。3. 這事被推進到一個地步，使他們成了所監護之人的劊子手（2Ki 9:6）：你們若歸順我，明日這時候就把你們主人眾子的首級帶來。 雖然他知道這事必須作，也不願親手去作，但他似乎不能指望他們會去作。他們怎能辜負這樣的託付？怎能對主人的兒子如此殘忍？看來，他們對東升之日的人巴結到了如此卑下的地步，竟真的作了；他們斬了這七十位王子的頭，裝在筐裡當作禮物送給耶戶（2Ki 9:7）。當學會不要信賴朋友，也不要倚靠不受良心約束的引導人。自己對神不忠的人，不能指望他對君王忠心。但要注意神在他們的不義中所顯的公義。耶斯列的這些長老，曾邪惡地順服耶洗別殺拿伯的命令（1Ki 21:11）。她或許誇耀自己對他們有權柄；如今同樣卑鄙的心使他們對耶戶百依百順，照樣樂於遵命殺亞哈的兒子。不要有人追求專制的權力，免得發現自己正在推動一塊石頭，遲早會滾回自己身上。使百姓為奴的君王，正是用最快捷的方法使他們成為叛逆；像耶洗別那樣強迫人的良心，就失去了對他們的掌握。當那些砍下來的頭顱被送到耶戶面前，他巧妙地責備了執行這報復的人。這些頭顱被分成兩堆放在城門口，就是審判的地方。他在那裡在神和世人面前宣告百姓無罪（2Ki 9:9，你們是公義的），並借撒馬利亞首領如今所作的，相對地宣告自己無罪：「我只殺了一個；他們殺了這一切：我是用陰謀和計謀作的；他們只是順從和盲目服從而作這事。撒馬利亞的百姓，或亞哈家的任何朋友，都不可因我所作的責備我，因為他們自己的長老和孤兒的監護人也作了這事。」行卑鄙之事的人，常想拉人下水作更壞的事，藉此減輕自己的羞辱。但（2）他把一切都歸於神公義的審判（2Ki 9:10）：耶和華藉以利亞所說的話，如今都成了。 神不是任何人犯罪的源頭，但即便人憑壞原則所行的事，神也借此成就自己的旨意、榮耀自己的名；他在人不義的事上顯為公義。當亞述被作神怒氣的棍、他公義的工具時，他心裡並不這樣想，心意也不如此（Isa 10:7）。
II. 他進而毀滅亞哈家一切所剩下的人，不僅是亞哈的後裔，也包括一切與他有關係的人——他家中的一切官員、國家大臣、以及在他手下掌權的，這裡稱為他的大臣（2Ki 9:11）、他的一切親族和熟人，他們都與他同夥行惡，還有他的祭司，就是家中的牧者，他雇用他們在偶像事奉中效勞，又堅固他的手，使他不從惡道上轉回。他在耶斯列如此行之後，也在撒馬利亞照樣行了（2Ki 9:17），殺了亞哈在撒馬利亞所剩下的人。 這是流血的工作，如今無論何種情形都不當引為先例。當讓有罪的受罰，卻不可叫無罪的因他們受連累。也許這類可怕的毀滅是要作一切不敬虔之人最終毀滅的預表。神有一把刀，在天上浸透，必臨到他所咒詛的百姓，被血浸透（Isa 34:5,6）。那時他的眼必不顧惜，也不憐憫。
III. 護理使亞哈謝的弟兄在他行這事的路上遇見他，他就把他們也殺了（2Ki 9:12-14）。亞哈謝的弟兄已被阿拉伯人殺了（2Ch 22:1），但這些人是他弟兄的兒子，正如那裡所解釋的（2Ki 9:8）；他們被稱為猶大的首領，是服事亞哈謝的。幾件事湊在一起，使他們成為耶戶此刻所執行之報應的對象。1. 他們是亞哈家的枝條，因從亞她利雅而出，所以在他所奉的使命之內。2. 他們沾染了亞哈家的惡行。3. 他們如今正要去向亞哈家的王子們獻殷勤，要問王和太后的眾子安——就是約蘭和耶洗別——這表明他們在情感和聯姻上都與亞哈家相連。這些首領共四十二人，如指定獻祭的羊羔，被隆重地在剪羊毛之屋的坑邊殺了。耶和華藉他所行的這些審判被人認識。
英文原文
Death of Ahab's Sons; the Death of Ahaziah's Brethren (884 BC)
¹ And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,
² Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;
³ Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.
⁴ But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
⁵ And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
⁶ Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.
⁷ And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
⁸ And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
⁹ And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?
¹⁰ Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.
¹¹ So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
¹² And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,
¹³ Jehu 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.
¹⁴ 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.
We left Jehu in quiet possession of Jezreel, triumphing over Joram and Jezebel; and we must now attend his further motions. He knew the whole house of Ahab must be cut off, and therefore proceeded in this bloody work, and did not do it deceitfully, or by halves, Jer 48:10.
I. He got the heads of all the sons of Ahab cut off by their own guardians at Samaria. Seventy sons (or grandsons) Ahab had, Gideon's number, Jdg 8:30. In such a number that bore his name his family was likely to be perpetuated, and yet it is extirpated all at once. Such a quiver full of arrows could not protect his house from divine vengeance. Numerous families, if vicious, must not expect to be long prosperous. These sons of Ahab were now at Samaria, a strong city, perhaps brought thither upon occasion of the war with Syria, as a place of safety, or upon notice of Jehu's insurrection; with them were the rulers of Jezreel, that is, the great officers of the court, who went to Samaria to secure themselves or to consult what was to be done. Those of them that were yet under tuition had their tutors with them, who were entrusted with their education in learning, agreeable to their birth and quality, but, it is to be feared, brought them up in the idolatries of their father's house and made them all worshippers of Baal. Jehu did not think fit to bring his forces to Samaria to destroy them, but, that the hand of God might appear the more remarkably in it, made their guardians their murderers. 1. He sent a challenge to their friends to stand by them, 2Ki 10:2,3. "You that are hearty well-wishers to the house of Ahab, and entirely in its interests, now is your time to appear for it. Samaria is a strong city; you are in possession of it; you have forces at command; you may choose out the likeliest person of all the royal family to head you; you know you are not tied to the eldest, unless he be the best and meetest of your master's sons. If you have any spirit in you, show it, and set one of them on his father's throne, and stand by him with your lives and fortunes." Not that he desired they should do this, or expected they would, but thus he upbraided them with their cowardice and utter inability to contest with the divine counsels. "Do if you dare, and see what will come of it." Those that have forsaken their religion have often, with it, lost both their sense and their courage, and deserve to be upbraided with it. 2. Hereby he gained from them a submission. They prudently reasoned with themselves: "Behold, two kings stood not before him, but fell as sacrifices to his rage; how then shall we stand?" 2Ki 10:4. Therefore they sent him a surrender of themselves: "We are thy servants, thy subjects, and will do all that thou shalt bid us, right or wrong, and will set up nobody in competition with thee." They saw it was to no purpose to contend with him, and therefore it was their interest to submit to him. With much more reason may we thus argue ourselves into a subjection to the great God. Many kings and great men have fallen before his wrath, for their wickedness; and how then shall we stand? Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? No, we must either bend or break. 3. This was improved so far as to make them the executioners of those whom they had the tuition of (2Ki 10:6): If you be mine, bring me the heads of your master's sons by to-morrow at this time. Though he knew it must be done, and was loth to do it himself, one would think he could not expect they should do it. Could they betray such a trust? Could they be cruel to their master's sons? It seems, so low did they stoop in their adoration to the rising sun that they did it; they cut off the heads of those seventy princes, and sent them in baskets a present to Jehu, 2Ki 10:7. Learn hence not to trust in a friend nor to put confidence in a guide not governed by conscience. One can scarcely expect that he who has been false to his God should ever be faithful to his prince. But observe God's righteousness in their unrighteousness. These elders of Jezreel had been wickedly obsequious to Jezebel's order for the murder of Naboth, 1Ki 21:11. She gloried, it is likely, in the power she had over them; and now the same base spirit makes them as pliable to Jehu and as ready to obey his orders for the murder of Ahab's sons. Let none aim at arbitrary power, lest they be found rolling a stone which, some time or other, will return upon them. Princes that make their people slaves take the readiest way to make them rebels; and by forcing men's consciences, as Jezebel did, they lose their hold of them. When the separated heads were presented to Jehu, he slyly upbraided those that were the executioners of this vengeance. The heads were laid in two heaps at the gate, the proper place of judgment. There he acquitted the people before God and the world (2Ki 10:9, You are righteous), and, by what the rulers of Samaria had now done, comparatively acquitted himself: "I slew but one; they have slain all these: I did it by conspiracy and with design; they have done this merely in compliance and with an implicit obedience. Let not the people of Samaria, nor any of the friends of the house of Ahab, ever reproach me for what I have done, when their own elders, and the very guardians of the orphans, have done this." It is common for those who have done something base to attempt the mitigation of their own reproach by drawing others in to do something worse. But, (2.) He resolves all into the righteous judgment of God (2Ki 10:10): The Lord hath done that which he spoke by Elijah. God is not the author of any man's sin, but even by that which men do from bad principles God serves his own purposes and glorifies his own name; and he is righteous in that wherein men are unrighteous. When the Assyrian is made the rod of God's anger, and the instrument of his justice, he meaneth not so, neither does his heart think so, Isa 10:7.
II. He proceeded to destroy all that remained of the house of Ahab, not only those that descended from him, but those that were in any relation to him, all the officers of his household, ministers of state, and those in command under him, called here his great men (2Ki 10:11), all his kinsfolks and acquaintance, who had been partners with him in his wickedness, and his priests, or domestic chaplains, whom he employed in his idolatrous services and who strengthened his hand that he should not turn from his evil way. Having done this in Jezreel, he did the same in Samaria (2Ki 10:17), slew all that remained to Ahab in Samaria. This was bloody work, and is not now, in any case, to be drawn into a precedent. Let the guilty suffer, but not the guiltless for their sakes. Perhaps such terrible destructions as these were intended as types of the final destruction of all the ungodly. God has a sword, bathed in heaven, which will come down upon the people of his curse, and be filled with blood. Isa 34:5,6. Then his eye will not spare, neither will he pity.
III. Providence bringing the brethren of Ahaziah in his way, as he was going on with this execution, he slew them likewise, 2Ki 10:12-14. The brethren of Ahaziah were slain by the Arabians (2Ch 22:1), but these were the sons of his brethren, as it is there explained (2Ki 10:8), and they are said to be princes of Judah, and to minister to Ahaziah. Several things concurred to make them obnoxious to the vengeance Jehu was now executing. 1. They were branches of Ahab's house, being descended from Athaliah, and therefore fell within his commission. 2. They were tainted with the wickedness of the house of Ahab. 3. They were now going to make their court to the princes of the house of Ahab, to salute the children of the king and the queen, Joram and Jezebel, which showed that they were linked to them in affection as well as in affinity. These princes, forty-two in number, being appointed as sheep for the sacrifice, were slain with solemnity, at the pit of the shearing-house. The Lord is known by these judgments which he executeth.
15-28
Interview between Jehu and Jehonadab; the Worshippers of Baal Destroyed (884 BC)
耶戶與約拿達相見；拜巴力者被滅（主前884年）
¹⁵ 耶戶從那裡前行，遇見利甲的兒子約拿達來迎接他；耶戶向他問安，對他說：你誠心待我，像我誠心待你一樣麼？約拿達回答說：是。耶戶說：若是這樣，你把手給我。約拿達就把手給他；耶戶就拉他上了車。
¹⁶ 耶戶說：你和我同去，看我为耶和華怎樣熱心。於是請他坐在自己車上。
¹⁷ 到了撒馬利亞，就把亞哈家在撒馬利亞剩下的人都殺了，直到滅盡，正如耶和華對以利亞所說的話。
¹⁸ 耶戶招聚眾民來，對他們說：亞哈事奉巴力還少，耶戶卻要大大事奉他。
¹⁹ 現在當召集巴力的眾先知、眾僕人和眾祭司來見我，一個也不可缺；因為我要為巴力獻大祭；凡缺席的必不能活。耶戶卻行詭詐，為要滅盡拜巴力的人。
²⁰ 耶戶說：要為巴利宣告嚴肅會。他們就宣告了。
²¹ 耶戶差人走遍以色列；於是拜巴力的人都來了，沒有一個不來的。他們進了巴力廟；巴力廟從這頭到那頭都滿了人。
²² 耶戶對掌管禮服的人說：拿出禮服來，給一切拜巴力的人穿。他就拿出禮服來給了他們。
²³ 耶戶和利甲的兒子約拿達進了巴力廟，對拜巴力的人說：你們要查看，這裡不可有你們中間耶和華的僕人，只可有拜巴力的人。
²⁴ 他們進去獻祭和燔祭的時候，耶戶在外面安排了八十人，說：我把這些人交在你們手中；若有一人逃脫，放他走的，必以命償命。
²⁵ 耶戶獻完了燔祭，出來對護衛兵和眾軍長說：進去殺他們，不容一人出來。護衛兵和軍長便用刀殺他們，將屍首拋出去，到了巴力廟的城。
²⁶ 他們將巴力廟中的柱像拿出來，用火焚燒。
²⁷ 他們毀壞了巴力的柱像，又拆毀了巴力廟，作為糞坑，直到今日。
²⁸ 這樣，耶戶從以色列中滅了巴力。
耶戶在推進他的工作之際，在此，
I. 結交一位好人的友誼，就是利甲的兒子約拿達（2Ki 10:15,16）。這約拿達雖然對世俗已死，對其中的事務少有參與（這從他對後代的吩咐可以看出——他們三百年後仍嚴守這吩咐，不喝酒，不住在城中，Jer 35:6等），卻在這事上特意去迎接耶戶，好鼓勵他作神所召他去作的工。好人的青睞，是偉人（若他們有智慧）所當珍視、並藉以自重的。大衛禱告說：願敬畏你的人歸向我（Ps 119:79）。這約拿達雖不是先知、祭司、或利未人，也不是首領或官長，我們卻可推想他在謹慎和敬虔上極為傑出，因他過著克己和敬虔的生活而廣受敬重：耶戶雖是軍人，卻認識他、尊重他。他其實並沒有想打發人去請他來，但當他遇見他時（雖然他大概仍像從前那樣瘋狂趕車），卻停下來與他說話；這裡告訴我們他們之間發生了什麼。1. 耶戶向他問安；他祝福他（原文如此），向他致敬，並表示對這麼偉大的敬虔榜樣當有的善意和敬意。2. 約拿達向他保證，自己真心站在他一邊，誠心擁護他的事業。耶戶聲稱自己的心與他相合，他真心愛慕他的為人，尊重他拿細耳人之冠，並想知道他對耶戶是否也有同樣的愛慕，對神賜給耶戶頭上的王冠是否同樣滿意：你的心正麼？ 這是我們當常問自己的問題。「我有敬虔的外表，在人中間得了名聲，但我的心正麼？ 我在神面前是否真誠無偽？」約拿達以言語為證（是），又把手交給他作為心的憑據——順服他（如此處「交手」一語在2Ch 30:8中的譯法），與他同心立約，承認他如今所要作的報復和改革之工。3. 耶戶把他拉上自己的車，帶他一同往撒馬利亞去。他借把他拉上車給了他一點尊榮（約拿達不習慣坐車，更不用說與王同車）；但他從約拿達所得的尊榮更多——就是約拿達對他當前工作的認可。所有端莊的人看見約拿達與耶戶同車，都會對耶戶刮目相看。這不是唯一一次，有些人的敬虔被用來服務另一些人的策略；有心計的人借著把好人拉到自己一邊來壯大自己。約拿達不熟悉屬肉體的智慧之道，他的為人是在簡單和聖潔的真誠裡；所以，耶戶若是神的僕人、巴力的仇敵，他必作他忠心的朋友。「那麼來吧」（耶戶說），「你和我同去，看我為耶和華怎樣熱心；這樣你就會看見有理由支持我的事業。」這話通常被認為耶戶說得不當，並令人懷疑他在所作的事上心術不正，他對耶和華所裝出的熱心其實是為自己和自己高升的熱心。因為，（1）他為此誇口，彷彿神和人都大大虧欠了他。（2）他願意這事被人看見、被人留意，好像法利賽人那樣，所行的都是為要叫人看見。正直的心向神證明自己，別無所求，只求他的悅納。我們若以人的掌聲為目標，以他們的稱讚為最高目的，就是立在一個錯誤的根基上。耶戶是否另有企圖，我們不能判斷；然而約拿達與他同去，大概還鼓勵並幫助他進一步執行使命（2Ki 9:17），滅盡撒馬利亞一切屬亞哈的人。一個人可以恨殘忍卻愛公義，可以不嗜血，卻在惡人的血中洗腳（Ps 58:10）。
II. 設謀滅盡一切拜巴力的人。事奉巴力是亞哈家大聲呼求的罪：這偶像崇拜的根已被拔出，但仍有無數人受其感染，並有感染別人的危險。神的律法明說他們當被處死；但他們人數眾多，分散在全國各地，也許已被耶戶起初的作為所驚動，要把他們一一查出來，再一一起訴處決，實為艱難而無盡的差事。所以耶戶的計策是一次把他們全部除掉。1. 他用計謀、用詭詐，把他們聚集到巴力的廟中。他聲稱自己要事奉巴力，超過亞哈從前所作的（2Ki 9:18）。或許他是諷刺地說，或為試驗百姓是否會反對這樣的決定，是否會對他加重前任苛求的威脅感到憤慨，說：「若是這樣，我們在耶戶裡就無分無關，在寧示的孫子裡也無產業。」但這話看來更像是故意說來欺騙拜巴力的人的，那就不當稱義。神的真理不需要人的謊言。他下令宣告，要求一切拜巴力的人都來與他一同為巴力獻祭（2Ki 9:19,20），不僅是先知和祭司，還包括全國一切拜巴力的人——不過他們的人數已遠少於以利亞的時候。我們可以推想，耶戶的朋友知道他的計謀，也不反對；但那些頑固痴迷的巴力徒卻開始以為自己很有福，以為如今又要看見黃金時代了。約蘭曾除掉巴力的柱像（2Ki 3:2）。耶戶若恢復它，他們就得著了心中所願，便從各地歡歡喜喜上撒馬利亞來守這嚴肅會；他們樂於看見巴力的廟擠滿了人（2Ki 9:21），看見巴力的祭司穿著禮服（2Ki 9:22），他們自己大概也帶著某種記號表明自己與巴力的關係，因為拜巴力的人都有禮服。2. 他注意不使耶和華的僕人當中有一人在其中（2Ki 9:23）。他們以為這是為了防止巴力的敬拜被外人褻瀆；但奇妙的是，他們竟沒有因此看見自己已落在網羅裡，沒有察覺這是針對他們的計謀。被巴力欺騙的人（正如一切拜偶像的人都被他們的偶像欺騙），又被耶戶欺騙以至於毀滅，這也不足為奇。3. 他下令把他們全部剪除，約拿達也與他同在此事上有分（2Ki 9:23）。經過嚴密的搜查，免得神的僕人中有人為作伴或出於好奇混入其中——免得有麥子混在這些稗子裡；又設了八十人在巴力廟各處通道站崗，使無一人能逃脫（2Ki 9:24）；然後護衛兵被派進去把他們全數用刀殺了，使他們的血與祭牲攙雜，作為公義的報復，正如他們自己有時所行的——當他們在盲目的狂熱中用刀槍自割自刺，直到血流如注（1Ki 18:28）。這事就這樣成了，雖然看來野蠻，但考慮到他們罪的性質，實在是公義的。耶和華你的神是忌邪的神，名為忌邪者。 4. 拜偶像的人既被滅，偶像崇拜本身也就被徹底廢除。巴力廟周圍的建築（它們如此眾多宏偉，此處被稱為城），就是巴力的祭司和他們家屬居住之處，都被毀了；一切點綴巴力廟的小神像、雕像、圖畫或神龕，以及巴力本身的大柱像，都被搬出來用火焚燒（2Ki 9:26,27），巴力的廟也被拆毀，作了糞坑，就是城的公共廁所，使它的記念被塗抹或成為可憎。如此，拜巴力的事至少暫時在以色列中被徹底消滅了，雖然它曾盛行到一個地步，全以色列千千萬萬人中，只有七千人未曾向巴力屈膝，而且是隱藏的。如此神必毀滅列國的一切神明，遲早要在他們一切之上得勝。
英文原文
Interview between Jehu and Jehonadab; the Worshippers of Baal Destroyed (884 BC)
¹⁵ And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
¹⁶ And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
¹⁷ And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.
¹⁸ And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
¹⁹ Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
²⁰ And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
²¹ And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
²² And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
²³ And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
²⁴ And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
²⁵ And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
²⁶ And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
²⁷ And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
²⁸ Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Jehu, pushing on his work, is here,
I. Courting the friendship of a good man, Jehonadab the son of Rechab, 2Ki 10:15,16. This Jehonadab, though mortified to the world and meddling little with the business of it (as appears by his charge to his posterity, which they religiously observed 300 years after, not to drink wine nor dwell in cities, Jer 35:6, etc.), yet, upon this occasion, went to meet Jehu, that he might encourage him in the work to which God had called him. The countenance of good men is a thing which great men, if they be wise, will value, and value themselves by. David prayed, Let those that fear thee turn to me, Ps 119:79. This Jehonadab, though no prophet, priest, or Levite, no prince or ruler, was, we may suppose, very eminent for prudence and piety, and generally respected for that life of self-denial and devotion which he lived: Jehu, though a soldier, knew him and honoured him. He did not indeed think of sending for him, but when he met him (though it is likely he drove now as furiously as ever) he stopped to speak to him; and we are here told what passed between them. 1. Jehu saluted him; he blessed him (so the word is), paid him the respect and showed him the good-will that were due to so great an example of serious godliness. 2. Jehonadab assured him that he was sincerely in his interest and a hearty well-wisher to his cause. Jehu professed that his heart was right with him, that he had a true affection for his person and a veneration for the crown of his Nazariteship, and desired to know whether he had the same affection for him and satisfaction in that crown of royal dignity which God had put upon his head: Is thy heart right? a question we should often put to ourselves. "I make a plausible profession, have gained a reputation among men, but is my heart right? Am I sincere and inward with God?" Jehonadab gave him his word (It is), and gave him his hand as a pledge of his heart, yielded to him (so giving the hand is rendered, 2Ch 30:8), concurred and covenanted with him, and owned him in the work both of revenge and of reformation he was now about. 3. Jehu took him up into his chariot and took him along with him to Samaria. He put some honour upon him, by taking him into the chariot with him (Jehonadab was not accustomed to ride in a chariot, much less with a king); but he received more honour from him, and from the countenance he gave to his present work. All sober people would think the better of Jehu when they saw Jehonadab in the chariot with him. This was not the only time in which the piety of some has been made to serve the policy of others, and designing men have strengthened themselves by drawing good men into their interests. Jehonadab is a stranger to the arts of fleshly wisdom, and has his conversation in simplicity and godly sincerity; and therefore, if Jehu be a servant of God and an enemy to Ball, he will be his faithful friend. "Come then" (says Jehu), "come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord; and then thou wilt see reason to espouse my cause." This is commonly taken as not well said by Jehu, and as giving cause to suspect that his heart was not right with God in what he did, and that the zeal he pretended for the Lord was really zeal for himself and his own advancement. For, (1.) He boasted of it, and spoke as if God and man were mightily indebted to him for it. (2.) He desired it might be seen and taken notice of, like the Pharisees, who did all to be seen of men. An upright heart approves itself to God and covets no more than his acceptance. If we aim at the applause of men, and make their praise our highest end, we are upon a false bottom. Whether Jehu looked any further we cannot judge; however Jehonadab went with him, and, it is likely, animated and assisted him in the further execution of his commission (2Ki 10:17), destroying all Ahab's friends in Samaria. A man may hate cruelty and yet love justice, may be far from thirsting after blood and yet may wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, Ps 58:10.
II. Contriving the destruction of all the worshippers of Baal. The service of Baal was the crying sin of the house of Ahab: that root of this idolatry was plucked up, but multitudes yet remained that were infected with it, and would be in danger of infecting others. The law of God was express, that they were to be put to death; but they were so numerous, and so dispersed throughout all parts of the kingdom, and perhaps so alarmed with Jehu's beginnings, that it would be a hard matter to find them all out and an endless task to prosecute and execute them one by one. Jehu's project therefore is to cut them all off together. 1. By a wile, by a fraud, he brought them together to the temple of Baal. He pretended he would worship Baal more than ever Ahab had done, 2Ki 10:18. Perhaps he spoke this ironically, or to try the body of the people whether they would oppose such a resolution as this, and would resent his threatening to increase his predecessor's exactions, and say, "If it be so, we have no part in Jehu, nor inheritance in the son of Nimshi." But it rather seems to have been spoken purposely to deceive the worshippers of Baal, and then it cannot be justified. The truth of God needs not any man's lie. He issued a proclamation, requiring the attendance of all the worshippers of Baal to join with him in a sacrifice to Baal (2Ki 10:19,20), not only the prophets and priests, but all, throughout the kingdom, who worshipped Baal, who were not nearly so many as they had been in Elijah's time. Jehu's friends, we may suppose, were aware of what he designed, and were not offended at it; but the bigoted besotted Baalites began to think themselves very happy, and that now they should see golden days again. Joram had put away the image of Baal, 2Ki 3:2. If Jehu will restore it, they have what they would have, and come up to Samaria with joy from all parts to celebrate the solemnity; and they are pleased to see the house of Baal crowded (2Ki 10:21), to see his priests in their vestments (2Ki 10:22), and themselves perhaps with some badges or other to notify their relation to Baal, for there were vestments for all his worshippers. 2. He took care that none of the servants of the Lord should be among them, 2Ki 10:23. This they took as a provision to preserve the worship of Baal from being profaned by strangers; but it was a wonder that they did not, by this, see themselves brought into a snare and discern a design upon them. No marvel if those that suffer themselves to be deceived by Baal (as all idolaters were by their idols), are deceived by Jehu to their destruction. 3. He gave order for the cutting of them all off, and Jehonadab joined with him therein, 2Ki 10:23. When a strict search was made lest any of the servants of God should, either for company or curiosity, have got among them—lest any wheat should be mixed with those tares, and when eighty men were set to stand guard at all the avenues to Baal's temple, that none might escape (2Ki 10:24), then the guards were sent in to put them all to the sword and to mingle their blood with their sacrifices, in a way of just revenge, as they themselves had sometimes done, when, in their blind devotion, they cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out, 1Ki 18:28. This was accordingly done, and the doing of it, though seemingly barbarous, was, considering the nature of their crime, really righteous. The Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God. 4. The idolaters being thus destroyed, the idolatry itself was utterly abolished. The buildings about the house of Baal (which were so many and so stately that they are here called a city), where Baal's priests and their families lived, were destroyed; all the little images, statues, pictures, or shrines, which beautified Baal's temple, with the great image of Baal himself, were brought out and burnt (2Ki 10:26,27), and the temple of Baal was broken down, and made a dunghill, the common sink, or sewer, of the city, that the remembrance of it might be blotted out or made infamous. Thus was the worship of Baal quite destroyed, at least for the present, out of Israel, though it had once prevailed so far that there were but 7000 of all the thousands of Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal, and those concealed. Thus will God destroy all the gods of the heathen, and, sooner or later, triumph over them all.
29-36
Jehu's Inconsistency (884 BC)
耶戶的反覆不一（主前884年）
²⁹ 只是耶戶不離開尼八的兒子耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪，就是伯特利和但的金牛犢。
³⁰ 耶和華對耶戶說：因你辦好我眼中看為正的事，照我的心意待亞哈家，你的子孫必坐以色列的國位，直到第四代。
³¹ 只是耶戶不盡心遵守耶和華以色列神的律法，不離開耶羅波安使以色列人陷在罪裡的那罪。
³² 那些日子，耶和華才開始割裂以色列；哈薛在以色列的一切邊界攻擊他們，
³³ 乃是約但河東、基列全地、迦得人、流便人、瑪拿西人，從亞嫩谷邊的亞羅珥起，直到基列和巴珊。
³⁴ 耶戶其餘的事、凡他所行的、和他的大能，豈不都寫在以色列諸王記上麼？
³⁵ 耶戶與他列祖同睡，葬在撒馬利亞；他兒子約哈斯接續他作王。
³⁶ 耶戶在撒馬利亞作以色列王共二十八年。
這裡是耶戶作王全部的記述，雖然他的國位延續了二十八年。其進展卻不如開始時的榮耀。我們在此看到：
I. 神對耶戶所作之事的稱許。許多人大概非議他狡詐野蠻——稱他為叛徒、篡位者、殺人凶手，並預言他必有禍患，這樣興起來的家族很快就會傾覆；但神說：作得好（2Ki 10:30），那麼別人怎麼說就無關緊要了。1. 神宣告他所作的為正。他是否出於好原則而作，他在作的時候是否行了錯步，這誠然可議；然而（神說），你辦好我眼中看為正的事。 根除拜偶像的人和偶像崇拜，在神眼中是正的事，因為這是他必定嚴厲追討的罪惡：這是照我心意作的，是我所願所謀的一切。耶戶把他的工作貫徹到底。2. 神應許他賞賜，就是他的子孫直到第四代必坐在以色列的國位上。這超過那國任何尊位或王室所經歷的；亞哈家雖有四個王——暗利、亞哈、亞哈謝、約蘭——但後兩個是兄弟，所以只達到第三代，而那個家族全部只延續了約四十五年；耶戶的家族卻延續了四代（除了他自己），共約一百二十年。注意，為神所作的服事沒有不蒙賞賜的。
II. 耶戶在進一步當作的事上疏忽。這顯出他的心在神面前不正，因為他的改革有所偏頗。1. 他沒有除掉一切的惡。他離棄了亞哈的罪，卻沒有離棄耶羅波安的罪——丟棄了巴力，卻堅持金牛犢。拜巴力誠然是更大的惡，在神眼中更為可憎，但拜金牛犢也是大惡；真正的歸正不僅是脫離明顯的罪，更是脫離一切的罪——不僅是脫離假神，更是脫離假的敬拜方式。拜巴力削弱並減少了以色列，使他們倚靠推羅人，所以他可以輕易放棄那個；但拜金牛犢卻是出於政治考量的偶像崇拜，是為國家利益而開始並維持的，為要防止十個支派歸回大衛家，所以耶戶緊緊抓住它。真正的歸正不僅是脫離浪費的罪，更是脫離有利的罪——不僅是脫離那些損害世俗利益的罪，更是脫離那些支持並有利於世俗利益的罪；在離棄這些罪的時候，最大的考驗就在於我們能否捨己並信靠神。2. 他除掉了惡，卻不注意那善的（2Ki 9:31）：他不盡心遵守耶和華以色列神的律法。 他廢除了拜巴力，卻沒有維持對神的敬拜，也沒有遵行神的律法。他在剷除虛假的宗教上表現出極大的關切和熱心；但在真宗教上，（1）他不表關切，毫不留心，生活放縱，毫無討神喜悅、盡自己本分的心意，不理會聖經、先知、自己的良心，卻是冒險亂行。那些疏忽的人，恐怕是沒有恩典的人；因為心裡若有好原則，必使人謹慎小心，渴望討神喜悅，並戒懼作任何得罪他的事。（2）他不表熱心；他在宗教上所作的，不是用心作的，不是盡心作的，而是作得像沒作一樣，毫無活潑和關切。看來他是個自己沒有多少信仰的人，神卻用他作以色列改革的工具。那些對別人行善的人，自己總是好的，該有多好。
III. 在他作王期間臨到以色列的審判。我們有理由擔心，當耶戶自己不留心遵行神的律法時，百姓一般而言也像他那樣疏忽，無論在敬拜上還是在品行上。敬虔普遍衰退，不敬虔的事增多；所以我們接下來聽到的消息並不奇怪：那些日子，耶和華才開始割裂以色列（2Ki 9:32）。鄰國從四面侵擾他們；他們對神的本分有所欠缺，所以神在疆域、財富和權勢上削減他們。亞蘭王哈薛比任何人都更擾害他們、傷害他們，在以色列的一切邊界攻擊他們，特別是約但河對岸、離他最近、最暴露的地區；他不斷侵入這些地區，使其荒涼。如今流便人和迦得人為他們祖宗選擇約但河那一邊的產業而吃苦頭，這正是摩西所責備他們的（Nu 32:1-42）。如今哈薛行了以利沙所預見並預言他要行的事。然而他這樣行，神卻與他和他的國爭論，正如我們在Am 1:3,4可見：因為大馬色人以打糧的鐵器打基列，所以（神說）我必降火在哈薛的宮中，燒滅便哈達的宮殿。
末了，耶戶作王的總結（2Ki 9:34-36）。一般性地提到他的大能；但因為他沒有留心事奉神，他那些豐功偉業的記念理當被埋沒於遺忘之中。
英文原文
Jehu's Inconsistency (884 BC)
²⁹ Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.
³⁰ And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
³¹ But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
³² In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
³³ From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
³⁴ Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
³⁵ And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
³⁶ And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
Here is all the account of the reign of Jehu, though it continued twenty-eight years. The progress of it answered not to the glory of its beginning. We have here,
I. God's approbation of what Jehu had done. Many, it is probable, censured him as treacherous and barbarous—called him a rebel, a usurper, a murderer, and prognosticated ill concerning him, that a family thus raised would soon be ruined; but God said, Well done (2Ki 10:30), and then it signified little who said otherwise. 1. God pronounced that to be right which he had done. It is justly questionable whether he did it from a good principle and whether he did not take some false steps in the doing of it; and yet (says God), Thou hast done well in executing that which is right in my eyes. The extirpating of idolaters and idolatry was a thing right in God's eyes, for it is an iniquity he visits as surely and severely as any: it was according to all that was in his heart, all he desired, all he designed. Jehu went through with his work. 2. God promised him a reward, that his children of the fourth generation from him should sit upon the throne of Israel. This was more than what took place in any of the dignities or royal families of that kingdom; of the house of Ahab there were indeed four kings, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Joram, but the last two were brothers, so that it reached but to the third generation, and that whole family continued but about forty-five years in all, whereas Jehu's continued in four, besides himself, and in all about 120 years. Note, No services done for God shall go unrewarded.
II. Jehu's carelessness in what he was further to do. By this it appeared that his heart was not right with God, that he was partial in his reformation. 1. He did not put away all the evil. He departed from the sins of Ahab, but not from the sins of Jeroboam—discarded Baal, but adhered to the calves. The worship of Baal was indeed the greater evil, and more heinous in the sight of God, but the worship of the calves was a great evil, and true conversion is not only from gross sin, but from all sin—not only from false gods, but from false worships. The worship of Baal weakened and diminished Israel, and made them beholden to the Sidonians, and therefore he could easily part with that; but the worship of the calves was a politic idolatry, was begun and kept up for reasons of state, to prevent the return of the ten tribes to the house of David, and therefore Jehu clave to that. True conversion is not only from wasteful sins, but from gainful sins—not only from those sins that are destructive to the secular interest, but from those that support and befriend it, in forsaking which is the great trial whether we can deny ourselves and trust God. 2. He put away evil, but he did not mind that which was good (2Ki 10:31): He took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel. He abolished the worship of Baal, but did not keep up the worship of God, nor walk in his law. He had shown great care and zeal for the rooting out of a false religion; but in the true religion, (1.) He showed no care, took no heed, lived at large, was not at all solicitous to please God and to do his duty, took no heed to the scriptures, to the prophets, to his own conscience, but walked at all adventures. Those that are heedless, it is to be feared, are graceless; for, where there is a good principle in the heart, it will make men cautious and circumspect, desirous to please God and jealous of doing any thing to offend him. (2.) He showed no zeal; what he did in religion he did not do with his heart, with all his heart, but did it as if he did it not, without any liveliness or concern. It seems, he was a man that had little religion himself, and yet God made use of him as an instrument of reformation in Israel. It is a pity but that those that do good to others should always be good themselves.
III. The judgment that came upon Israel in his reign. We have reason to fear that when Jehu took no heed himself to walk in God's law the people were generally as careless as he, both in their devotions and in their conversations. There was a general decay of piety and increase of profaneness; and therefore it is not strange that the next news we hear is, In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short, 2Ki 10:32. Their neighbours encroached upon them on every side; they were short in their duty to God, and therefore God cut them short in their extent, wealth, and power. Hazael king of Syria was, above any other, vexatious and mischievous to them, smote them in all the coasts of Israel, particularly the countries on the other side Jordan, which lay next him, and most exposed; on these he made continual inroads, and laid them waste. Now the Reubenites and Gadites smarted for the choice which their ancestors made of an inheritance on that side Jordan, which Moses reproved them for, Nu 32:1-42 Now Hazael did what Elisha foresaw and foretold he would do. Yet, for doing it, God had a quarrel with him and with his kingdom, as we may find, Am 1:3,4. Because those of Damascus have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron, therefore (says God) I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
Lastly, The conclusion of Jehu's reign, 2Ki 10:34-36. Notice is taken, in general, of his might; but, because he took no heed to serve God, the memorials of his mighty enterprises and achievements are justly buried in oblivion.
本章記載：I. 關於耶戶執行其使命更進一步的記述。他剪除了：1. 亞哈的眾子，2Ki 10:1-10。2. 亞哈的親屬，2Ki 10:11-14,17。3. 亞哈的偶像崇拜：他對此所發的熱心，他請約拿達來作見證（2Ki 10:15,16），又召集一切拜巴力的人前來（2Ki 10:18-23），將他們盡都殺了（2Ki 10:24,25），隨後廢除了那偶像崇拜，2Ki 10:26-28。II. 關於他施政的簡短記述。1. 以色列原有的偶像崇拜，即拜牛犢的事，仍被保留，2Ki 10:29-31。2. 這事便招致哈薛所帶來的神的刑罰臨到他們，他的統治也以此結束，2Ki 10:32-36。