Questions and Answers

by Bobby L. Graham

Question:

Why did Jehu slay Ahab's sons in 2 Kings 10? Did he do right in this?

Answer:

This question brings us to study the right of God to punish evildoers and to use men in executing that punishment. Without a lengthy study of God's character and nature, let us recall that He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent (Ps. 139). He is absolutely right, and therefore, holy in character (Isa. 6). While some of God's actions in punishing individuals, cities, and nations are sometimes questioned by people, we must remember that He does what is right. After announcing His national defense policy for Israel, He often used such punishment of enemies, just as promised, in the defense of His people Israel (Gen. 12:3).

On certain occasions, God punished wicked kings, even some of Israel's or Judah's kings, because of their evil. In doing so, He sometimes extended the consequences of sin to the punishment of succeeding generations (Exod. 34:6-8). While the Bible does not teach that sin is inherited (Ezek. 18:20), it does affirm that God sometimes visits the iniquity of fathers upon their children or grandchildren. One generation often suffers temporally for the sins of another generation.

Jehu's killing of Ahab's sons, along with others later, is a case in point. He first saw to the slaughtering of the seventy sons of Ahab, and then sending them to Jezreel to Jehu (2 Kings 10:7). Later, Jehu deceptively gathered many of Baal's false prophets in the temple in Samaria, where they also were killed while worshipping Baal (2 Kings 10ff). God pronounced temporal blessings on Jehu and his offspring for four generations, but He also later announced punishment upon this selfsame Jehu, because he had not served God sincerely with his whole heart (2 Kings 10:30-31; Hos. 1:4).

From this incident, as well as from other passages and occasions, we draw the following lessons:

1. God has the right to punish iniquity and often does so temporally.
2. In His rule of nations and individuals, God often uses humans to carry out His punishment.
3. Those whom He uses must be sure that they do His will for the right reason—to do so out of selfish motives does not serve God. Even later, after His servant Jehu had done what God wished, he failed to serve God sincerely and suffered divine punishment for it.
4. Carrying out God's will for the temporal punishment of individuals and nations always accords with the principles of righteousness which underlie all of God's ways.
5. The execution of people (i.e., the taking of life) in such instances is not a violation of the Sixth Commandment: You shall not kill/murder. The same law of Moses forbidding murder in Exodus 20 also required in many instances the taking of life as a judgment from God. There is a vast difference between murder and God's requiring the life of a wicked person through human agency.
6. The governmental servant acts as God's agent/servant in the taking of life. According to Romans 13:4, as he does what is "good," as God judges good.

There are numerous examples of God's justice being administered throughout the Old Testament, and even some in the New Testament. Those who try to craft their own religious way in life sometimes indict God for His taking of life or instructing others to do so. Yet, they speak from ignorance, and need to study their Bibles (Matt. 22:29). No such occasion ever calls into question God's goodness or His deity!

Author Bio: Bobby preaches and is an elder for the Old Moulton Rd. church of Christ. He and his wife, Karen, have three children: Richard, Mary Katherine Winland (Darren), and Laura Paschall (Jeremy). He can be reached at bobbylgraham@pclnet.net.