2 Kings 10:1

“And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria, etc.] These might not be all his immediate sons, but some of them his grandsons, as such are sometimes called in Scripture: and Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel; who fled thither, perhaps on Jehu’s coming to Jezreel, having slain Joram, being the metropolis of the kingdom, to consult about a successor, or how to oppose Jehu, and to frustrate his designs: but the Septuagint version is, “to the rulers of Samaria”, which seems most likely to be the true reading: to the elders; the civil magistrates of the city of Samaria: and to them that brought up Ahab’s children: who had the care of their education; who either always…”

“JEHU CAUSES SEVENTY OF AHAB'S CHILDREN TO BE BEHEADED. (2Ki. 10:1-17) Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria--As it appears (Kg2 10:13), that grandsons are included it is probable that this number comprehended the whole posterity of Ahab. Their being all assembled in that capital might arise from their being left there on the king's departure for Ramoth-gilead, or from their taking refuge in some of the strongholds of that city on the news of Jehu's conspiracy. It may be inferred from the tenor of Jehu's letters that their first intention was to select the fittest of the royal family and set him up as king. Perhaps this challenge of Jehu was designed as a stroke of policy on his part to elicit…”

“Seventy sons - i. e., descendants; there were included among them children of Jehoram (2 Kings 10:2-3, etc.). return to 'Top of Page'”

“10:1-27 The writer focuses on two important events of Jehu’s reign: his murder of all who might claim Joram’s throne (10:1-17), and his execution of the priests of Baal (10:18-27). 10:1 Ahab’s sons (the term can include grandsons) may have been with Joram at Jezreel temporarily while he was recovering from his wounds (8:29) but had fled to Samaria to escape Jehu’s purge.”

“seventy sons: Jdg 8:30, Jdg 10:4, Jdg 12:14 in Samaria: Kg2 5:3; Kg1 13:32, Kg1 16:28; Ch2 22:9 the rulers: Deu 16:18; Kg1 21:8-14 them: Heb. nourishers 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:2”

“Extermination of the Seventy Sons of Ahab in Samaria. - Kg2 10:1-3. As Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria (בּנים in the wider sense, viz., sons, including grandsons see at Kg2 10:13, as is evident from the fact that אמנים, foster-fathers, are mentioned, whereas Ahab had been dead fourteen years, and therefore his youngest sons could not have had foster-fathers any longer), Jehu sent a letter to the elders of the city and to the foster-fathers of the princes, to the effect that they were to place one of the sons of their lord upon the throne. There is something very strange in the words הזּקנים יזרעאל אל־שׂרי, "to the princes of Jezreel, the old men," partly on account of the name Jezreel, and…”