2 Kings 9:17

And there stood a watchman 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?

And there stood {H5975} a watchman {H6822} on the tower {H4026} in Jezreel {H3157}, and he spied {H7200} the company {H8229} of Jehu {H3058} as he came {H935}, and said {H559}, I see {H7200} a company {H8229}. And Joram {H3088} said {H559}, Take {H3947} an horseman {H7395}, and send {H7971} to meet {H7125} them, and let him say {H559}, Is it peace {H7965}?

The lookout standing on the watchtower in Yizre'el saw Yehu's troops approaching and said, "I see some troops coming." Yoram said, "Have a horseman go to meet him and ask, "Are you coming in peace?"

Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”

Now the watchman was standing 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 a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 9:17 KJV

The book of 2 Kings continues the historical narrative of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, focusing heavily on the reigns of their kings and the prophetic ministries that guided or confronted them. 2 Kings 9 marks a pivotal turning point, detailing God's judgment against the corrupt house of Ahab through the anointing and swift actions of Jehu.

Context

Verse 17 finds King Joram of Israel, son of Ahab, recovering from battle wounds in Jezreel. The watchman on the tower, a standard feature of ancient cities for defense and early warning, spots an approaching company. This scene builds immediate tension, as the identity and intent of the approaching group are unknown. Unbeknownst to Joram, this company is led by Jehu, who has just been secretly anointed king by a prophet and commissioned by God to execute judgment upon the idolatrous and wicked house of Ahab, fulfilling the prophecy given earlier by Elijah in 1 Kings 21. Joram's immediate concern, as evidenced by his question, is whether the approaching party comes in peace.

Key Themes

  • Anticipation and Suspense: The watchman's report creates a sense of impending drama. The gradual identification of the company adds to the suspense, leading to the climactic confrontation.
  • The Question of Peace: Joram's query, "Is it peace?", is central to this verse and is repeated in subsequent verses. It reflects a natural human desire for security and well-being, but in this context, it starkly contrasts with Jehu's mission of divine judgment, which is anything but peaceful for Ahab's lineage.
  • Divine Judgment in Motion: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the entire chapter underscores God's active involvement in human affairs, bringing about justice for chronic wickedness and idolatry. Jehu is merely an instrument in God's hands.

Linguistic Insights

The crucial word in Joram's question, "peace," is the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם). While often translated simply as "peace" (absence of conflict), shalom carries a much richer meaning in biblical Hebrew. It encompasses concepts of completeness, wholeness, well-being, prosperity, health, and harmony. Joram is not just asking if there's no war; he's asking if the approaching company intends him and his kingdom well-being and security. The irony, as revealed by Jehu's reply in 2 Kings 9:22, is that for the house of Ahab, there could be no shalom as long as their wickedness persisted.

Practical Application

This verse, though historical, offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Need for Discernment: Joram's repeated inquiries show a lack of discernment regarding the true intentions of the approaching party. Spiritually, believers are called to discern spirits and intentions, not taking things at face value (1 John 4:1).
  • Consequences of Sin: The coming of Jehu represents the inevitable consequences of persistent sin and rebellion against God. While God is patient, His justice will ultimately prevail.
  • True Peace: The quest for shalom is a universal human desire. However, true and lasting peace, or wholeness, is found not in political stability or absence of conflict, but in a right relationship with God, as taught throughout Scripture (Isaiah 26:3).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 16:4

    And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

  • 2 Kings 7:14

    They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

  • 1 Samuel 17:22

    And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

  • 2 Samuel 13:34

    But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

  • Isaiah 21:11

    ¶ The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

  • Isaiah 21:12

    The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

  • Isaiah 56:10

    His watchmen [are] blind: they are all ignorant, they [are] all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
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