But they feared greatly and said, “Behold, the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?”
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?
- BSB But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”
- NKJV But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to 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 9:27But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, “Strike him also in the chariot!” They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.
- 2 Kgs 9:24Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
- Jer 49:19“Behold, he will come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it. For who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who will stand before me?”
- Isa 27:4Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together.
- Nah 1:6Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
- Luke 14:31Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes 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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