2 Kings 9:17-27

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, 'Is it peace?' "

18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?' " And Jehu said, "¹What have you to do with peace? Turn behind * me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger came to them, but he did not return."

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

20 The watchman reported, "He came even to them, and he did not return; and ²the driving is like the driving of ³Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

21 Then Joram said, "Get ready." And they made his chariot ready. ⁴Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and found him in the ⁵property of Naboth the Jezreelite.

22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace, ⁶so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?"

23 So Joram reined * about * and fled and said to Ahaziah, "⁷There is treachery, O Ahaziah!"

24 And ⁸Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his arms; and the arrow went through his heart and he sank in his chariot.

25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Take him up and ⁹cast him into the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab his father, that the ¹⁰LORD laid this ¹¹oracle against him:

26 'Surely * ¹²I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and ¹³I will repay you in this property,' says the LORD. Now then, take and cast him into the property, according to the word of the LORD."

Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah

27 ¹⁴When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu pursued him and said, "Shoot him too, in the chariot." So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is at ¹⁵Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there.

2 Kings 9:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 9

In this chapter we are told that one of the sons of the prophets was sent by Elisha to anoint Jehu king of Israel, and to order him to smite and destroy the whole house of Ahab, 2Ki 9:1-10, which being done unto him, and the order received by Jehu, he acquainted his captains with it, 2Ki 9:11-15, who set out with him immediately to Jezreel, 2Ki 9:16-21, where he slew Joram king of Israel, 2Ki 9:22-26, and Ahaziah king of Judah, 2Ki 9:27-29, and Jezebel, the widow of Ahab, and mother of Joram, 2Ki 9:30-37.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 9:19, 22
• 2. 2 Samuel 18:27
• 3. 1 Kings 19:17
• 4. 2 Chronicles 22:7
• 5. 1 Kin 21:1-7, 15-19; 2 Kings 9:26
• 6. 1 Kings 16:30-33; 1 Kings 18:19; 2 Chronicles 21:13
• 7. 2 Kings 11:14
• 8. 1 Kings 22:34
• 9. 1 Kings 21:1
• 10. 1 Kin 21:19, 24-29
• 11. Isaiah 13:1
• 12. 1 Kings 21:13, 19
• 13. 2 Kings 9:21, 25
• 14. 2 Chronicles 22:7, 9
• 15. Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "multitude"
• [b] Lit "multitude"
• [c] Lit "told, saying"
• [d] Lit "said"
• [e] Lit "told, saying"
• [f] Heb "Jehoram"
• [g] Lit "Yoke the chariot"
• [h] Heb "Jehoram"
• [i] Lit "portion"
• [j] Heb "Jehoram"
• [k] Lit "said"
• [l] Heb "Jehoram"
• [m] Lit "turned his hands"
• [n] Lit "filled his hand with the bow"
• [o] Lit "smote"
• [p] Heb "Jehoram"
• [q] Lit "out at"
• [r] Lit "portion"
• [s] Lit "I and you"
• [t] Lit "portion"
• [u] Lit "portion"
• [v] Lit "smite"