מלכים ב, פרק י׳, פסוק ז׳

The arrival of Jehu's letter triggers a swift and uncompromising response, resulting in the immediate execution of the king's seventy sons. Following this mass execution, the severed heads are gathered into large vessels for transport. There are different perspectives on the exact nature of these containers. Some scholars suggest the heads were placed in large pots or cauldrons [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. A different approach indicates they were carried in baskets [רד״ק, רלב״ג]. Choosing open baskets over closed pots would serve a specific purpose, allowing the contents to remain visible to anyone who saw them [רלב״ג]. A broader view simply describes the use of large containers, whether pots or baskets [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The city leaders dispatch the severed heads to Jehu in Jezreel, but they notably avoid making the journey themselves. They choose to stay behind out of deep fear, terrified of standing before Jehu while he is in a state of intense wrath and anger [חומת אנך]. The transport of the heads takes place that very night. Moving the remains under the cover of darkness is a deliberate choice to hide the act from the general public at first. This initial secrecy is only temporary, setting the stage for the heads to be displayed openly in two public heaps at a later time [רלב״ג].