2 Kings 10:5

3 Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”
KJV
And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
WEB
He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”
ASV
And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up [the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.
DARBY
And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, and the elders, and the guardians sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any one king; do what is good in thy sight.
BLB
And he who [was] over the house, and he who [was] in charge of the city, and the elders, and the supporters, sent to Jehu, saying, “We [are] your servants, and all that you tell to us, we will do. But not any man we will make king. That which [is] good in your eyes, do.”
ÅB
Så sendte slottshøvdingen og høvdingen over byen og de eldste og formynderne bud til Jehu og lot si: Vi er dine tjenere, og alt hva du sier til oss, vil vi gjøre; vi vil ikke gjøre noen til konge; gjør du hva du finner for godt!
OTB
Og forvalteren av huset og forvalteren av byen, sammen med de eldste og vokterne, sendte ord til Jehu og sa, “Vi er dine tjenere; alt du sier vil vi gjøre. Vi vil ikke gjøre noen til konge. Gjør det som er godt i dine øyne.”
B1930
Så sendte slottshøvdingen og høvdingen over byen og de eldste og formynderne bud til Jehu og lot si: Vi er dine tjenere, og alt hvad du sier til oss, vil vi gjøre; vi vil ikke gjøre nogen til konge; gjør du hvad du finner for godt!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 20:4

    And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 20:32

    So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 9:11

    Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 9:8

    And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:14

    And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 9:24–25

    And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 27:7–8

    And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 27:17

    Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?

    Read in context