What does 2 Kings 10:12 mean?

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

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

In 2 Kings 10:12 in the King James Version of the Bible, the verse reads, "And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way," This verse comes from the larger passage of 2 Kings 10:1-36, which tells the story of Jehu's massacre of Ahab's family and Baal's prophets.

To understand the meaning and commentary of this verse, it is important to first understand the context in which it is set. Jehu, anointed king by the prophet Elisha, has been charged with the task of purging Israel of the worship of Baal. In obedience to this command, Jehu has just killed Ahab's son, King Joram, as well as Ahaziah, the king of Judah, and Jezebel, Ahab's wife. He has also ordered the killing of all of Ahab's family and close associates in Jezreel. This violent purging is seen as a necessary step to rid Israel of the corruption and idolatry that had plagued it under the rule of Ahab and his family.

In 2 Kings 10:12, Jehu is on his way to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. He stops at a place called the shearing house, which was likely a location where sheep were gathered for shearing. This seemingly mundane detail in the verse holds deeper significance within the larger narrative of Jehu's mission. The shearing house was a place of economic activity and wealth, and it symbolizes the ingrained idolatry and corruption present in Israel's society. It is at this location that Jehu's radical, no-nonsense approach to purging the land from Baal worship is symbolically demonstrated.

The verse captures the tension and drama of Jehu's actions, as he is both ruthless in his pursuit of eradicating idolatry and also strategic in his movements. His visit to the shearing house can be seen as a deliberate and calculated move to root out and destroy the pervasive influence of Baal worship within Israel's economic and social structures. Jehu's actions in this passage are a stark reminder of the consequences of disobeying God and the need for decisive action to confront and eliminate spiritual and moral decay.

This passage also reveals the themes of obedience and judgment that run throughout the Bible. Jehu's obedience to the command of the prophet Elisha is contrasted with the disobedience and idolatry of Ahab's family. His actions, while extreme, are framed as a necessary correction to the wrongs that had been committed by previous rulers. The verse underscores the importance of heeding God's instructions and the consequences of failing to do so.

Furthermore, the symbolism in this verse points to the broader theme of spiritual warfare. The shearing house represents the places where idolatry and corruption have taken root, and Jehu's actions serve as a type of spiritual warfare to uproot and destroy these influences. His actions reflect the ongoing struggle between good and evil, and the necessity of confronting and defeating the forces of darkness.

Overall, 2 Kings 10:12 and the larger passage it is a part of, serve as a dramatic and intense portrayal of the spiritual and moral battles that permeate the Bible. It is a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands, the consequences of idolatry and disobedience, and the need for decisive action to confront and eliminate evil. Jehu's actions, while controversial, are depicted as necessary for the restoration of God's rule in Israel. The verse stands as a powerful depiction of the themes of obedience, judgment, and spiritual warfare that resonate throughout the Bible.

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2 Kings 10:12 Artwork

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

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

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

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

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

1 Kings 12:10

2 Kings 12:10 - "And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD."

2 Kings 12:10 - "And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD."

2 Kings 12:19 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

2 Kings 12:19 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

2 Kings 3:10 - "And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"

2 Kings 3:10 - "And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"

2 Kings 10:28 - "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."

2 Kings 10:28 - "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."

2 Kings 12:14 - "But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD."

2 Kings 12:14 - "But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD."

2 Kings 21:10 - "¶ And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,"

2 Kings 21:10 - "¶ And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,"

2 Kings 10:4 - "But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?"

2 Kings 10:4 - "But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?"

2 Kings 25:12 - "But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."

2 Kings 25:12 - "But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."

2 Kings 10:34 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

2 Kings 10:34 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."

2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."

1 Kings 10:12 - "And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day."

1 Kings 10:12 - "And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day."

2 Kings 12:16 - "The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'."

2 Kings 12:16 - "The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'."

2 Kings 12:12 - "And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it."

2 Kings 12:12 - "And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it."

"Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." - 2 Kings 10:28

"Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." - 2 Kings 10:28

1 Kings 2:10 - "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."

1 Kings 2:10 - "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."

2 Kings 10:26 - "And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them."

2 Kings 10:26 - "And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them."

2 Kings 12:2 - "And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him."

2 Kings 12:2 - "And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him."

2 Kings 13:12 - "And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

2 Kings 13:12 - "And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

2 Kings 14:12 - "And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents."

2 Kings 14:12 - "And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents."

2 Kings 12:6 - "But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house."

2 Kings 12:6 - "But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house."

Psalms 2:10 - "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth."

Psalms 2:10 - "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth."

2 Kings 10:36 - "And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years."

2 Kings 10:36 - "And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years."

2 Kings 24:10 - "¶ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged."

2 Kings 24:10 - "¶ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged."