2 Kings 9:5
And when he came, behold, the captains of the host [were] sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.
And when he came {H935}, behold, the captains {H8269} of the host {H2428} were sitting {H3427}; and he said {H559}, I have an errand {H1697} to thee, O captain {H8269}. And Jehu {H3058} said {H559}, Unto which of all us? And he said {H559}, To thee, O captain {H8269}.
When he arrived, he found the senior army officers sitting there. He said, "I have a message for you, commander." Yehu asked, "For which one of us?" "For you, commander," he said.
and when he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there. โI have a message for you, commander,โ he said. โFor which of us?โ asked Jehu. โFor you, commander,โ he replied.
And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of us all? And he said, To thee, O captain.
Cross-References
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Judges 3:19
But he himself turned again from the quarries that [were] by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
Commentary
Context
Second Kings chapter 9 marks a dramatic turning point in the history of Israel, signaling the end of the Omride dynasty and the beginning of Jehu's reign. This specific verse, 2 Kings 9:5, describes the arrival of a young prophet, dispatched by Elisha, to Ramoth-Gilead, a strategic military outpost. The prophet finds the captains of the host, including Jehu, engaged in a meeting, likely discussing military strategy against the Syrians. The scene is set with an immediate sense of urgency and mystery as the prophet singles out Jehu for a private, divine message, disrupting the ordinary proceedings of the military council.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "errand" is mishlachath (ืึดืฉึฐืืึทืึทืช), which literally means "a sending," "a mission," or "a commission." It emphasizes that the prophet is not merely delivering a casual message but is on an urgent, divinely authorized mission. Jehu's question, "Unto which of all us?" (ืึฐืึดื ืึดืึผึปืึผึธื ืึผ, lemi mikkullanu), reflects a natural human curiosity and perhaps a touch of apprehension or suspicion, as such a direct, private summons from a prophet often portended significant, life-altering news, good or bad.
Related Scriptures
This verse sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow. The prophet's specific instruction to Jehu directly leads to Jehu's anointing as king and the subsequent detailed commission to utterly destroy the house of Ahab, fulfilling prophecies given earlier against King Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:23).
Practical Application
For believers today, 2 Kings 9:5 reminds us that God often works through specific, sometimes surprising, channels to accomplish His purposes. It highlights the importance of attentiveness to God's call, even when it seems disruptive or unexpected. Just as Jehu was singled out for a specific task, we too are called to unique roles within God's larger plan, requiring our willingness to listen and obey. The prophet's directness also teaches us the power of clear communication, especially when delivering important truths or directives.
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