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.

2 KINGS 10:14KJV
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2 Kings 10:14 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 10:14 mean?

2 Kings 10:14 describes how Jehu ordered his men to capture the relatives of King Ahaziah alive, and after they were taken, Jehu had all forty-two of them killed at a pit near a shearing house, leaving none alive. This verse shows Jehu’s determination to remove all possible rivals connected to the former royal family.

Jehu is speaking to his own men during a violent purge of the house of Ahab and its allies. The situation is tense: Jehu has just encountered the relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah, who were likely traveling to visit the northern kingdom. By commanding their execution, Jehu is making sure there are no survivors who could challenge his new rule or support the old dynasty.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 10:14

  • The word for "alive" (חַי, ḥay) is repeated twice, emphasizing Jehu’s initial command to capture the men without killing them first. This highlights that their execution was deliberate and not the result of a chaotic battle.
  • The word for "pit" (בּוֹר, bor) refers to a cistern or a large hole, often used for water storage or as a place of execution. This detail shows the executions were organized and took place at a specific location, not randomly.
  • The word for "shearing house" (בֵּית גָּזֵז, beit gazez) refers to a place where sheep were sheared, a common rural structure. Its mention gives a concrete setting and may suggest the executions happened in a public or well-known spot.

Why 2 Kings 10:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies the thoroughness of Jehu’s campaign against the royal families of both Israel and Judah, showing he did not spare even distant relatives.
  • The detail about taking the men alive before killing them emphasizes that Jehu’s actions were calculated, not accidental or in the heat of battle.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing how Jehu systematically removed potential threats to his authority, fulfilling earlier prophecies about the downfall of Ahab’s house.

Where else these words appear

“house” Hebrew H1044 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Kings 10:12 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,

“Take” Hebrew H8610 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
  • 2 Kings 16:9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
  • Jeremiah 50:16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

“pit” Hebrew H953 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
  • Jeremiah 37:16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

“slew” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
  • Leviticus 9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
  • 2 Kings 10:7 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.