Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s sons, saying,
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Seventy sons, as he had many wives. Gedeon had 70. Calmet.—Grand-children might also be included. D.—But this is not necessary. Calmet.—City, Hebrew “of Jezrahel,” a word which has probably been substituted instead of “Israel,” which is more conformable to the Septuagint and Vulg. Those who adhere to the Hebrew pretend that the princes had all fled from Jezrahel.—Children. This is the sense generally given to Nutritios Achab, which literally signifies, “nursing-fathers (preceptors, counsellors, and so forth) of Achab,” verse 5. The king’s children were perhaps educated in the most noble families, (verse 6.) and in the best cities, 2 Chronicles 11:23. Isaias (49:23) foretelling the happiness of the Israelites after the captivity, says, that kings and queens will nurse them.