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 called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.

When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner room.

Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door, flee, and don’t wait.”

So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.

When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, “I have a message for you, captain.” Jehu said, “To which of us all?” He said, “To you, O captain.”

He arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish. I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.

I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

The dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.’” He opened the door, and fled.

Jehu Proclaimed King by the Army

Then Jehu came out to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” He said to them, “You know the man and what his talk was.”

They said, “That is a lie. Tell us now.” He said, “He said to me, ‘Thus says the LORD, I have anointed you king over Israel.’”

Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the shofar, saying, “Jehu is king.”

Jehu Executes Joram and Ahaziah

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;

but king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, “If this is your thinking, then let no one escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel.”

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

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.” Joram said, “Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman said, “The messenger came to them, but he isn’t coming back.”

Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!”

The watchman said, “He came to them, and isn’t coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.”

Joram said, “Get ready!” They got his chariot ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?”

Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, “There is treason, Ahaziah!”

Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden on him:

‘Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will repay you in this plot of ground,’ says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the LORD’s word.”

But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, “Strike him also in the chariot!” They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.

His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.

In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

The Death of Jezebel

When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.

As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?”

He lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.

When he had come in, he ate and drink; and he said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.”

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

Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is the LORD’s word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel,

and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “This is Jezebel.”’”

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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