1 And Elisha H477 the prophet H5030 called H7121 one H259 of the children H1121 of the prophets, H5030 and said H559 unto him, Gird up H2296 thy loins, H4975 and take H3947 this box H6378 of oil H8081 in thine hand, H3027 and go H3212 to Ramothgilead: H7433 H1568
2 And when thou comest H935 thither, look out H7200 there Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Nimshi, H5250 and go in, H935 and make him arise up H6965 from among H8432 his brethren, H251 and carry H935 him to an inner H2315 chamber; H2315
3 Then take H3947 the box H6378 of oil, H8081 and pour H3332 it on his head, H7218 and say, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over Israel. H3478 Then open H6605 the door, H1817 and flee, H5127 and tarry H2442 not.
4 So the young man, H5288 even the young man H5288 the prophet, H5030 went H3212 to Ramothgilead. H7433 H1568
5 And when he came, H935 behold, the captains H8269 of the host H2428 were sitting; H3427 and he said, H559 I have an errand H1697 to thee, O captain. H8269 And Jehu H3058 said, H559 Unto which of all us? And he said, H559 To thee, O captain. H8269
6 And he arose, H6965 and went H935 into the house; H1004 and he poured H3332 the oil H8081 on his head, H7218 and said H559 unto him, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 even over Israel. H3478
7 And thou shalt smite H5221 the house H1004 of Ahab H256 thy master, H113 that I may avenge H5358 the blood H1818 of my servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 and the blood H1818 of all the servants H5650 of the LORD, H3068 at the hand H3027 of Jezebel. H348
8 For the whole house H1004 of Ahab H256 shall perish: H6 and I will cut off H3772 from Ahab H256 him that pisseth H8366 against the wall, H7023 and him that is shut up H6113 and left H5800 in Israel: H3478
9 And I will make H5414 the house H1004 of Ahab H256 like the house H1004 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 and like the house H1004 of Baasha H1201 the son H1121 of Ahijah: H281
10 And the dogs H3611 shall eat H398 Jezebel H348 in the portion H2506 of Jezreel, H3157 and there shall be none to bury H6912 her. And he opened H6605 the door, H1817 and fled. H5127
11 Then Jehu H3058 came forth H3318 to the servants H5650 of his lord: H113 and one said H559 unto him, Is all well? H7965 wherefore came H935 this mad H7696 fellow to thee? And he said H559 unto them, Ye know H3045 the man, H376 and his communication. H7879
12 And they said, H559 It is false; H8267 tell H5046 us now. And he said, H559 Thus and thus spake H559 he to me, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 I have anointed H4886 thee king H4428 over Israel. H3478
13 Then they hasted, H4116 and took H3947 every man H376 his garment, H899 and put H7760 it under him on the top H1634 of the stairs, H4609 and blew H8628 with trumpets, H7782 saying, H559 Jehu H3058 is king. H4427
14 So Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Nimshi H5250 conspired H7194 against Joram. H3141 (Now Joram H3141 had kept H8104 Ramothgilead, H7433 H1568 he and all Israel, H3478 because H6440 of Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria. H758
15 But king H4428 Joram H3088 was returned H7725 to be healed H7495 in Jezreel H3157 of the wounds H4347 which the Syrians H761 had given H5221 him, when he fought H3898 with Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria.) H758 And Jehu H3058 said, H559 If it be H3426 your minds, H5315 then let none H408 go forth H3318 nor escape H6412 out of the city H5892 to go H3212 to tell H5046 it in Jezreel. H3157
16 So Jehu H3058 rode in a chariot, H7392 and went H3212 to Jezreel; H3157 for Joram H3141 lay H7901 there. And Ahaziah H274 king H4428 of Judah H3063 was come down H3381 to see H7200 Joram. H3141
17 And there stood H5975 a watchman H6822 on the tower H4026 in Jezreel, H3157 and he spied H7200 the company H8229 of Jehu H3058 as he came, H935 and said, H559 I see H7200 a company. H8229 And Joram H3088 said, H559 Take H3947 an horseman, H7395 and send H7971 to meet H7125 them, and let him say, H559 Is it peace? H7965
18 So there went H3212 one on horseback H7392 H5483 to meet H7125 him, and said, H559 Thus saith H559 the king, H4428 Is it peace? H7965 And Jehu H3058 said, H559 What hast thou to do with peace? H7965 turn H5437 thee behind H310 me. And the watchman H6822 told, H5046 saying, H559 The messenger H4397 came H935 to them, but he cometh not again. H7725
19 Then he sent out H7971 a second H8145 on horseback, H7392 H5483 which came H935 to them, and said, H559 Thus saith H559 the king, H4428 Is it peace? H7965 And Jehu H3058 answered, H559 What hast thou to do with peace? H7965 turn H5437 thee behind H310 me.
20 And the watchman H6822 told, H5046 saying, H559 He came H935 even unto them, and cometh not again: H7725 and the driving H4491 is like the driving H4491 of Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Nimshi; H5250 for he driveth H5090 furiously. H7697
21 And Joram H3088 said, H559 Make ready. H631 And his chariot H7393 was made ready. H631 And Joram H3088 king H4428 of Israel H3478 and Ahaziah H274 king H4428 of Judah H3063 went out, H3318 each H376 in his chariot, H7393 and they went out H3318 against H7125 Jehu, H3058 and met H4672 him in the portion H2513 of Naboth H5022 the Jezreelite. H3158
22 And it came to pass, when Joram H3088 saw H7200 Jehu, H3058 that he said, H559 Is it peace, H7965 Jehu? H3058 And he answered, H559 What peace, H7965 so long as H5704 the whoredoms H2183 of thy mother H517 Jezebel H348 and her witchcrafts H3785 are so many? H7227
23 And Joram H3088 turned H2015 his hands, H3027 and fled, H5127 and said H559 to Ahaziah, H274 There is treachery, H4820 O Ahaziah. H274
24 And Jehu H3058 drew a bow H7198 with his full H4390 strength, H3027 and smote H5221 Jehoram H3088 between his arms, H2220 and the arrow H2678 went out H3318 at his heart, H3820 and he sunk down H3766 in his chariot. H7393
25 Then said H559 Jehu to Bidkar H920 his captain, H7991 Take up, H5375 and cast H7993 him in the portion H2513 of the field H7704 of Naboth H5022 the Jezreelite: H3158 for remember H2142 how that, when I and thou rode H7392 together H6776 after H310 Ahab H256 his father, H1 the LORD H3068 laid H5375 this burden H4853 upon him;
26 Surely I have seen H7200 yesterday H570 the blood H1818 of Naboth, H5022 and the blood H1818 of his sons, H1121 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and I will requite H7999 thee in this plat, H2513 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Now therefore take H5375 and cast H7993 him into the plat H2513 of ground, according to the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068
27 But when Ahaziah H274 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 saw H7200 this, he fled H5127 by the way H1870 of the garden H1588 house. H1004 And Jehu H3058 followed H7291 after H310 him, and said, H559 Smite H5221 him also in the chariot. H4818 And they did so at the going up H4608 to Gur, H1483 which is by Ibleam. H2991 And he fled H5127 to Megiddo, H4023 and died H4191 there.
28 And his servants H5650 carried H7392 him in a chariot to Jerusalem, H3389 and buried H6912 him in his sepulchre H6900 with his fathers H1 in the city H5892 of David. H1732
29 And in the eleventh H259 H6240 H8141 year H8141 of Joram H3141 the son H1121 of Ahab H256 began Ahaziah H274 to reign H4427 over Judah. H3063
30 And when Jehu H3058 was come H935 to Jezreel, H3157 Jezebel H348 heard H8085 of it; and she painted H7760 H6320 her face, H5869 and tired H3190 her head, H7218 and looked out H8259 at a window. H2474
31 And as Jehu H3058 entered in H935 at the gate, H8179 she said, H559 Had Zimri H2174 peace, H7965 who slew H2026 his master? H113
32 And he lifted up H5375 his face H6440 to the window, H2474 and said, H559 Who is on my side? who? And there looked out H8259 to him two H8147 or three H7969 eunuchs. H5631
33 And he said, H559 Throw her down. H8058 So they threw her down: H8058 and some of her blood H1818 was sprinkled H5137 on the wall, H7023 and on the horses: H5483 and he trode her under foot. H7429
34 And when he was come in, H935 he did eat H398 and drink, H8354 and said, H559 Go, H6485 see now this cursed H779 woman, and bury H6912 her: for she is a king's H4428 daughter. H1323
35 And they went H3212 to bury H6912 her: but they found H4672 no more of her than H518 the skull, H1538 and the feet, H7272 and the palms H3709 of her hands. H3027
36 Wherefore they came again, H7725 and told H5046 him. And he said, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he spake H1696 by H3027 his servant H5650 Elijah H452 the Tishbite, H8664 saying, H559 In the portion H2506 of Jezreel H3157 shall dogs H3611 eat H398 the flesh H1320 of Jezebel: H348
37 And the carcase H5038 of Jezebel H348 shall be as dung H1828 upon the face H6440 of the field H7704 in the portion H2506 of Jezreel; H3157 so that they shall not say, H559 This is Jezebel. H348
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 9
Commentary on 2 Kings 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
2Ki 9:1-23. Jehu Is Anointed.
1. Ramoth-gilead—a city of great importance to the Hebrew people, east of Jordan, as a fortress of defense against the Syrians. Jehoram had regained it (2Ki 8:29). But the Israelitish army was still encamped there, under the command of Jehu.
Elisha … called one of the children of the prophets—This errand referred to the last commission given to Elijah in Horeb (1Ki 19:16).
box of oil—(See 1Sa 10:1).
2. carry him to an inner chamber—both to ensure the safety of the messenger and to prevent all obstruction in the execution of the business.
3. I have anointed thee king over Israel—This was only a part of the message; the full announcement of which is given (2Ki 9:7-10).
flee, and tarry not—for fear of being surprised and overtaken by the spies or servants of the court.
4-6. So the young man … went to Ramoth-gilead—His ready undertaking of this delicate and hazardous mission was an eminent proof of his piety and obedience. The act of anointing being done through a commissioned prophet, was a divine intimation of his investiture with the sovereign power. But it was sometimes done long prior to the actual possession of the throne (1Sa 16:13); and, in like manner, the commission had, in this instance, been given also a long time before to Elijah [1Ki 19:16], who, for good reasons, left it in charge to Elisha; and he awaited God's time and command for executing it [Poole].
10. in the portion of Jezreel—that is, that had formerly been the vineyard of Naboth.
11. Is all well? &c.—Jehu's attendants knew that the stranger belonged to the order of the prophets by his garb, gestures, and form of address; and soldiers such as they very readily concluded such persons to be crackbrained, not only from the sordid negligence of their personal appearance and their open contempt of the world, but from the religious pursuits in which their whole lives were spent, and the grotesque actions which they frequently performed (compare Jer 29:26).
13. they hasted, and took every man his garment—the upper cloak which they spread on the ground, as a token of their homage to their distinguished commander (Mt 21:7).
top of the stairs—from the room where the prophet had privately anointed Jehu. That general returned to join his brother officers in the public apartment, who, immediately on learning his destined elevation, conducted him to the top of the stairs leading to the roof. This was the most conspicuous place of an Oriental structure that could be chosen, being at the very top of the gate building, and fully in view of the people and military in the open ground in front of the building [Kitto]. The popularity of Jehu with the army thus favored the designs of Providence in procuring his immediate and enthusiastic proclamation as king, and the top of the stairs was taken as a most convenient substitute for a throne.
14, 15. Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead—rather, "was keeping," guarding, or besieging it, with the greater part of the military force of Israel. The king's wounds had compelled his retirement from the scene of action, and so the troops were left in command of Jehu.
16. So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel—Full of ambitious designs, he immediately proceeded to cross the Jordan to execute his commission on the house of Ahab.
17-24. there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezreel—The Hebrew palaces, besides being situated on hills had usually towers attached to them, not only for the pleasure of a fine prospect, but as posts of useful observation. The ancient watchtower of Jezreel must have commanded a view of the whole region eastward, nearly down to the Jordan. Beth-shan stands on a rising ground about six or seven miles below it, in a narrow part of the plain; and when Jehu and his retinue reached that point between Gilboa and Beth-shan, they could be fully descried by the watchman on the tower. A report was made to Joram in his palace below. A messenger on horseback was quickly despatched down into the plain to meet the ambiguous host and to question the object of their approach. "Is it peace?" We may safely assume that this messenger would meet Jehu at the distance of three miles or more. On the report made of his being detained and turned into the rear of the still advancing troops, a second messenger was in like manner despatched, who would naturally meet Jehu at the distance of a mile or a mile and a half down on the plain. He also being turned into the rear, the watchman now distinctly perceived "the driving to be like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." The alarmed monarch, awakened to a sense of his impending danger, quickly summoned his forces to meet the crisis. Accompanied by Ahaziah, king of Judah, the two sovereigns ascended their chariots to make a feeble resistance to the impetuous onset of Jehu, who quickly from the plain ascended the steep northern sides of the site on which Jezreel stood, and the conflicting parties met "in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite," where Joram was quickly despatched by an arrow from the strong arm of Jehu. We were impressed with the obvious accuracy of the sacred historian; the localities and distances being such as seem naturally to be required by the incidents related, affording just time for the transactions to have occurred in the order in which they are recorded [Howe].
25. cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, &c.—according to the doom pronounced by divine authority on Ahab (1Ki 21:19), but which on his repentance was deferred to be executed on his son.
26. the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord—Although their death is not expressly mentioned, it is plainly implied in the confiscation of his property (see 1Ki 21:16).
2Ki 9:27-35. Ahaziah Is Slain.
27. Ahaziah—was grandnephew to King Joram, and great-grandson to King Ahab.
Ibleam—near Megiddo, in the tribe of Issachar (Jos 17:11; Jud 1:27); and Gur was an adjoining hill.
30. Jezebel painted her face—literally, "her eyes," according to a custom universal in the East among women, of staining the eyelids with a black powder made of pulverized antimony, or lead ore mixed with oil, and applied with a small brush on the border, so that by this dark ligament on the edge, the largeness as well as the luster of the eye itself was thought to be increased. Her object was, by her royal attire, not to captivate, but to overawe Jehu.
35. found no more of her than the skull, and the palms of her hands, &c.—The dog has a rooted aversion to prey on the human hands and feet.
2Ki 9:36, 37. Jezebel Eaten by Dogs.
36. This is the word of the Lord—(See 1Ki 21:23). Jehu's statement, however, was not a literal but a paraphrased quotation of Elijah's prophecy.