JEHU AND HIS BLOODSHED This chapter relates the anointing of Jehu by order of Elisha; and the death of Jehoram (of Israel), Ahaziah (of Judah), and Jezebel. I. BOX] RV 'VIAL.' For the use of oil in anointing sovereigns see 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13. RA-MOTH-GILEAD] The Israelite army was on gua... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM.. OF BAASHA] Both these families had been extirpated: 1 Kings 15:29; 1 Kings 16:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN.. JEZREEL] the scene of Ahab's murder of Naboth (1 Kings 21). II. THIS MAD _fellow_] The wild demeanour and excited utterances of the prophets (see 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 19:20.) particularly exposed them to this reproach: cp. Jeremiah 29:26. YE KNOW THE MAN] Probably the sons of the prophets,... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT _IT_ UNDER HIM] either for a cushion (as an extemporised throne) or for a carpet. ON THE TOP OF THE STAIRS] RM 'on the bare steps'; these would be outside the house.... [ Continue Reading ]
_IS IT_ peace?] i.e 'is all well?' (the same word as in 2 Kings 9:11 and in 2 Kings 5:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN THEE BEHIND ME] The command had the same object as that in 2 Kings 9:15, viz. to prevent warning being given.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOREDOMS] i.e. the practice of idolatry: see Judges 2:17; Hosea 2:2. WITCHCRAFTS] i.e. dealings with wizards and diviners (prohibited in Exodus 22:18 : cp. also Deuteronomy 18:11; Leviticus 20:27).... [ Continue Reading ]
TURNED HIS HANDS] i.e. to wheel his chariot about.... [ Continue Reading ]
RODE TOGETHER AFTER AHAB] i.e. behind him in the same chariot, as his attendants. LAID THIS BURDEN UPON HIM] RM 'uttered this oracle against him.' The term 'burden' is similarly used of a prophetic utterance in Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 15:1; Isaiah 17:1; Nahum 1:1; Habakkuk 1:1, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLOOD OF HIS SONS] The execution of Naboth's sons has not previously been mentioned; but at this period a man's guilt was held to attach to his children likewise (the sense of individual responsibility being only imperfectly developed), and his offence was generally expiated by their punishment... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GARDEN HOUSE] better, 'Bethgan,' a place on the direct road from Jezreel to the S. IBLEAM] about half-way between Samaria and Jezreel. A different account of Ahaziah's death is given in 2 Chronicles 22:9; Megiddo] on the ridge of Carmel.... [ Continue Reading ]
ELEVENTH] in 2 Kings 8:25; 'twelfth.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PAINTED HER FACE] RV 'painted her eyes' (eyelids), i.e. with a preparation of antimony, to make them appear larger and more brilliant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Had ZIMRI PEACE, etc.] RV 'is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master's murderer': see 1 Kings 16:9. Perhaps Jezebel, by reminding Jehu of the fate of Zimri, wished to suggest to him the wisdom of making overtures to her.... [ Continue Reading ]
A KING'S DAUGHTER] She was daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon (1 Kings 16:31).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY FOUND NO MORE, etc.] The loss of burial added further ignominy to her death: see on 1 Kings 2:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE PORTION OF JEZREEL] see 1 Kings 21:23.... [ Continue Reading ]