And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.

2 KINGS 10:36KJV
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2 Kings 10:36 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 10:36 mean?

2 Kings 10:36 states that Jehu ruled as king over Israel, with his capital in Samaria, for a total of twenty-eight years. This verse marks the length of Jehu’s reign, summarizing his time as ruler after the events described in the previous chapters.

The verse comes at the end of a section describing Jehu’s actions as king, including his violent removal of the previous royal family and his efforts to eliminate Baal worship in Israel. The writer is giving a historical record, noting how long Jehu held power in Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel. This summary helps the reader see Jehu’s place in the larger timeline of Israel’s kings.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 10:36

  • יְהוּא (Yehu, transliterated "Jehu"): This is the name of the king being described. The use of his name here ties the summary directly to the actions and legacy of this particular ruler.
  • מָלַךְ (malakh, "reigned"): This word means "to be king" or "to rule." It emphasizes Jehu’s official status and authority as the recognized king of Israel.
  • שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shomron, "Samaria"): This is the name of the capital city where Jehu ruled. Mentioning Samaria highlights the political center of the northern kingdom and distinguishes it from Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem.
  • עֶשְׂרִים (esrim, "twenty") and שְׁמֹנֶה (shemoneh, "eight"): These are the Hebrew words for "twenty" and "eight," making up the total of twenty-eight years. The specific number gives a concrete sense of the length and stability of Jehu’s reign.

Why 2 Kings 10:36 matters

  • The verse clarifies the historical timeline, showing exactly how long Jehu ruled, which helps readers track the sequence of Israel’s kings.
  • By mentioning Samaria, the verse reminds readers that Israel and Judah were separate kingdoms with different capitals and rulers during this period.
  • This summary statement closes the account of Jehu’s reign, signaling a transition to the next phase in Israel’s history and preparing the reader for what comes next in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“Jehu” Hebrew H3058 · used in 54 verses

  • 1 Kings 16:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
  • 2 Kings 9:22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
  • 2 Kings 10:30 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.

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 13:1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

“eight” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.