2 Kings 9:18

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, [Is it] peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

So there went {H3212} one on horseback {H7392}{H5483} to meet {H7125} him, and said {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the king {H4428}, Is it peace {H7965}? And Jehu {H3058} said {H559}, What hast thou to do with peace {H7965}? turn {H5437} thee behind {H310} me. And the watchman {H6822} told {H5046}, saying {H559}, The messenger {H4397} came {H935} to them, but he cometh not again {H7725}.

So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "The king asks if you are coming in peace." Yehu answered, "Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!" The watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but he isn't coming back."

So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, โ€œThis is what the king asks: โ€˜Have you come in peace?โ€™โ€ โ€œWhat do you know about peace?โ€ Jehu replied. โ€œFall in behind me.โ€ And the watchman reported, โ€œThe messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.โ€

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not back.

Commentary

2 Kings 9:18 describes a pivotal moment in Jehu's swift and decisive march to execute God's judgment against the house of Ahab. As Jehu approaches Jezreel, King Joram, unaware of the impending doom, sends messengers to inquire about his intentions.

Context of 2 Kings 9:18

This verse immediately follows Jehu's anointing by a prophet sent by Elisha, commissioning him to be king over Israel and to utterly destroy the wicked house of Ahab, including Queen Jezebel. Jehu's fierce driving was already noted (2 Kings 9:16). The watchman on the tower at Jezreel sees a company approaching and reports its unusual speed. King Joram, recovering from battle wounds, sends out a rider to ascertain if Jehu's arrival signifies 'peace' or trouble. Jehu's response to the first messenger, and then the second, clearly signals his hostile intent and his determination to prevent any warnings from reaching Joram.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment in Motion: Jehu is depicted as an unstoppable force, an instrument of God's specific judgment against the idolatry and wickedness of the Ahab dynasty. His rapid movement and terse replies underscore the urgency and inevitability of this divine decree.
  • The Nature of "Peace": The king's question, "Is it peace?" (Hebrew: shalom), was a common greeting, but here it carries significant political weight. It asks whether Jehu comes as a friend, bringing good news, or as an enemy, bringing conflict. Jehu's dismissive reply, "What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me," reveals that true peace, in the sense of wholeness and well-being, was absent under Ahab's house, and certainly not what Jehu was bringing to them. This highlights a biblical understanding of peace that goes beyond mere absence of war, encompassing spiritual well-being and right relationship with God.
  • Unwavering Resolve: Jehu's command for the messenger to "turn thee behind me" indicates his absolute resolve and his desire to keep his intentions secret from King Joram until he arrived. This action reinforces his commitment to the prophetic mandate given to him to destroy the house of Ahab.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "peace" here is shalom (ืฉึธืืœื•ึนื). While it can mean the absence of war, shalom is a much richer concept, embodying completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, and a state of well-being in all aspects of life. Jehu's rhetorical question, "What hast thou to do with peace?", implies that there can be no true shalom for the house of Ahab, given their rebellion against God and their impending judgment.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God's justice is sure and that He will ultimately deal with wickedness. For believers, it underscores that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a wholeness that comes from walking in right relationship with God. When we are out of alignment with God's will, genuine shalom is elusive. Furthermore, it illustrates how God can use individuals as instruments for His purposes, even in difficult and decisive actions.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 9:19

    Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, [Is it] peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.

  • 2 Kings 9:22

    And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, [Is it] peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts [are so] many?

  • Jeremiah 16:5

    For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, [even] lovingkindness and mercies.

  • Isaiah 59:8

    The way of peace they know not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

  • Isaiah 48:22

    [There is] no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

  • Romans 3:17

    And the way of peace have they not known:
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