2 Kings 9:8

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish,.... Be cut off by death, and that in a violent manner, not one should escape: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel; of these phrases; see Gill on 1 Kings 14:10, 1 Kings 21:21

9:1-10 In these and the like events, we must acknowledge the secret working of God, disposing men to fulfil his purposes respecting them. Jehu was anointed king over Israel, by the Lord's special choice. The Lord still had a remnant of his people, and would yet preserve his worship among them. Of this Jehu was reminded. He was commanded to destroy the house of Ahab, and, as far as he acted in obedience to God, and upon right principles, he needed not to regard reproach or opposition. The murder of God's prophets is strongly noticed. Jezebel persisted in idolatry and enmity to Jehovah and his servants, and her iniquity was now full.

2 Kings 9:8 . For the whole house of Ahab shall perish — That is, all his posterity and all his kindred. Jehu, therefore, having received such a charge, is to be considered, in what he afterward did to the house of Ahab, as acting not out of a spirit of revenge, for he had no quarrel with the house of Ahab; but, as the minister of God, who, by his prophet, authorized and enjoined him to do what follows.

(8) For. — And . Shall perish.—Syriac, Arabic, Vulg., “I will cause to perish” (different Hebrew points). The LXX. has, “and at the hand of all the house of Ahab,” a difference of reading which favours the ordinary Hebrew text. Him that is shut up and left (and him that is left).—Reuss imitates the alliteration of the original, “qu’il soit caché ou lâché en Israel.” For the rest of the verse see 1Kings 21:21, and comp. 1Kings 14:10.

4-6. So the young man … went to Ramoth-gilead—His ready undertaking of this delicate and hazardous mission was an eminent proof of his piety and obedience. The act of anointing being done through a commissioned prophet, was a divine intimation of his investiture with the sovereign power. But it was sometimes done long prior to the actual possession of the throne (1Sa 16:13); and, in like manner, the commission had, in this instance, been given also a long time before to Elijah [1Ki 19:16], who, for good reasons, left it in charge to Elisha; and he awaited God's time and command for executing it [Poole].

8 . On this verse see the notes on 1 Kings 14:10 . The entire family is doomed. God will cut off from Ahab every man child. (R.V.) and him that is shut up and left in Israel ] R.V. him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel . The phrase is intended to embrace every one, young or old, bond or free.

Verse 8. - For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that passeth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel (see the comment on 1 Kings 14:10). While the exact force of the phrases used is doubtful, the general intention to embrace in the sentence all Ahab's posterity cannot be doubted. 2 Kings 9:8