2 Kings 9

AND Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird... p... hy loins For haste, to take this opportunity when the Kings of Israel and Iudah were both absent, chap. 8. 29. and Iehu, as it seems, was left in Chief Command., and take this box of oyl in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.

And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimishi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber Partly, that the Work may not be hindred: and partly, for the security of thy own person. See v. 3..

Then take the box of oyl, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus says the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel This was not his whole Message; but the rest of it is particularly declared, v. 7, 8, 9, 10. and is to be understood here.: then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

¶ So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead Which is here noted, as an eminent act of obedience, whereby he run into a manifest hazard of his life..

And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting: and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.

And he arose, and went into the house i. e. Into an inner Chamber in the House, v. 2., and he poured the oyl on his head Thereby in Gods Name letting him in to the actual possession of the Kingdom. For if Elijah did before this time Anoint him, as some think, from 1 King. 19. 16. that unction did only confer a remote right to the Kingdom, as Samuel's unction did to David, 1 Sam. 16. 13. Though others think Elijah did perform that command by Elisha, to whom he lef... it in charge, and Elisha waited Gods time and command for the actual execution of it, which he received at this time., and said unto him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

And thou shalt smite i. e. Kill and destroy, as that word is used, Gen. 8. 21. and elsewhere. the house of Ahab thy master Thy former Lord and King., that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up, and left in Israel.

And I will make the house of Ahab, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel In that part of Land in or near the City, which belonged to Naboth., and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

¶ Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord To the rest of the Commanders and Officers there present., and one said unto him, Is all well Is not this unlucky Messenger come with some ill tidings?? Wherefore came this mad fellow They perceived him to be a Prophet by his habit, and gestures, and manner of speech. And these prophane Soldiers esteemed the Lords Prophets mad men; partly, because of their neglect of themselves, and contempt of all worldly Wealth and Honour, which the wise Men of this World so greedily seek, and of their strange and uncouth manner of living: partly, because of their Holy Exercises to which they devoted themselves, which they esteemed nothing but a Religious phrenzy: and partly, because of those unusual and seemingly ridiculous gestures and actions which the Prophets sometimes used in raptures of Spirit, or in the... ervours of Devotion. Compare Ier. 29. 26. Ioh. 10. 20. Act. 26. 24. to thee? And he said unto him, Ye know the man, and his communication You rightly guess that he was a mad man, and so it appears by his discourse with me, which was, after the manner of that sort of men, vain and impertinent, to tell me of my... ins, or of my duty, or such things as are not worth my speaking, or your hearing..

And they said, It is false There is something extraordinary and of great importance in his Message, as we plainly perceive by his calling thee into an inner Chamber, by his great expedition, and by his gesture and carriage., tell us now His concealment of the thing made them more greedy to know it.. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus says the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.

Then they hasted Being well pleased with the thing; partly, from the advantage which hereby they expected; pattly, from that desire of change which is in most mens natures; and principally, by Gods Providence, inclining their hearts to Iehu., and took every man his garment, and put it under him A Ceremony used in the Eastern parts towards Superiors, in token of great reverence to his Person, that they would not have his Feet to touch the ground, and that they put themselves and their concerns under his Feet, and into his disposa... See on Matth. 21. 7. on the top of the stairs In some high and eminent place, whence he might be seen and owned by all the Soldiers, who were called together upon this great occasion., and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram: (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead Which Interpreters conclude to have been taken by Ioram before this time, though the taking of it be not mentioned. This they gather, First, From the mention of the inner chamber, ver. 2. and of the top of the stairs here. Secondly, From ver. 15. let none go forth out of the city. But these Arguments seem not to be cogent. Not the former, because there might be some Suburbs or out-Buildings be longing to the City, or not far from it, which the Israelites might have in their possession. Nor the later, as we shall there see. And if it was taken, why should all Israel be there to keep it, for which a strong Garison was sufficient? The words therefore may be otherwise rendred, exactly according to the Hebrew, Ioram had kept, or did keep (to wit, by his Army left there) or put guards, or laid siege at, or to (for so the Particle Beth is oft used) Ramoth-Gilead. And therefore he had all Israel, i. e. all the Military Force of Israel, with him, that he might both maintain the siege, and withall oppose Hazael who sought to relieve it., he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria:

But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel, of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael When he came with an Army, either to retake the City taken by Ioram: or, to raise the Siege. king of Syria) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city Or, from the City; either from within the City, or from before it, from the Siege or Army., to go tell it in Jezreel That we may surprise him, and so more easily subdue him..

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel Accompanied with the Horsemen of his Army., (for Joram lay there Accompanied with the Horsemen of his Army.) and Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.

And there stood a watch-man 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 Enquire who it is comes, and if he come upon peaceable terms. For he feared, lest either the Syrians had prevailed there; or, some Sedition or Rebellion was raised against him; which the example of Libnah, and his own guilty Conscience, made him fear.?

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace What right hast thou, or thy Master that sent thee, to Peace?? turn thee behind me. And the watch-man told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thou behind me.

And the watch-man told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously As his temper is hasty and fierce, so is his March..

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 againt Jehu Or, to meet Iehu, to know his intentions, and by his presence to repress any Seditious inclinations which might be in Iehu or his followers., and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite In that Field which formerly belonged to Naboth, part whereof was inclosed by Ahab, and made a Garden..

And it came to pass when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace Dost thou come to me with a Peaceable mind, or in a way of Hostility? For now, when it was too late, he began to suspect some Treachery: which God hid from him before, to prepare him for destruction., Jehu? And he answered, What peace What cause hast thou to expect Peace, when thou hast so long abetted, and dost still abet, and allow thy Mother in her abominable practises?, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel, and her witchcrafts Which are to be understood, Either, First, Literally; Spiritual Whoredom, which is Idolatry, being oft punished with corporal. See ver. 30. and witchcraft there was oft practised by Idolaters. Or rather, Mystically and Spiritually, of her Idolatry, which is oft called whoredom, because it is a departing from God, to whom we are all tied by many obligations; and witchcraft, either, because it does so powerfully bewitch and deceive mens minds; or, because it is a manifest entring into Covenant with the Devil. For Idolatry being her chief sin, and the cause of all the rest, it seems improbable, that Iehu would omit that in the Inditement which he drew against her. He mentions not Ioram's, but his Mothers sins; partly, because they were more notorious and infamous: partly, because they were the principal cause why God inflicted, and he was come to execute these Judgments: partly, because by his connivence he had made them his own: and partly, because he could find no gross and odious matter wherewith to charge him, except about the worship of the Calves; which he forbore to mention, both lest it should lose his Interest amongst his Officers and Soldiers, who were devoted to that worship; and because he himself intended to keep it up. are so many?

And Joram turned his hands Either, that therewith he might turn the Reins of the Chariot: or, that by this motion he might direct his Charioteer to turn it from Iehu., and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms Between his shoulders, when he was turned, or turning back, the Chariot being probably open behind, as many times they were., and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

Then said Iohn 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 Which might be when Ahab went in his Chariot, attended with his Nobles or Chief Officers (of which these were two) to take a formal and solemn possession of Naboth's Land: for then the Prophet Elijah met him, and denounced this Judgment against him, 1 King. 21. 17, &c., the LORD laid this burden i. e. This grievous Prophecy: for such are oft and truly called burdens, as Isa. 13. 1. and 15. 1. Ier. 23. 33, 34. Nah. 1. 1. upon him.

Surely, I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons Who, as it seems, were killed with their Father by Iezabel's advice, to make the possession of the Vineyard more sure to Ahab, though it be not mentioned in its proper place, 1 Kin. 21. 13. For it is not unusual to bring in such fragments of History in succeeding Writings which were neglected in the History of those matters. Thus we read of the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, Amos 1. 1. which was not Recorded in his History in the Books of the Kings or Chronicles. Although he might well be charged with... aking away the lives of his Sons, because he took away the necessary supports of their lives., said the LORD, and I will requite thee in this plat Of which see the Notes on 1 King. 21. 19., says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground Where he shall lie unburied, and be a prey to the Dogs or Fowls, according to the prediction, 1 King. 21. 24., according to the word of the LORD.

¶ But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden-house By some secret way, hoping to escape, whilst they were busie about Ioram.: and Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also As you have done Ioram, for he also is of the House of Ahab, chap. 8. 18. in the chariot: and they did so They smote or wounded him, but not mortally; either, supposing that the wound was mortal; or, being more remiss in executing Iehu's Sentence against him, because they were not so much concerned in his, as in Ioram's Death; or, because they had some kindness for him, either for his own, or for Iehoshaphat's, sake. at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam: and he fled to Megiddo, and died there Quest. How does this agree with 2 Chron. 22. 9. He sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, for he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Iehu: and when they had slain him, &c? Ans. Either, First, Samaria is there to be understood, not of the City, but of the Kingdom, or Territory so called, 1 Kin. 13. 32. and elsewhere, in which Megiddo was: and so that may be noted to show that he could not flee into his own Kingdom where he might have been safe; but was forced to take up in another part of the Kingdom of Israel, in the Territory of Samaria, and there to hide himself. Or, Secondly, If Samaria be the City, then the History is briefly and imperfectly described here, and the defects supplied there, (the Book of Chronicles being in great part written for that end, to supply things omitted in the Book of Kings) and out of both, the History may be thus compleated: He fled first to Megiddo, and thence to Samaria, where he was caught, and thence brought to Iehu, and by his Sentence was put to death at Megiddo, either because Iehu was there at that time upon some occasion; or, for some other reason, which at this distance of time we cannot understand..

And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers, in the city of David Which they did by Iehu's permission for Iehoshaphat's sake, 2 Chron. 22. 9..

And in the eleventh year of Joram Of this see the Note on chap. 8. 25. the son of Ahab, began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

¶ And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her face, and tired her head Either, hoping that by her Majestick dress and carriage she might strike Iehu or his followers with such an awe, that they should not offer any injury to her person: or rather, because, perceiving her case to be desperate, and that she could not live, was resolved to die with honour and gallantry., and looked out at a window.

And as Jehu entred in at the gate Of the Kings Palace., she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master Remember that thy brother Traitor Zimri had but a very short enjoyment of the benefit of his Treason, and was speedily and severely punished for it by my Grand-Father Omri, 1 King. 16. 9, 16. and do thou expect the same from some of my posterity.?

And he lift up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side, who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs For such used to attend upon Queens in their Chambers..

And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down Being mercenary Creatures, they quickly comply with Iehu's command, Sacrificing her life to save their own., and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: And he trode her under foot.

And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go see now this cursed woman, and bury her This he suddenly commanded, either, because he had forgot the charge given him above, ver. 10. or, because having done his own business, he was careless about Gods Work, and the fulfilling of his threatning.: for she is a kings daughter See 1 King. 16. 31. He does not say, because she was a kings wife, left he should seem to show any respect to that wicked and cursed House of Ahab, which God had devoted to ignominy and utter destruction..

And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the scull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

Wherefore they came again, and told him: and he said, This is the word of the LORD This strange Providence brings that to his mind which he had forgotten, or did not regard., which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field, in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel These words are not extant in the place where this Prophecy is first mentioned, 1 King. 21. 23. but are here added, either by Iehu, by way of explication and amplification: or rather, because Elijah spoke them, though they be not there Recorded, as being for the substance of them contained in the former words; it being usual to insert some passages in following Writings, which had been omitted in the former..