2 Kings 9:3

3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus says the LORD, ¹I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger."

2 Kings 9:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 9:3

Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head
When in the chamber together alone:

and say, thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel;
which was done, not with the anointing oil in the temple, which could not be come by; and with which, as Kimchi from their Rabbins says, only the kings of the house of David were anointed, and they only when there was a division, or the crown was translated to another family, as was the case now; but with common oil, or the oil of balsam, such as the prophet had in his house:

then open the door and flee, and tarry not;
lest he should be examined by the captains, and come into danger; though before he went out he was to say what is recorded in ( 2 Kings 9:7-10 ) .

2 Kings 9:3 In-Context

1 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.

2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber.

3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger."

4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.

5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, "I have a word for you, O commander." And Jehu said, "To which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O commander."

Cross References

• 1. [1 Kings 19:16; 2 Chronicles 22:7]