2 Kings Chapter 9
1 Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, "Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
2 When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him rise up from amongst his brothers, and take him to an inner room.
3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 'The LORD says, "I have anointed you king over Israel." ' Then open the door, flee, and don't wait."
4 So the young man, even the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, "I have a message for you, captain." Jehu said, "To which of us all?" He said, "To you, O captain."
6 He arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
7 You must strike your master Ahab's house, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
8 For the whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.
9 I will make Ahab's house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
10 The dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.' " Then he opened the door and fled.
11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" He said to them, "You know the man and how he talks."
12 They said, "That is a lie. Tell us now." He said, "He said to me, 'The LORD says, I have anointed you king over Israel.' "
13 Then they hurried, and each man took his cloak, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king."
14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;
15 but king Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, "If this is your thinking, then let no one escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel."
16 So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?' "
18 So one went on horseback to meet him, and said, "the king says, 'Is it peace?' " Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!" The watchman said, "The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back."
19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, "The king says, 'Is it peace?' " Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!"
20 The watchman said, "He came to them, and isn't coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
21 Joram said, "Get ready!" They got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him on Naboth the Jezreelite's land.
22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?"
23 Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "This is treason, Ahaziah!"
24 Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden on him:
26 'Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD; 'and I will repay you in this plot of ground,' says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the LORD's word."
27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, "Strike him also in the chariot!" They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.
28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in David's city.
29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.
30 When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out at the window.
31 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?"
32 He lifted up his face to the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
33 He said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.
34 When he had come in, he ate and drank. Then he said, "See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter."
35 They went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.
36 Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, "This is the LORD's word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel,
37 and the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field on Jezreel's land, so that they won't say, "This is Jezebel." ' "
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2 Kings Chapter 9 Guide
The hour had come to carry out the sentence of God on the house of Ahab. The prophet sent one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu. This Jehu, as his history reveals, was a fitting instrument for swift and relentless judgment. He was a furious driver, which was symbolic of his character. He halted at nothing, but swept like a whirlwind from point to point until the things he desired were accomplished. This is startlingly manifest in this chapter.
On the way, having been anointed directly to his work, he slew Joram with his own hands, and, quickly moving back, encompassed the death of Ahaziah, and then proceeded to where Jezebel was still living. Pronouncing upon her the very doom of God, he carried out in detail the sentence pronounced long ago.
It is indeed a terrible chapter in which the truth of the divine government is written no longer in the gentle words of patient mercy, but in flames of fire. At last the day of God's patience had passed, and the devouring sword fell on the chief persons in the household of Ahab, who had done so much to encompass the ruin of His ancient people.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Kings Chapter 9 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Elisha sends to anoint Jehu. -- (1-10)
- Jehu and the captains. -- (11-15)
- Joram and Ahaziah slain by Jehu. -- (16-29)
- Jezebel eaten by dogs. -- (30-37)
Verses 1-10
In these and the like events, we must acknowledge the secret working of God, disposing men to fulfil his purposes respecting them. Jehu was anointed king over Israel, by the Lord's special choice. The Lord still had a remnant of his people, and would yet preserve his worship among them. Of this Jehu was reminded. He was commanded to destroy the house of Ahab, and, as far as he acted in obedience to God, and upon right principles, he needed not to regard reproach or opposition. The murder of God's prophets is strongly noticed. Jezebel persisted in idolatry and enmity to Jehovah and his servants, and her iniquity was now full.
Verses 11-15
Those who faithfully deliver the Lord's message to sinners, have in all ages been treated as madmen. Their judgment, speech, and conduct are contrary to those of other men; they endure much in pursuit of objects, and are influenced by motives, into which the others cannot enter. But above all, the charge is brought by the worldly and ungodly of all sorts, who are mad indeed; while the principles and practice of the devoted servants of God, prove to be wise and reasonable. Some faith in the word of God, seems to have animated Jehu to this undertaking.
Verses 16-29
Jehu was a man of eager spirit. The wisdom of God is seen in the choice of those employed in his work. But it is not for any man's reputation to be known by his fury. He that has rule over his own spirit, is better than the mighty. Joram met Jehu in the portion of Naboth. The circumstances of events are sometimes ordered by Divine Providence to make the punishment answer to the sin, as face answers to face in a glass. The way of sin can never be the way of peace, Isa 57:21. What peace can sinners have with God? No peace so long as sin is persisted in; but when it is repented of and forsaken, there is peace. Joram died as a criminal, under the sentence of the law. Ahaziah was joined with the house of Ahab. He was one of them; he had made himself so by sin. It is dangerous to join evil-doers; we shall be entangled in guilt and misery by it.
Verses 30-37
Instead of hiding herself, as one afraid of Divine vengeance, Jezebel mocked at fear. See how a heart, hardened against God, will brave it out to the last. There is not a surer presage of ruin, than an unhumbled heart under humbling providences. Let those look at Jezebel's conduct and fate, who use arts to seduce others to commit wickedness, and to draw them aside from the ways of truth and righteousness. Jehu called for aid against Jezebel. When reformation-work is on foot, it is time to ask, Who sides with it? Her attendants delivered her up. Thus she was put to death. See the end of pride and cruelty, and say, The Lord is righteous. When we pamper our bodies, let us think how vile they are; shortly they will be a feast for worms under ground, or beasts above ground. May we all flee from that wrath which is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.