But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”
Parallel translations
- WEB But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him! How then shall we stand?”
- KJV But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?
- NKJV But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?”
- NASB But they feared greatly and said, “Behold, the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?”
- NLT But they were paralyzed with fear and said, “We’ve seen that two kings couldn’t stand against this man! What can we do?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The leaders were terrified, reasoning that if two kings could not stand before Jehu, neither could they. Fear led them to submit.
Overview
Recalling the deaths of Joram and Ahaziah, the rulers conclude resistance is hopeless. Their fear reflects the unstoppable momentum of the judgment God had set in motion. Yet their submission arises from terror rather than repentance, showing that dread of consequences is not the same as a true turning of the heart to the LORD.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Kgs 9:27When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.
- 2 Kgs 9:24Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.
- Jer 49:19Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
- Isa 27:4I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.
- Nah 1:6Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
- Luke 14:31Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 10:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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