25. His captain. See on 7:2.
Take up, and cast him. Jehu is taking upon himself the responsibility of avenging the innocent blood of Naboth. He knows the wickedness of Ahab and the crimes of Jezebel, and he knows that those crimes must be avenged in blood. In the field where Naboth had labored and for which his blood was shed, there he ordered that the dead body of the king be cast.
Rode together after Ahab. Both Jehu and Bidkar were veterans. They had been together in the army with Ahab, and had witnessed his exploits in war and his actions in times of peace. Both may have been ear witnesses of Elijah’s bitter denunciation of the king when the prophet pronounced upon him the Lord’s sentence of doom after the death of Naboth (1 Kings 21:19-24). At least they had a knowledge of it. The pronouncement probably made an indelible impression upon Jehu, for he knew that the divine sentence was just. Now both men were together again when the Lord’s sentence was carried into execution by Joram’s death.
Laid this burden upon him. That is, pronounced this oracle, or woe, against him. Compare the use of the word “burden” in Isa. 13:1; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1; 22:1; 23:1; 30:6; Nahum 1:1; Hab. 1:1; Zech. 9:1; 12:1.