2 Kings 9:18

18 So the horseman went to meet him; he said, "Thus says the king, "Is it peace?' " Jehu responded, "What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me." The sentinel reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not 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 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, where Joram was lying ill. King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.

17 In Jezreel, the sentinel standing on the tower spied the company of Jehu arriving, and said, "I see a company." Joram said, "Take a horseman; send him to meet them, and let him say, "Is it peace?' "

18 So the horseman went to meet him; he said, "Thus says the king, "Is it peace?' " Jehu responded, "What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me." The sentinel reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."

19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "Thus says the king, "Is it peace?' " Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me."

20 Again the sentinel reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac."