2 Kings 9:11-13

B. THE ACCLAMATION OF HIS FELLOW OFFICERS 9:11-13

TRANSLATION

(11) And Jehu went out unto the servants of his master and one said unto him, Is all well? Why did this madman come unto you? And he said unto them, You know the man and his message. (12) And they said, Not so. Tell it, we pray you, to us. And he said, Thus and so did he say to me, saying, Thus says the LORD: I have anointed you for king over Israel. (13) And they hastened, and took each man his garment, and placed them under him on top of the stairs, and they blew the trumpet, and said, Jehu reigns!

COMMENTS

When Jehu emerged from the house, his colleagues quizzed him about the crazy-acting messenger who had disappeared almost as suddenly as he had appeared. Jehu suspected that the whole scene had been arranged beforehand by his junior officersthat the young prophet and the officers of the host had banded together to force him to make a move against the unpopular Jehoram (2 Kings 9:11). The officers firmly and sincerely disavowed any knowledge of what the young man might have said, and pressed their leader to relate it to them. Jehu then reported to them all that the prophet had said (2 Kings 9:12). The military commanders at Ramoth-gilead received the news enthusiastically and immediately began to render to Jehu royal homage by spreading their garments upon the dust for him to walk upon. They improvised an enthronement ceremony by having Jehu ascend the outside stairs which led to the upper story of the house. When he took his position on the top-most step, they blew the trumpets and proclaimed Jehu to be king (2 Kings 9:13).