2 Kings 10:8
New International Version
When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the princes.” Then Jehu ordered, “Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

New Living Translation
A messenger went to Jehu and said, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” So Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”

English Standard Version
When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”

Berean Standard Bible
When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

New American Standard Bible
When the messenger came and informed him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

NASB 1995
When the messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

NASB 1977
When the messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” So he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

Amplified Bible
When a messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

Christian Standard Bible
When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

American Standard Version
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 entrance of the gate until the morning.

Contemporary English Version
When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, "Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A messenger told him, "They've brought the heads of the king's heirs." Jehu said, "Put them in two piles at the entrance to the gateway until morning."

Good News Translation
When Jehu was told that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought, he ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and to be left there until the following morning.

International Standard Version
When the messenger arrived to report to the king, he said, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." Jehu replied, "Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning."

Majority Standard Bible
When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, ?They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.? And Jehu ordered, ?Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.?

NET Bible
The messenger came and told Jehu, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." Jehu said, "Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning."

New Heart English Bible
A messenger came, and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning."

Webster's Bible Translation
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 entrance of the gate until the morning.

World English Bible
A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the messenger comes in, and declares [it] to him, saying, “They have brought in the heads of the sons of the king,” and he says, “Make them two heaps at the opening of the gate until the morning.”

Young's Literal Translation
and the messenger cometh in, and declareth to him, saying, 'They have brought in the heads of the sons of the king,' and he saith, 'Make them two heaps at the opening of the gate till the morning.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And a messenger will come and announce to him, saying, They brought the heads of the king's sons. And he will say, Put them two heaps at the door of the gate till the morning.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And a messenger came, and told him, saying: They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said: Lay ye them in two heaps by the entering in of the gate until the morning.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then a messenger arrived and reported to him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he responded, “Place them in two piles, beside the entrance of the gate, until morning.”

New American Bible
A messenger came in and told him, “They have brought the heads of the princes.” He said, “Pile them in two heaps at the gate of the city until morning.”

New Revised Standard Version
When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a Messenger came and he told him and said: “They have brought the heads of the sons of the King.” And he said: pile them in two piles at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 entrance of the gate until the morning.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And a messenger came and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay them in two heaps by the door of the gate until the morning.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehu Slaughters Ahab's Family
7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” 9The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?…

Cross References
1 Kings 21:21-24
This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free. / I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’ / And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ ...

2 Kings 9:7-10
And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. / The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel. / I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. ...

1 Kings 14:10-11
Because of all this, behold, I am bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam: I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both slave and free, in Israel; I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns up dung until it is gone! / Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.’ For the LORD has spoken.

1 Kings 16:3-4
So now I will consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat: / Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”

1 Kings 21:29
“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

2 Kings 9:36-37
So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. / And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’”

1 Samuel 15:32-33
Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” / But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

2 Samuel 21:8-9
But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. / And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Jeremiah 15:3
I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

Hosea 1:4
Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Luke 11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

Revelation 2:20-23
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. / Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. / Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. ...

Revelation 19:2
For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”

Matthew 14:8-11
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” / The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted / and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay you them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

there came

2 Samuel 11:18-21
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; …

1 Kings 21:14
Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

Mark 6:28
And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

until the morning

Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

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Arrived Declareth Doorway Entering Entrance Gate Heads Heaps Jehu King's Lay Masses Messenger Morning Opening Ordered Piles Princes
2 Kings 10
1. Jehu, by his letters, causes seventy of Ahab's sons to be beheaded
8. He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah
12. At the shearing house he slays forty-two of Ahaziah's brothers
15. He takes Jehonadab into his company
18. By subtilty he destroys all the worshippers of Baal
29. Jehu follows Jeroboam's sins
32. Hazael oppresses Israel
34. Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu














When the messenger arrived
The arrival of the messenger signifies the fulfillment of Jehu's command. In the Hebrew context, a "messenger" (מַלְאָךְ, mal'akh) often serves as a bearer of significant news or a divine message. Here, the messenger's arrival marks a pivotal moment in Jehu's campaign against the house of Ahab, emphasizing the swift execution of his orders and the unfolding of God's judgment.

he told Jehu
The act of telling or reporting (נָגַד, nagad) is crucial in biblical narratives, as it often conveys the transmission of important information. Jehu, as the recipient, is the central figure in this narrative, executing God's judgment against the house of Ahab. This communication underscores the transparency and accountability in Jehu's leadership, as he is kept informed of the developments in his mission.

They have brought the heads of the king’s sons
This phrase is a stark and brutal reminder of the fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy against Ahab's lineage (1 Kings 21:21-22). The "heads" symbolize the complete and irreversible downfall of Ahab's dynasty. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such acts were not uncommon as a demonstration of power and a warning to others. The phrase highlights the severity of divine judgment and the lengths to which Jehu goes to eradicate idolatry and apostasy from Israel.

Then Jehu ordered
Jehu's order (צָוָה, tsavah) reflects his authoritative role in executing divine justice. His decisiveness and command underscore his commitment to fulfilling God's will. This moment illustrates the importance of obedience and leadership in carrying out God's plans, as Jehu acts without hesitation to ensure the complete eradication of Ahab's influence.

Pile them in two heaps
The act of piling the heads in two heaps serves as a public display of judgment and a deterrent to any who might oppose Jehu's rule or God's commandments. In the ancient world, such displays were meant to instill fear and demonstrate the power of the ruling authority. This action symbolizes the completeness of God's judgment and serves as a visual reminder of the consequences of idolatry and rebellion against God.

at the entrance of the gate
The city gate was a place of significance in ancient Israelite society, often serving as a location for legal proceedings, public announcements, and community gatherings. By placing the heaps at the gate, Jehu ensures that all who enter or leave the city witness the outcome of defying God's commands. This strategic placement reinforces the message of divine justice and the seriousness of covenantal faithfulness.

until morning
Leaving the heaps until morning allows for the full impact of the display to be realized by the people. The morning light would reveal the stark reality of the judgment executed, serving as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin. This timing emphasizes the transparency of Jehu's actions and the inevitability of God's justice, which cannot be hidden or ignored.

(8) There came a messenger.--Literally, and the messenger came in. Josephus says Jehu was giving a banquet.

Heaps.--The noun (cibb-r) occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. In the Talmud it means "congregation," as we say colloquially "a heap of persons." The verb (c?bar) means "to heap up." (See Exodus 8:10.)

At the entering in of the gate.--The place of public business, where all the citizens would see them. (Comp. 2Kings 7:3; 1Kings 22:10.) But perhaps not the city gate, but the gate of the palace is to be understood. Parallels to this deed of Jehu are not wanting in the history of modern Persia. (Comp. 1Samuel 17:54; 2 Maccabees 15:30; and the comparatively recent custom in our own country of fixing up the heads of traitors on London Bridge.) . . .

Verse 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. Thus all who entered into the town or quitted it would see them, and, being struck by the ghastly spectacle, would make inquiry and learn the truth. "The gate" was also a general place of assembly for the gossips of the town and others, who would soon spread the news, and bring together a crowd of persons, curious to see so unusual a sight.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When the messenger
הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ (ham·mal·’āḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

arrived,
וַיָּבֹ֤א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

he told
וַיַּגֶּד־ (way·yag·geḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

[Jehu],
ל֣וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

“They have brought
הֵבִ֖יאוּ (hê·ḇî·’ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the heads
רָאשֵׁ֣י (rā·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of the king’s
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

sons.”
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

And [Jehu] ordered,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Pile
שִׂ֣ימוּ (śî·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

them in two
שְׁנֵ֧י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

heaps
צִבֻּרִ֛ים (ṣib·bu·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6652: A pile

at the entrance
פֶּ֥תַח (pe·ṯaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6607: An opening, door, entrance way

of the gate
הַשַּׁ֖עַר (haš·ša·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

morning.”
הַבֹּֽקֶר׃ (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning


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OT History: 2 Kings 10:8 There came a messenger and told him (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 10:7
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