2 Kings 10:9,10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

He said to all the people, Ye be righteous This is spoken ironically: as much as to say, You may look upon me as a very wicked man, for rebelling against my master and killing him: but look here; see, your chief men, the confidants and favourites of Joram, have slain seventy of his sons committed to their custody! Know now, &c. As if he had said, The truth is, neither I nor they are to be blamed, nor you, that assisted and encouraged me herein; for this is not man's work, but God's, and done at his command. The Lord hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah Whom he mentions rather than Elisha; partly because Elijah was now dead, and therefore his name and memory were more sacred than Elisha's, who was yet alive; it being the general practice and folly of mankind, to value and honour, after their death, those whom they contemned while they lived; and partly because Elijah's prophecy was known and famous, while Elisha's was delivered in a corner, and that not from his own mouth, but by one of the sons of the prophets.