2 Kings 9:13

_THEN THEY HASTED, AND TOOK EVERY MAN HIS GARMENT, AND PUT IT UNDER HIM ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, AND BLEW WITH TRUMPETS, SAYING, JEHU IS KING._ Hasted, and took every man his garment. The upper cloak, which they spread on the ground as a token of their homage to their distinguished commander (Matthew 21:7). TOP OF THE STAIRS - from the room where the prophet had privately anointed Jehu. That general returned to join his brother officers in the public apartment, who, immediately on learning his destined elevation, conducted him to the top of the stairs leading to the roof, and which was the most conspicuous place of an Oriental structure that could be chosen, being at the very top of the gate-building, and fully in view of the people and military in the open ground in front of the building (Kitto). The popularity of Jehu with the army thus favoured the designs

11-15 Those who faithfully deliver the Lord's message to sinners, have in all ages been treated as madmen. Their judgment, speech, and conduct are contrary to those of other men; they endure much in pursuit of objects, and are influenced by motives, into which the others cannot enter. But above all, the charge is brought by the worldly and ungodly of all sorts, who are mad indeed; while the principles and practice of the devoted servants of God, prove to be wise and reasonable. Some faith in the word of God, seems to have animated Jehu to this undertaking....

Verse 2 Kings 9:13. _TOOK EVERY MAN HIS GARMENT_] This was a ceremony by which they acknowledged him as _king_; and it was by such a ceremony that the multitudes acknowledged Jesus Christ for the _Messiah and_ _King of Israel_, a little before his passion: see Matthew 21:7, and the note there. The ceremony was expressive: "As we put our garments under his feet, so we place every thing under his authority, and acknowledge ourselves his servants." _ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS_] The _Chaldee_, the _rabbins_, and several interpreters, understand this of the _public sun-dial_; which in those ancient times, was formed of _steps_ like _stairs_, each _step_ serving to indicate, by its _shadow_, one _hour_, or such division of time

TOOK EVERY MAN HIS GARMENT, AND PUT IT UNDER HIM - The outer cloak of the Jews was a sort of large shawl or blanket, which might well serve for a carpet of state. Such a carpet is commonly represented on the seat of an Assyrian throne in the Nineveh sculptures. The stairs rose against the walI of the house from the pavement of the court to the level of the upper story, or of the roof. At the top of the stairs would be a flat platform, and this would form a throne, on which the new king could exhibit himself to his subjects. BLEW WITH TRUMPETS - On this recognized part of the ceremony of a coronation, see 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Samuel 15:10;...

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 9:1 THE ANOINTING OF JEHU. His MURDER OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH. THE DEATH OF JEZEBEL. 2 KINGS 9:1 Elisha is still the primary figure in the historical drama; but at this point his personality merges in the general account of the kingdom of Israel, which it is one of the objects of the writer to trace from beginning to end. Elisha here performs his last public act, being commissioned, and carrying out his commission, to transfer the kingdom of Israel from the unworthy dynasty of Omri, which on account of its p

THEN THEY HASTED, AND TOOK EVERY MAN HIS GARMENT, AND PUT IT UNDER HIM ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS,.... That is, under Jehu, that he might be raised higher, and put on an eminence above them, agreeably to the high rank and dignity he was raised unto, and which they hereby acknowledged; and that he might be conspicuous to others: and this was done upon the top of the stairs, the first and highest of them, which led up either to an upper room, or to a scaffold erected for this purpose; the Targum is, on the degree of hours, a sun dial, a stone on which were engraven the twelve hours of the day, and which, by the sun's shadow on it, it might be known what hour it was; and at, or upon this stone, they laid their clothes, for Jehu to sit upon; not their wearing apparel, but carpets, or pieces of tapestry, or such like things: AND BLEW WITH TRUMPETS, SAYING, JEHU IS KING; and they might come the...

III. THE PERIOD OF DECLENSION AND APOSTASY 1. Jehu, King of Israel and His Deeds CHAPTER 9:11-37 _ 1. Jehu is king (2 Kings 9:11)_ 2. Jehoram, King of Israel slain (2 Kings 9:14) 3. Ahaziah slain (2 Chronicles 22:9) 4. Jezebel and her end (2 Kings 9:30) Jehu revealed the secret anointing as King over Israel, and under the blare of the trumpets the army hails him as King. “Jehu is King!” Oh! for that day when our Lord Jesus will be hailed as King to begin His righteous judgment over the earth. The Assyrian monuments bear interesting testimony to a good deal of the histo

2 KINGS 9:1 TO 2 KINGS 10:31. THE REVOLUTION AND OVERTHROW OF THE BAAL WORSHIP. This spirited narrative is probably derived from the same source as 1 Kings 20, 22; and, if we strike out the short Deuteronomic portion (2 Kings 9:7), we cannot fail to notice the detachment of the writer, who neither condemns nor approves, but merely relates the tragedy. Hosea (Hosea 1:4), a little more than a century later, evidently condemns the whole transaction, and traces the fall of Jehu's house to the blood of Jezreel. This is in strong contrast with the Deuteronomic passage,...

STAIRS. steps. Acts 21:30; Acts 21:40. IS KING. reigneth....

_Then they hasted_ The LXX. gives -they heard it and hastened". This action on the part of the generals shews how little they were attached to the house of Ahab. _took every man his garment_ The loose Oriental robe which could easily be laid aside, and which they probably had laid aside or allowed to fall off during the consultation. _and put_it _under him_ They made a seat for Jehu by folding their garments, and piling them together. The expression -under him" shews what use was made of all the garments. Some have thought that the robes were used as a carpet, and laid all the way up the stairs from the court where they had been in conference. The stairs were outside the building and went from the courtyard up to the roof. Thus Jehu would have walked in state to the place which they chose for the proclamation. But the conspirators were in too great haste for this sort of parade. They e...