Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Morgenen etter gikk Jehu ut og stilte seg fram foran hele folket: «Dere er uskyldige i dette som har skjedd. Det var jeg som fikk i stand sammensvergelsen mot min herre og drepte ham. Men hvem har drept alle disse? Nå skal dere forstå at alt det som Herren har talt om Ahabs slekt, skal gå i oppfyllelse. For Herren har, gjennom sin tjener Elia, sagt hva som skulle skje. Nå har disse ordene gått i oppfyllelse.» Så slo Jehu i hjel alle som var igjen av Ahabs hus i Jisre’el, og alle hans stormenn, nære bekjente og prester, helt til det ikke var flere igjen i live.
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes how Jehu, a king, went out in the morning and spoke to the people. He admitted that he conspired against and killed his master, Joram, but questioned who was responsible for killing the others. His message was to shift the blame and justify his actions.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game and you accidentally break a toy. Instead of saying sorry, you ask, 'Who broke all the other toys?' That's what Jehu is doing here. He's admitting he did something bad but asking who else did the same thing.
Historical Background
2 Kings was written by prophets and scribes around 560 BCE, documenting the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. The audience was the Israelites, who needed to understand their history and the consequences of their actions.
Living It Out Today
In today's world, we can see this as a cautionary tale about accountability. If you make a mistake, it's better to take responsibility than to deflect blame or make others feel guilty for their actions as well.
Jehu wanted to justify his actions by suggesting that killing the king was a collective action, not just his responsibility, which may have helped him gain support from the people.
What was the audience's reaction?
The text doesn't directly show the audience's reaction, but Jehu's tactic was likely aimed at gaining sympathy or support by implying a shared responsibility.
How does this relate to today's leadership?
Leaders today can learn that accountability is crucial. Shifting blame can undermine trust and lead to greater scrutiny and criticism.
What does this verse teach about truth?
It shows the importance of honesty and taking responsibility for one's actions, even if it's difficult, rather than trying to deflect blame onto others.