Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:704 (Oct 2019)
Article: “The Bloodshed Of Jezreel”: Harmonizing Hosea 1:4 And 2 Kings 10:30
Author: Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.

BSac 176:704 (October-December 2019) p. 429

“The Bloodshed Of Jezreel”: Harmonizing Hosea 1:4 And 2 Kings 10:30

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

Robert B. Chisholm Jr. is chair and senior professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.

Abstract

Interpreters typically understand Hosea 1:4 as a promise that Yahweh would soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre he had carried out at Jezreel against the house of Ahab. However, this interpretation collides with the account of Jehu’s coup in 2 Kings 9–10. Of various solutions that have been proposed for this problem, it is most likely that Hosea 1:4 does not condemn Jehu’s actions at Jezreel, but uses them as a paradigm for the judgment that would fall on the house of Jehu.

Introduction

In Hosea 1:4 Yahweh tells Hosea to name his first son Jezreel and explains why: “For soon I will visit the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.” Interpreters typically understand this to mean that Yahweh would punish the house of Jehu for the massacre he had carried out at Jezreel against the house of Ahab (2 Kgs 9–10). For example, consider the following translations of Hosea 1:4:

NIV 2011: “because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.”

ESV: “for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.”

NASB: “for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.”

BSac 176:704 (October-December 2019) p. 430

Tanakh: “for, I will soon punish the House of Jehu for the bloody deeds at Jezreel and put an end to the monarchy of the House of Israel.”

KJV: “for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.”

NRSV: “for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.”

In support of this interpretation, one may point to several passages where the expressio...