V.1-4 It may be difficult for you to sort out the kings of the two kingdoms in the land of Israel. Not one of the kings of the 10 tribes — called the “kingdom of Israel” — obeyed the Lord. Their wickedness brought on themselves the severest punishment of God, as we are now going to read. So prepare yourself, remembering that the Lord had warned them.
V.1-4 Elisha, the Lord’s prophet, doesn’t get involved with this new king over the kingdom of Israel. He sends one of the sons of the prophets to proclaim him king.
V.4-26 But there were two messages delivered to this other man. (1) To tell him that he was to be king; (2) to tell him to punish the house of Ahab for all its wickedness. Both messages appeal to Jehu’s nature. He carries out the second with great energy. God was punishing for the evil, but Jehu was doing it to strengthen his own position as king.