2 Kings 9:18

18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it shalom? Yehu said, What have you to do with shalom? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back.

2 Kings 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 9:18

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, thus
saith the king, is it peace?
&c.] Are things well in the army, or any disturbance in the kingdom? are you come as friends or enemies? and Jehu said, what hast thou to do with peace?
or to ask such a question: turn thee behind me;
which he was obliged to do, Jehu having such a company of soldiers with him; and this he did, that he might carry no tidings to Joram, that he might not know as yet who he and his company were: and the watchman told, saying, the messenger came to them, but he
cometh not again;
of this he sent word to the king what he had observed.

2 Kings 9:18 In-Context

16 So Yehu rode in a chariot, and went to Yizre`el; for Yoram lay there. Achazyah king of Yehudah was come down to see Yoram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Yizre`el, and he spied the company of Yehu as he came, and said, I see a company. Yoram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it shalom?

18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it shalom? Yehu said, What have you to do with shalom? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, 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, Thus says the king, Is it shalom? Yehu answered, What have you to do with shalom? turn you behind me.

20 The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn't coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Yehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.