Who was Bidkar in the Bible?

Bidkar was a military officer and chariot commander who served King Jehu of Israel. He is specifically mentioned as Jehu's 'third man' or officer in his chariot during a critical moment of judgment (2 Kings 9:25).

What did Bidkar do in the Bible?

Bidkar's primary recorded action was following Jehu's command to throw the body of King Joram, Ahab's son, onto the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth. This fulfilled the prophecy of judgment against Ahab's family spoken by Elijah (2 Kings 9:25-26).

Why is Bidkar significant in the Bible?

Bidkar is significant as a witness and participant in the fulfillment of God's prophecy. His role underscores that the judgment on Ahab's dynasty was carried out publicly by Jehu's officers, confirming the truth of God's word spoken through Elijah (1 Kings 21:19-24).

Bidkar

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMale

Bidkar, an officer of Jehu, witnessed the LORD's judgment against Ahab and his family.

Bidkar

Biography

Bidkar served as a military officer, literally a "captain" or "adjutant", under Jehu, the anointed king of Israel who carried out God's judgment against the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:25). He appears at a pivotal moment: after Jehu shot and killed King Joram son of Ahab with an arrow, he commanded Bidkar to take up Joram's body and cast it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Jehu explicitly recalled the LORD's oracle spoken through Elijah against Ahab, that his blood would be licked up on the very plot of land where he had shed innocent Naboth's blood (1 Kings 21:17-24), thus invoking prophetic fulfillment in giving this order. Bidkar served as the instrument of this symbolic act of divine justice.

Significance

Bidkar's role as the executor of Joram's burial in Naboth's field is a small but theologically significant detail in the larger narrative of divine retribution against the Omride dynasty. The precise fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy, that the site of Ahab's judicial murder of Naboth would become the place of Ahab's family's judgment, demonstrates the meticulous faithfulness of God to his word. Even Jehu himself, no paragon of righteousness, recognized the prophetic dimension of the moment and articulated it explicitly. Bidkar's obedient action in casting Joram's body onto Naboth's field became a living confirmation that God does not forget injustice and that his judgments, though delayed, are precise and certain (Romans 12:19).

Verse Appearances (1)

2 Kings

2 Kings 9:25

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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