2 Kings9

Elisha sends a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel at Ramothgilead, commanding him to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu is immediately proclaimed king by his captains and rides to Jezreel, where he confronts and kills King Joram in Naboth's vineyard. Subsequently, Jehu orchestrates the death of King Ahaziah of Judah and then Queen Jezebel, whose body is consumed by dogs, fulfilling prophecy.

Elisha Commissions Jehu's Anointing

Elisha the prophet summoned one of the guild prophets and said to him, "Prepare for traveling, take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramot-Gil'ad.

When you get there, look for Yehu the son of Y'hoshafat, the son of Nimshi. Enter, have him step away from his companions, and take him to an inside room.

Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'This is what ADONAI says: "I have anointed you king over Isra'el."' After that, open the door; and get away from there as fast as you can."

So the young prophet left for Ramot-Gil'ad.

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.

Yehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to him, "This is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'I have anointed you king over the people of ADONAI, over Isra'el.

You will attack the house of Ach'av your master, so that I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of ADONAI, blood shed by Izevel.

The entire house of Ach'av will perish; I will cut off from Ach'av every male, whether a slave or free in Isra'el.

I will make the house of Ach'av like the house of Yarov'am the son of N'vat and like the house of Ba'sha the son of Achiyah.

Moreover, the dogs will eat Izevel in the dumping-ground of Yizre'el, and there will be no one to bury her.'" Then he opened the door and fled.

Jehu Proclaimed King by the Army

Yehu returned to the servants of his lord, and one of them said to him, "Is everything all right? Why did this meshugga come to you?" He answered them, "You know the kind and how they babble."

They said, "You're being evasive. Come on, tell us the truth." Then he said, "This is exactly what he said to me and how he said it: 'Here is what ADONAI says: "I have anointed you king over Isra'el."'"

At this, they hurried each one to take his cloak and put it under Yehu at the top of the stairs. Then they blew the shofar and proclaimed, "Yehu is king!"

Jehu Executes Joram and Ahaziah

Yehu the son of Y'hoshafat, the son of Nimshi, formed a conspiracy against Yoram. (At the time, Yoram was guarding Ramot-Gil'ad, he and all Isra'el, because of Haza'el king of Aram;

but Yoram himself had returned to Yizre'el to recover from the wounds Aram had inflicted on him when fighting Haza'el king of Aram.) "If you agree," said Yehu, "then don't allow anyone to leave town and take the news to Yizre'el."

So Yehu, riding in a chariot, went to Yizre'el, for Yoram was laid up there. Achazyah king of Y'hudah had come down to visit Yoram.

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?"

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 he sent out a second man on horseback, who, on coming to him, 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, "He reached them, but he isn't coming back. Also, it looks like the driving of Yehu Nimshi's [grand]son - he's driving like a maniac!"

"Harness my chariot!" ordered Yoram. They got it ready. Then Yoram king of Isra'el and Achazyah king of Y'hudah, each in his chariot, went out to meet Yehu. They met him in the field of Navot the Yizre'eli.

When Yoram saw Yehu he said, "Are you coming in peace, Yehu?" He answered, "Peace? With your mother Izevel continuing all her cult prostitution and witchcraft? What a question!"

Yoram wheeled around and fled, shouting, "Treachery, Achazyah!"

Yehu drew his bow with all his strength and struck Yoram between the shoulder-blades; the arrow went through his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot.

"Pick him up," said Yehu to Bidkar his servant, "and throw him into the field of Navot the Yizre'eli; for remember how, when you and I were riding together after Ach'av his father, ADONAI pronounced this sentence against him:

'ADONAI says: "Yesterday I saw the blood of Navot and the blood of his sons." ADONAI also says: "I will pay you back in this field."' Therefore, pick him up; and throw him into the field, in keeping with what ADONAI said."

But when Achazyah the king of Y'hudah saw this, he fled on the road past Beit-HaGan. Yehu pursued him and ordered, "Strike him too in his chariot!" [So they struck him] at the Gur ascent, near Yivle'am. He fled to Megiddo, but there he died.

His servants carried him in a chariot to Yerushalayim and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David.

It was in the eleventh year of Yoram the son of Ach'av that Achazyah had begun his rule over Y'hudah.

The Death of Jezebel

When Yehu reached Yizre'el, and Izevel heard of it, she put on eye make-up, fixed her hair and looked out the window.

As Yehu came through the city gate, she asked, "Are you here in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?"

Looking up at the window he said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three officers looked out toward him.

He said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed onto the wall and the horses, and she was trampled underfoot.

He went in, ate and drank, and then said, "Deal with this accursed woman - bury her, because she's a king's daughter."

They went to bury her but found no more of her than her skull, feet and hands.

So they came back and told him. He said, "This is what ADONAI said through his servant Eliyahu from Tishbe: 'In the field of Yizre'el the dogs will eat the flesh of Izevel;

Izevel's corpse in the field of Yizre'el will be like dung on the ground, unrecognizable as Izevel.'"

Study Notes for 2 Kings 9

Verse 1

Elisha instructs a 'son of the prophets' (a student/disciple) with great urgency, indicated by the command to 'Gird up thy loins,' meaning to prepare quickly for travel and action.

Verse 2

Jehu is identified by his full lineage, emphasizing his status as a high-ranking military commander stationed at Ramoth-gilead. The anointing must be done in secret to prevent immediate counter-conspiracy.

Verse 3

The instruction to anoint him and flee immediately underscores the treasonous nature of the act against the reigning house of Ahab; the prophet must ensure the divine mandate is delivered but must not be implicated further.

Verse 6

The prophet confirms that Jehu's kingship is a divine appointment ('Thus saith the LORD God of Israel'), validating the subsequent violent overthrow as execution of God's will.

Verse 7

The primary purpose of Jehu's mission is theological: to execute God’s judgment and avenge the murder of prophets and righteous servants killed under the tyranny of Jezebel (cf. 1 Kings 18).

Verse 8

This command demands the total extermination of Ahab's male lineage. The phrase 'him that pisseth against the wall' is a common, crude Hebrew idiom for every male, signifying complete destruction.

Verse 9

The comparison to the houses of Jeroboam and Baasha references previous Israelite dynasties that were completely wiped out due to their idolatry, setting a precedent for God's severe judgment.

Verse 10

This is a direct repetition of Elijah’s prophecy against Jezebel (1 Kings 21:23). To be eaten by dogs and left unburied was the ultimate curse and disgrace in the ancient Near East.

Verse 11

The captains dismiss the prophet as a 'mad fellow.' Prophets were often viewed as eccentric or deranged due to their unconventional behavior and zeal, especially when operating outside the royal court.

Verse 13

The captains immediately demonstrate loyalty by laying their garments down as an improvised royal carpet on the stairs, an ancient gesture of spontaneous homage and recognition of a new sovereign.

Verse 14

Jehu immediately transitions from being anointed to leading a military coup. Joram’s absence from the war front for recovery provided Jehu with a strategic window to seize power.

Verse 15

Joram was recuperating from wounds sustained while defending Israel against Hazael of Syria. Jehu's first command is to enforce strict secrecy to ensure Joram is unaware of the coup until Jehu arrives.

Verse 20

Jehu was known for his decisive and aggressive nature. The watchman recognizes him by his distinctive, 'furious' style of chariot driving, indicating his reputation for speed and recklessness.

Verse 21

The confrontation occurs precisely at the 'portion of Naboth.' This location is crucial for demonstrating that the execution of Joram is not random political violence but a direct fulfillment of judgment for the murder of Naboth (1 Kings 21).

Verse 22

Jehu refuses the greeting of 'peace.' 'Whoredoms' refers primarily to spiritual infidelity (idolatry, especially Baal worship) and 'witchcrafts' refers to the associated occult practices promoted by Jezebel.

Verse 24

Joram is struck as he attempts to flee, a fatal blow delivered with Jehu's full strength. This decisive action confirms Jehu’s role as God’s appointed instrument of violent justice.

Verse 25

Jehu explicitly links Joram’s death to the prophecy pronounced against Ahab. He recalls being present with Bidkar when Elijah delivered the 'burden' (prophetic judgment) years earlier.

Verse 26

God’s judgment here includes the retribution for Naboth's sons, who were likely also executed to secure Ahab’s claim to the vineyard. Jehu ensures the judgment is fulfilled literally in the same plot of ground.

Verse 27

Ahaziah, King of Judah, was Joram’s ally and nephew (Ahab’s grandson through Athaliah). He is judged due to his close familial and political alliance with the wicked house of Ahab, ensuring the judgment spans both kingdoms.

Verse 30

Jezebel prepares herself not for flight but for a defiant, theatrical confrontation, painting her face and arranging her hair, perhaps attempting to intimidate Jehu with her royal demeanor.

Verse 31

Jezebel references Zimri, who murdered his master (Elah) and reigned only seven days before dying violently (1 Kings 16:9-20). This was a final, audacious challenge to Jehu’s legitimacy.

Verse 34

Jehu initially orders a burial, acknowledging the political dignity due to her status as a 'king’s daughter' (a Phoenician princess), even though she was divinely 'cursed.'

Verse 35

The immediate consumption of her body by dogs prevented a proper burial, ensuring the literal and complete fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy (v. 10 and 1 Kings 21:23).

Verse 37

The final state of Jezebel's remains—as indistinguishable dung—signifies the ultimate disgrace and the total eradication of her memory and influence according to the word of the LORD.

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2 Kings9

Elisha Commissions Jehu's Anointing

Jehu Proclaimed King by the Army

Jehu Executes Joram and Ahaziah

The Death of Jezebel

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