2 Kings 9: Jehu is anointed, and Joram, Ahaziah and Jezebel are killed
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What happens?
Elisha sends one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth Gilead with a flask of oil. The young man takes Jehu into the house, anoints him king over Israel and gives him Yahweh's message: he is to strike the house of Ahab, and the dogs will eat Jezebel in Jezreel. The commanders proclaim Jehu king, and he drives to Jezreel, where King Joram is recovering from his wounds and Ahaziah king of Judah has come to see him. Jehu shoots Joram through the heart and has his body thrown on the plot of Naboth the Jezreelite; Ahaziah flees and is struck, and dies at Megiddo. Jezebel paints her eyes and calls to Jehu from a window; at his word two or three eunuchs throw her down, and when they go to bury her, only her skull, her feet and the palms of her hands are left. Jehu says this is the word Yahweh spoke by Elijah.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. In verses 1 to 3 Elisha gives the young prophet his orders, with the message he is to say ("Yahweh says"). In verses 6 to 10 the young prophet gives Jehu Yahweh's message ("Yahweh, the God of Israel, says"); the words are his, as one sent with the message, so they are not in gold. The young man and Jehu speak in verse 5, and Jehu and his fellow officers in verses 11 and 12, where Jehu repeats what the young man said. The officers cry "Jehu is king" in verse 13. Jehu speaks in verses 15, 18, 19, 22, 25 to 27 and 32 to 34; in verses 25 and 26 he tells the words Yahweh spoke against Ahab, and in verses 36 and 37 the word Yahweh spoke by Elijah. Those are Jehu's report, so they are not in gold. The watchman speaks in verses 17, 18 and 20, Joram in verses 17 and 21 to 23, the two horsemen in verses 18 and 19, and Jezebel in verse 31. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Elisha 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.
In plain English: Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Put your belt on (literally: gird up your loins), take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
Good to know: "The sons of the prophets" are first named in (see the note there). In Yahweh told Elijah, "Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel". Here it is Elisha who sends one of the sons of the prophets to do it.
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2When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room.
In plain English: When you get there, look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, have him get up from among his brothers, and take him into an inner room.
Good to know: This Jehu is not the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani of . 1 Kings 19:16 calls him "Jehu the son of Nimshi"; here and in verse 14 he is "the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi", and in verse 20 the watchman calls him "the son of Nimshi".
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3Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Yahweh says, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door, flee, and don’t wait.”
In plain English: Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'Yahweh says, "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door and run. Do not wait."
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4So the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
In plain English: So the young man, the young prophet (or: the young man, the prophet's servant; see the note), went to Ramoth Gilead.
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew says "the young man" twice: word for word, "the young man, the young man the prophet". The word is na'ar, which the dictionary gives as "a boy ... by implication, a servant".
What changes: Read as this Bible has it, the young man himself is a young prophet. Read the other way, he is the young man who serves the prophet Elisha. Either way, he is the one Elisha sent in verse 1.
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5When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, “I have a message for you, captain.” Jehu said, “To which one of us?” He said, “To you, O captain.”
In plain English: When he came, look, the commanders of the army were sitting there. He said, "I have a message (literally: a word) for you, commander." Jehu said, "For which one of us?" He said, "For you, commander."
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6He arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel.
In plain English: He got up and went into the house. Then the young man poured the oil on Jehu's head and said to him, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: 'I have anointed you king over Yahweh's people, over Israel.
Good to know: The words "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says" in verses 6 to 10 are spoken by the young prophet, giving Yahweh's message to Jehu, so they are not in gold. In verse 3 Elisha told him to say only, "I have anointed you king over Israel"; in verses 7 to 10 the young man says more. The text does not say whether Elisha had told him more.
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7You 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 Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel.
In plain English: You are to strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all Yahweh's servants, at the hand of Jezebel (literally: from the hand of Jezebel).
Good to know: tells that "Jezebel cut off Yahweh's prophets", and Obadiah hid one hundred of them in caves.
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8For 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.
In plain English: The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every male (literally: everyone who urinates against a wall), both the one held back and the one set free (this Bible: him who is shut up and him who is left at large) in Israel.
Good to know: These are the words Elijah spoke to Ahab in and : every male cut off, and Ahab's house made like the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha. On "him who is shut up and him who is left at large", see the note on 1 Kings 21:21.
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9I will make Ahab’s house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
In plain English: 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.
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10The 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.
In plain English: The dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground (or: in the portion) of Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her.'" Then he opened the door and ran.
Good to know: In the text gives these words about Jezebel: "The dogs will eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel" (see the note there). Verses 35 to 37 tell how it came about.
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11When Jehu came out to the servants of his lord and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” He said to them, “You know the man and how he talks.”
In plain English: When Jehu came out to his master's servants, one of them said to him, "Is everything well (literally: Is it peace)? Why did this madman come to you?" He said to them, "You know the man and the way he talks."
The Hebrew word: "Madman" is from shaga, which the dictionary gives as "to rave through insanity". uses shaga too, for "every man who is crazy and makes himself a prophet". In verse 20 the watchman says Jehu drives "with madness", with a related word, shiggaon, which the dictionary gives as "craziness". The text does not say why the officers called the young man this.
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12They said, “That is a lie. Tell us now.” He said, “He said to me, ‘Yahweh says, I have anointed you king over Israel.’”
In plain English: They said, "That is a lie. Tell us, please." He said, "This is what he said to me (literally: like this and like this he said to me): 'Yahweh says, I have anointed you king over Israel.'"
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13Then 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.”
In plain English: Then they hurried. Each man took his cloak and put it under him on the top of the stairs (literally: on the bone of the steps). They blew the trumpet and said, "Jehu is king!"
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14So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;
In plain English: So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. (Joram, he and all Israel, had been guarding (this Bible: defending) Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Syria (Hebrew: Aram);
Good to know: and told how the Syrians wounded Joram at Ramoth Gilead (8:29 says "at Ramah"), and how Ahaziah went down to see him in Jezreel. In this chapter the Hebrew writes the king's name two ways: Joram (verses 14, 16 and 29) and Jehoram (verses 15, 17 and 21 to 24). This Bible prints Joram each time.
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15but 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.”
In plain English: but King Joram (Hebrew here: Jehoram) had gone back to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds the Syrians had given him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, "If this is what you want (literally: if it is your soul), then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell it in Jezreel."
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16So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
In plain English: So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was lying there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
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17Now 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?’”
In plain English: The watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu's company as he came, and said, "I see a company." Joram said, "Take a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'"
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18So 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.”
In plain English: So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "The king says, 'Is it peace?'" Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn and fall in behind me." The watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."
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19Then 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!”
In plain English: Then he sent out a second man on horseback, who came to them and said, "The king says, 'Is it peace?'" Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn and fall in behind me."
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20The 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.”
In plain English: The watchman reported, "He reached them, and he is not coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, because he drives furiously (literally: with madness)."
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21Joram 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.
In plain English: Joram said, "Harness the chariot (this Bible: Get ready)!" They harnessed his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot. They went out to meet Jehu, and found him at the plot of land of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Good to know: Naboth's vineyard is the story of 1 Kings 21. In Elijah was sent to tell Ahab, "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood".
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22When 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?”
In plain English: When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace can there be, as long as the prostitution (or: unfaithfulness; see the note) of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft (literally: her sorceries) are so many?"
The Hebrew words: "Prostitution" is zenunim, which the dictionary gives as "adultery; figuratively, idolatry". This Bible says "prostitution" or a longer form in 9 of the 10 verses that use it. "Witchcraft" is kesheph, which the dictionary gives as "magic".
What changes: Read the first way, Jehu speaks of Jezebel's prostitution. Read the second way, he speaks of her turning to other gods: tells that Ahab married her and then "went and served Baal". The text does not say which Jehu means.
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23Joram turned his hands and fled, and said to Ahaziah, “This is treason, Ahaziah!”
In plain English: Joram turned around (literally: turned his hands) and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"
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24Jehu 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.
In plain English: Jehu drew his bow with all his strength (literally: filled his hand with the bow) and struck Joram between his arms. The arrow came out through his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.
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25Then 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, Yahweh laid this burden on him:
In plain English: Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Pick him up and throw him into the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how, when you and I were riding side by side (literally: in pairs) behind Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden (or: this utterance; see the note) on him:
The Hebrew word: "Burden" is massa, which the dictionary gives as "a burden; specifically, tribute ... figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom". It is in 59 verses. This Bible says "burden" in 35 of them, or "burden" and its longer forms in 40.
What changes: Read as "a burden", Yahweh laid a heavy load on Ahab. Read as "an utterance", Yahweh spoke a word of doom against him. Either way, the words follow in verse 26.
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26‘Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,’ says Yahweh; ‘and I will repay you in this plot of ground,’ says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to Yahweh’s word.”
In plain English: 'Surely I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday (or: last night),' says Yahweh, 'and I will repay you on this plot of ground,' says Yahweh. So now pick him up and throw him onto the plot of ground, as Yahweh's word said."
Good to know: These are Jehu's words, telling what Yahweh said, so they are not in gold. The story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21 does not speak of his sons; this verse does. "Says Yahweh" is word for word "the oracle of Yahweh": neum, which the dictionary gives as "an oracle".
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27But 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.
In plain English: When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan (or: the road of the garden house). Jehu chased after him and said, "Strike him too, in the chariot!" They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there.
Good to know: Beth Haggan can be read as a place name, or as "the garden house": gan is "a garden". tells Ahaziah's death another way: "they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu and killed him". The text does not explain how the two accounts fit together.
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28His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in David’s city.
In plain English: His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers (or: ancestors) in the City of David.
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29In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.
In plain English: Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. says Ahaziah began to reign "in the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab". The text does not explain the difference.
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30When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out at the window.
In plain English: When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She painted her eyes (literally: put eye paint on her eyes), adorned her head, and looked down through the window.
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31As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?”
In plain English: As Jehu came in at the gate, she said, "Do you come in peace (literally: Is it peace), Zimri, murderer of your master (Hebrew: his master)?"
Good to know: Zimri killed his master, King Elah, and reigned only seven days (, ); when the city was taken, he burned the king's house over himself and died ().
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32He lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
In plain English: He looked up at the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs (or: court officials) looked down at him.
The Hebrew word: "Eunuchs" is saris, which the dictionary gives as "a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state". It is in 42 verses: this Bible says "eunuch" or a longer form in 28, and "officer" or a longer form in 15.
What changes: Read as "eunuchs", these men were eunuchs. Read as "officials", they were officers of the court. The text does not say which.
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33He 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.
In plain English: He said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down. Some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot.
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34When 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.”
In plain English: He went in, and ate and drank. Then he said, "Take care of this cursed woman now, and bury her, because she is a king's daughter."
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35They went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.
In plain English: They went to bury her, but they found nothing of her except the skull, the feet and the palms of her hands.
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36Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is Yahweh’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,
In plain English: So they came back and told him. He said, "This is Yahweh's word, which he spoke through (literally: by the hand of) his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'On the plot (or: in the portion) of Jezreel the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel,
Good to know: These are Jehu's words, telling the word Yahweh spoke by Elijah, so they are not in gold. In the words were "by the rampart of Jezreel" (see the note there); here Jehu says "on the plot of Jezreel", and the words of verse 37 are not in 1 Kings 21.
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37and the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the surface of the field on Jezreel’s land, so that they won’t say, “This is Jezebel.”’”
In plain English: and Jezebel's body will be like dung on the face of the field in the plot of Jezreel, so that no one will say, "This is Jezebel."'"
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