2 Kings 9:3

3 and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!”

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 Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead,

2 and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends,

3 and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!”

4 So the young prophet did as he was told and went to Ramoth-gilead.

5 When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. “I have a message for you, Commander,” he said. “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. “For you, Commander,” he replied.