Bible Discussion Thread

Who was Jehu in Hosea? Help me understand what kind of king he was

Jehu was a King in Israel, in the days of the prophet Elisha. As most of the Kings of Israel were considered as 'bad' kings, who were given over to idolatry & the practises of the heathen about them, we see Jehu, who in part was 'good' in his 'obedience' to God. But he too succumbed to wicked acts later on. Rather than re-tell about his reign, you can read about him in 2 Kings chapters 9 & 10, beginning with Elisha anointing him as King over Israel. Jehu reigned for 28 years.

Yet in Hosea 1:4 we read: "And the LORD said unto him (Hosea), Call his (Hosea's son's) name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel."

The name 'Jezreel' means 'God will scatter'. And this was a specific name to indicate how God would deal with Israel as they continued to hear but disobey God's Words to them. And the "blood of Jezreel" will be avenged against the "house of Jehu" (i.e. not just to King Jehu but to his son Jehoahaz who came after him & succeeding generations (Jehoash, Jeroaboam II & Zechariah). This account of Jehu is interesting: when you read of the blood-thirsty dealings that Jehu had with his enemies, we see that he did it in accordance to God's Will. Yet, Jehu is now accused of doing wrong (in Hosea 1:4). So when you come to it in your reading of 2 Kings, please bear in mind, that it was one thing for Jehu to demonstrate obedience to God & yet there can still be an attitude of doing that act of obedience with the wrong motive. In Jehu's case, in his 'obedience' to God, he was actually doing it also out of self-will & of personal ambition & hatred. And of course, both he & his progeny who sat on Israel's Throne, gave themselves to idolatry & wickedness. So this good king, Jehu, did not just turned out bad in the end, but was condemned for his (& his progeny's) wickedness.