Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 10:9

9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people , Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?

Either, First, To the promiscuous multitude met there to gaze upon this sad and strange spectacle. So the sense is, Be not you troubled nor affrighted with these unusual and dismal occurrences: if any thing be amiss in these actions, I do here publickly and solemnly acquit you as Righteous and Innocent; do not you therefore fear any vengeance from God or men for it: if there be any guilt, it is in me, and in those who cut off these heads. Or, Secondly, To those who cut off, and brought the heads; for the same persons did both, and were here present, as Iehu commanded them, v. 6. to them he speaks in the audience of all the people; or by all the people may be meant all those who brought the Heads, and were there waiting for Iehu, according to his order. So the Speech is in part Ironical, to this purpose, You are Righteous in your own eyes, and you look upon me as a Traitor, and Rebel, and Murderer, because I have risen against, and slain my Master, which I acknowledge I have done. But if I am guilty, you are not innocent, and therefore cannot accuse me: for I have killed one, but you a great number. This explication seems probable; onely the Hebrew word, ham, being generally used of the common people, may seem not so fitly to agree to these Rulers and great Men, who had brought the Heads; and that expression, to all the people, implies that Iehu did not direct his Speech to some particular persons, but to the whole Body of the people then present, whom he clears from all blame, and to whom he appeals as Witnesses between him and these persons.

Marginal references: Heb. an[illegible: 1+ letters]