2 Kings 9:17

17 The guard standing on the tower at Jezreel saw a crowd of people coming with Jehu. He said, "I see a crowd of people." Joram said, "Take a chariot driver. Send him out to meet them to ask, ‘Do you come in peace?'"

2 Kings 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 9:17

And there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezreel
Who could see afar off when an enemy was coming, and his business was to give notice of it; and especially he was now on his watch tower, because the king was there, and this was necessary for his safety: and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a
company;
a troop of soldiers, though he did not know who they were, and to whom they belonged, whether they were Syrians or Israelites; which was reported to the king: and Joram said, take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him
say, is it peace?
he might fear some ill had befallen his army at Ramothgilead, and the Syrians had got the advantage of them; or they had made an irruption into his country, and were coming to attack him at Jezreel; or there was an insurrection among his own people.

2 Kings 9:17 In-Context

15 but King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to recover from wounds that the Arameans had given him when he fought Hazael. So Jehu said, "If this is the way you feel, then don't let anyone escape from the city to talk about it in Jezreel."

16 Then Jehu got on a chariot and drove to Jezreel because Joram was resting there. Judah's King Ahaziah had also come to visit Joram.

17 The guard standing on the tower at Jezreel saw a crowd of people coming with Jehu. He said, "I see a crowd of people." Joram said, "Take a chariot driver. Send him out to meet them to ask, ‘Do you come in peace?'"

18 So the driver went to meet him and said, "The king asks, ‘Do you come in peace?'" Jehu replied, "What do you care about peace? Come around and follow me." Meanwhile, the tower guard reported, "The messenger met them, but he isn't returning."

19 The king sent a second driver. He came to them and said, "The king asks, ‘Do you come in peace?'" Jehu said, "What do you care about peace? Come around and follow me."