Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up.
We left Jehu in quiet possession of Jezreel, triumphing over Joram and Jezebel; and we must now attend his further motions. He knew the whole house of Ahab must be cut off, and therefore proceeded in this bloody work, and did not do it deceitfully, or by halves, Jer 48:10. I. He got the heads of all the sons of Ahab cut off by their own guardians at Samaria.
Commenting on 2 Kings 10:1-14
Then he wrote a letter the second time to them,.... Having gained his point by the former: saying, if ye be mine, acknowledge yourselves my subjects and servants: and if ye will hearken to my voice; obey my commands: take ye the heads of the men your master's sons; that is, take off their heads: and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time...
take ye the heads of the men, your master's sons--The barbarous practice of a successful usurper slaughtering all who may have claims to the throne, has been frequently exemplified in the ancient and modern histories of the East.