INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 9 In this chapter we are told that one of the sons of the prophets was sent by Elisha to anoint Jehu king of Israel, and to order him to smite and destroy the whole house of Ahab, 2 Kings 9:1, which being done unto him, and the order received by Jehu, he acquainted his capta... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELISHA THE PROPHET CALLED ONE OF THE CHILDREN OF THE PROPHETS,.... Who the Jews generally say k was Jonah the son of Amittai: AND SAID, GIRD UP THY LOINS; his loose and long garments about his loins, for quicker dispatch in travelling: AND TAKE THIS BOX OF OIL IN THINE HAND; for an use after d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOU COMEST THITHER,.... To Ramothgilead; but from whence he went is uncertain, doubtless where there was a school of the prophets, perhaps that which was erected near Jordan, on the other side of which lay Ramothgilead, 2 Kings 6:1, LOOK OUT THERE JEHU THE SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT THE SON OF NI... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN TAKE THE BOX OF OIL, AND POUR IT ON HIS HEAD,.... When in the chamber together alone: AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD, I HAVE ANOINTED THEE KING OVER ISRAEL; which was done, not with the anointing oil in the temple, which could not be come by; and with which, as Kimchi from their Rabbins says, on... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE YOUNG MAN, EVEN THE YOUNG MAN THE PROPHET, WENT TO RAMOTHGILEAD. It is repeated, that it might be observed that it was a young man that went, who was more fit for this service than Elisha, partly because of his age, and partly because he would be less known; as also his age is remarked, this... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE CAME, BEHOLD, THE CAPTAINS OF THE HOST WERE SITTING,.... Either at a table, being at dinner, or at a council of war: AND HE SAID, I HAVE AN ERRAND UNTO THEE, O CAPTAIN; looking and directing his speech to Jehu; or, "I have a word to thee" l; something to say to thee, intimating that he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE AROSE, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE,.... Into the inner chamber in it: AND HE POURED THE OIL ON HIS HEAD, AND SAID UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, I HAVE ANOINTED THEE KING OVER THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD, EVEN OVER ISRAEL; for though they were fallen into idolatry, and from the pure wor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT SMITE THE HOUSE OF AHAB THY MASTER,.... For Jehu was one of Ahab's captains, as he was now one of his son's, as appears from 2 Kings 9:25, but this was to be no objection with him to the destroying of his house, as being an act of high treason, since he had an order for it from the Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE OF AHAB SHALL PERISH,.... Be cut off by death, and that in a violent manner, not one should escape: AND I WILL CUT OFF FROM AHAB HIM THAT PISSETH AGAINST THE WALL, AND HIM THAT IS SHUT UP AND LEFT IN ISRAEL; of these phrases, 1 Kings 14:10 1 Kings 21:21... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE THE HOUSE OF AHAB, The same is threatened, 1 Kings 21:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DOGS SHALL EAT JEZEBEL IN THE PORTION OF JEZREEL,.... Or in the field of Jezreel; the Targum is, the inheritance of Jezreel; this is also threatened, 1 Kings 21:23 AND [THERE SHALL BE] NONE TO BURY HER; or nothing of her to bury, as Kimchi, all being eaten up but her skull, feet, and the pa... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JEHU CAME FORTH TO THE SERVANTS OF HIS LORD,.... The rest of the captains of the army, who served under Joram as he did: AND ONE SAID UNTO HIM, IS ALL WELL? one of the captains, the greatest of them, as Kimchi; he inquired whether he brought any ill news, since he came and went in such haste:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID, [IT IS] FALSE, TELL US NOW,.... They did not believe he spoke truth, but concealed from them the real matter; which they concluded to be of some importance, by the hastiness of the messenger, the privacy between them, the countenance of Jehu, which discovered thoughtfulness and concer... [ Continue Reading ]
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 migh... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JEHU THE SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT THE SON OF NIMSHI CONSPIRED AGAINST JORAM,.... He and the captains with him entered into a confederacy to depose Joram, and set him up as king: NOW JORAM HAD KEPT RAMOTHGILEAD, HE AND ALL ISRAEL, BECAUSE OF HAZAEL KING OF SYRIA; having taken it, he left his army in it... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT KING JORAM WAS RETURNED TO BE HEALED IN JEZREEL,.... As is recorded, 2 Kings 8:29 and here repeated for the reason above given: AND JEHU SAID, IF IT BE YOUR MINDS; to engage one and all, and heartily, in this conspiracy, and to make me king: THEN LET NONE GO FORTH NOR ESCAPE OUT OF THE CITY, t... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JEHU RODE IN A CHARIOT,.... In great pomp and majesty as a king: AND WENT TO JEZREEL: set forward on a march thither with his captains, and part of his army at least, from Ramothgilead; which, according to Bunting n, was twenty four miles: FOR JORDAN LAY THERE; to be cured of his wounds, as bef... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE STOOD A WATCHMAN ON THE TOWER OF JEZREEL,.... Who could see afar off when an enemy was coming, and his business was to give notice of it; and especially he was now on his watch tower, because the king was there, and this was necessary for his safety: AND HE SPIED THE COMPANY OF JEHU AS HE... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THERE WENT ONE ON HORSEBACK TO MEET HIM, AND SAID, THUS SAITH THE KING, IS IT PEACE?.... Are things well in the army, or any disturbance in the kingdom? are you come as friends or enemies? AND JEHU SAID, WHAT HAST THOU TO DO WITH PEACE? or to ask such a question: TURN THEE BEHIND ME; which he w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE SENT OUT A SECOND ON HORSEBACK, WHICH CAME TO THEM, AND SAID,.... The same as the first messenger did, and had the same answer, and was bid to do the same as in the preceding verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WATCHMAN TOLD, SAYING, HE CAME EVEN UNTO THEM, AND COMETH NOT AGAIN,.... Was detained, as the other was: AND THE DRIVING IS LIKE THE DRIVING OF JEHU THE SON OF NIMSHI; for, coming nearer, the watchman could discern the manner of his driving: FOR HE DRIVETH FURIOUSLY; in great haste, making... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JORAM SAID, MAKE READY,.... The chariot, put to the horses; bind them, as the word signifies, to the chariot: AND HIS CHARIOT WAS MADE READY; by his servants immediately: AND JORAM KING OF ISRAEL AND AHAZIAH KING OF JUDAH WENT OUT, EACH IN HIS CHARIOT; not both in the same chariot, but each in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JORAM SAW, JEHU, THAT HE SAID, IS IT PEACE, JEHU?.... Have things gone well at Ramothgilead? art thou come in triumph from thence? or obliged to fly from the Syrians? or art thou come in a peaceable, or in an hostile manner to me? AND HE ANSWERED, WHAT PEACE; canst thou ex... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JORAM TURNED HIS HAND, AND FLED,.... Taking hold of the horses' reins with it to turn them, or by the motion of it directing the charioteer to turn them back towards Jezreel, whither he fled: AND SAID TO AHAZIAH, THERE IS TREACHERY, O AHAZIAH; a conspiracy formed, and rebellion raised by the ca... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHU DREW A BOW WITH HIS FULL STRENGTH,.... To give the arrow all the force he could; AND SMOTE JEHORAM BETWEEN HIS ARMS; that is, between his shoulders, his back being turned to him, and the chariot an open one: AND THE ARROW WENT OUT AT HIS HEART: quite through him: AND HE SUNK DOWN IN HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID [JEHU] TO BIDKAR HIS CAPTAIN,.... Not Joram's, but Jehu's captain, though he had been the former's, and his father Ahab's also: TAKE UP, AND CAST HIM IN THE PORTION OF THE FIELD OF NABOTH THE JEZREELITE; near to which they were: FOR REMEMBER HOW THAT, WHEN I AND THOU RODE TOGETHER AFTER... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY I HAVE SEEN YESTERDAY THE BLOOD OF NABOTH,.... These are the words of the Lord to Elijah the day after Naboth was put to death: AND THE BLOOD OF HIS SONS, SAID THE LORD; who were put to death with him, that there might be no heirs to the estate: AND I WILL REQUITE THEE IN THIS PLACE: take v... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN AHAZIAH THE KING OF JUDAH SAW THIS,.... That Joram was slain: HE FLED BY THE WAY OF THE GARDEN HOUSE, which perhaps stood upon the spot where Naboth's vineyard was, turned into a garden by Ahab: AND JEHU FOLLOWED AFTER HIM; as far as Samaria, where he was hid, 2 Chronicles 22:9, AND SAID... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SERVANTS CARRIED HIM IN A CHARIOT TO JERUSALEM,.... With the leave of Jehu, because he was the grandson of Jehoshaphat, a sincere worshipper of God, 2 Chronicles 22:9, AND BURIED HIM IN HIS SEPULCHRE WITH HIS FATHERS IN THE CITY OF DAVID; see 1 Kings 22:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR OF JORAM THE SON OF AHAB BEGAN AHAZIAH TO REIGN OVER JUDAH. In 2 Kings 8:25, it is said to be in the twelfth year of his reign; it was at the close of the eleventh, and the beginning of the twelfth; or he began to reign with his father in the eleventh as here, and in the twe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN JEHU WAS COME TO JEZREEL, JEZEBEL HEARD OF IT,.... And of what he had done to Joram: AND SHE PAINTED HER FACE; or put "stibium" on her eyes; a sort of paint, to make them look beautiful perhaps the same with powder of lead ore, the Moors now use to tinge their eyebrows with, and make them... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS JEHU ENTERED IN AT THE GATE,.... Either of the city of Jezreel, or of the king's palace: SHE SAID, [HAD] ZIMRI PEACE, WHO SLEW HIS MASTER? Elah the son of Baasha king of Israel; no, he had not; he reigned but seven days, and, being besieged, burnt the king's house over him, and died, 1 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LIFTED UP HIS FACE TO THE WINDOW,.... On hearing the above words; AND SAID, WHO IS ON MY SIDE, WHO? and will assist in taking vengeance on this haughty, imperious, and abusive woman: AND THERE LOOKED OUT TO HIM TWO OR THREE EUNUCHS; who used to wait on her, as such did on women of quality,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, THROW HER DOWN,.... Out of the window upon the ground: SO THEY THREW HER DOWN; took her up, and cast her headlong, as they were bid: AND SOME OF HER BLOOD WAS SPRINKLED ON THE WALL; of the palace where she was: AND ON THE HORSES; which drew the chariot of Jehu: AND HE TROD HER UNDER... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE WAS COME IN,.... To the palace: HE DID EAT AND DRINK; to refresh himself after so long a march, and doing such execution: AND SAID, GO SEE NOW THIS CURSED WOMAN; who had been the means of bringing a curse on Israel through her idolatry, and upon Ahab and his family, and upon herself, b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT TO BURY HER,.... The servants of Jehu, according to his orders and instructions; BUT THEY FOUND NO MORE OF HER THAN THE SCULL, AND THE FEET, AND THE PALMS OF HER HANDS; the flesh, and even all the rest of her bones, being devoured by dogs, so that there was scarce anything of her to b... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THEY CAME AGAIN, AND TOLD HIM,.... How things were, and what only could be found of Jezebel: AND HE SAID, THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD; or the fulfilment of it: WHICH HE SPAKE BY HIS SERVANT ELIJAH THE TISHBITE, SAYING; as in 1 Kings 21:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CARCASS OF JEZEBEL SHALL BE AS DUNG UPON THE FACE OF THE FIELD IN THE PORTION OF JEZREEL,.... For upon this spot her carcass fell when thrown out of the window of the king's palace, and here it was left; for the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which was in the portion of Jezreel, was next... [ Continue Reading ]