2 Kings 9:14-26

2 Kings 9:14-26

[14] So Jehu  the son  of Jehoshaphat  the son  of Nimshi  conspired  against Joram.  had kept  Ramothgilead,  he and all Israel,  because  of Hazael  king  of Syria.  [15] But king  Joram  was returned  to be healed  in Jezreel  of the wounds  which the Syrians  had given  him, when he fought  with Hazael  king  of Syria.)  And Jehu  said,  If it be  your minds,  then let none  go forth  nor escape  out of the city  to tell  it in Jezreel.  [16] So Jehu  rode in a chariot,  to Jezreel;  for Joram  lay  there. And Ahaziah  king  of Judah  was come down  to see  Joram.  [17] And there stood  a watchman  on the tower  in Jezreel,  and he spied  the company  of Jehu  as he came,  and said,  I see  a company.  And Joram  said,  Take  an horseman,  and send  to meet  them, and let him say,  Is it peace?  [18] one on horseback  to meet  him, and said,  the king,  Is it peace?  And Jehu  said,  What hast thou to do with peace?  turn  thee behind  me. And the watchman  told,  saying,  The messenger  came  to them, but he cometh not again.  [19] Then he sent out  a second  on horseback,  which came  to them, and said,  the king,  Is it peace?  And Jehu  answered,  What hast thou to do with peace?  turn  thee behind  me. [20] And the watchman  told,  saying,  He came  even unto them, and cometh not again:  and the driving  of Jehu  the son  of Nimshi;  for he driveth  furiously.  [21] And Joram  said,  Make ready.  And his chariot  was made ready.  And Joram  king  of Israel  and Ahaziah  king  of Judah  went out,  each  in his chariot,  and they went out  against  Jehu,  and met  him in the portion  of Naboth  the Jezreelite.  [22] And it came to pass, when Joram  saw  Jehu,  that he said,  Is it peace,  Jehu?  And he answered,  What peace,  so long as  the whoredoms  of thy mother  Jezebel  and her witchcrafts  are so many?  [23] And Joram  turned  his hands,  and fled,  and said  to Ahaziah,  There is treachery,  O Ahaziah.  [24] And Jehu  drew a bow  with his full  strength,  and smote  Jehoram  between his arms,  and the arrow  went out  at his heart,  and he sunk down  in his chariot.  [25] Then said  Jehu to Bidkar  his captain,  Take up,  and cast  him in the portion  of the field  of Naboth  the Jezreelite:  for remember  how that, when I and thou rode  together  after  Ahab  his father,  laid  this burden  upon him; [26] Surely I have seen  yesterday  the blood  of Naboth,  and the blood  of his sons,  saith  the LORD;  and I will requite  thee in this plat,  saith  the LORD.  Now therefore take  and cast  him into the plat  of ground, according to the word  of the LORD. 

What does 2 Kings 9:14-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Israel had evidently retaken Ramoth-gilead after Ben-Hadad I had defeated Ahab there12years earlier. Israel was now defending it against the attacking Arameans ( 2 Kings 9:14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?" were asking if Israel had successfully defended Ramoth-gilead ( 2 Kings 9:17; 2 Kings 9:19; 2 Kings 9:22). Jehu"s reply to the two horsemen, "What have you to do with peace?" ( 2 Kings 9:18-19) was somewhat enigmatic and meant, "Don"t worry." He did not answer their question. They probably concluded that he did not want to say anything until he saw the king. When Joram asked him about peace, Jehu replied that there could be no peace for Israel as long as Israel"s leaders allowed Jezebel"s sins to continue ( 2 Kings 9:22). Jezebel was a spiritual harlot, having pursued many idols. Her witchcraft (Heb. kesapim, lit. sorceries) involved seeking information from demonic forces (cf. Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:12; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4). This was a capital offense under the Mosaic Law ( Exodus 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Joram realized Jehu"s words spelled treason, and he began to flee. He had evidently not worn his armor, and Jehu killed him easily with an arrow ( 2 Kings 9:24). Jehu desired to fulfill the prophecy of Ahab"s punishment ( 2 Kings 9:26; cf. 1 Kings 21:21-22). God had mitigated Ahab"s judgment because he had repented ( 1 Kings 21:29), but now his descendants were reaping the consequences, as God had promised. 2 Kings 9:26 adds that Jezebel had executed Naboth"s sons, too. The writer did not record this earlier. Perhaps she sought to preclude any claims that Naboth"s descendants could have made to his lands later. These additional murders also violated the Mosaic Law ( Leviticus 25:25; Numbers 36:7).