The Book of Second kings

Chapter 9

 

 

[1] And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead:
[2] And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
[3] Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
[4] So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.
[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.
[6] And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
[7] And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy 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.
[8] For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
[9] And 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:
[10] And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

 

                1) Anointed for Command                 Vs 1-10

           

As we begin Jehoram is King of Israel is wounded and Ahaziah, King of Judah comes to pay respect & visit

            The man of God, Elisha, instructs one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu king over Israel

            Gird thyself (let nothing hinder) Then open the door, flee and tarry not......  Get out of his way   

 

So the young man came and called unto Jehu, the captain of the army of Israel (serving Ahab & Jehoram)

            The young man anointed Jehu as king (1 K 19:16 God had spoken this way back to Elijah)

            * I do not see the N Kingdoms King being anointed until here

            The young man said God instructs Jehu to strike down the house of Ahab (& dogs to eat Jezebel)

            Then the young man opened the door and fled


[11] Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
[12] And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.
[13] Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.

 

            2) Announcing the Commission         Vs 11-13

           

Jehu comes back amongst the others and is asked about this young man “mad fellow” who came  

            Jehu knew who it was - others soon will- and proclaims this to be God’s man and God’s will

            The men laugh about it “it is false”..........but tell us what he said anyway

            Jehu announces his anointing as king and the men spread their garments and proclaim Jehu is king

            * spreading garments - recognition, proclaiming loyalty and promising support


[14] So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
[15] 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.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
[16] So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
[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?
[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.
[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.
[20] And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

 

            3) Approaching the City                     Vs 14-20

           

Jehu and his followers saddle up a ride towards Jezreel (the palace of the N Kingdom)

            King Jehoram is wounded in battle and recovering in Jezreel and King Ahaziah is visiting

            The tower watchman saw the company approaching and warned Jehoram

            (Jehoram already is an insecure man and usually suspected threats)

           

Thus he sends a messenger on horseback to meet them and ask “Is it peace?

            The messenger met Jehu and asks “Thus saith the king, is it peace?

            Jehu responds “What have you to do w/ peace? Turn behind me

            (Jehoram is evil, engaged in conflict & controversy constantly, conflict) the messenger fell in with Jehu

           

Realizing the messenger came not back, Thus another messenger was dispatched with the same words

            The messenger met Jehu and asks “Thus saith the king, is it peace?

            Jehu responds “What have you to do w/ peace? Turn behind me” The messenger fell in with Jehu

           

The watchman says both messengers came, but neither returned and looks like Jehu (intense&wreckless)


[21] And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
[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?
[23] And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
[24] And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
[25] Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;
[26] Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

 

            4) Assassination of the Crowned       Vs 21-26         (Ahab & dogs-1K 21:19; 22:37,38; 2K3:1; 2K9:26)

 

            King Jehoram said “get my chariot ready” and gets King Ahaziah to go w/ him to meet Jehu

            When they met King Jehoram asks “Is it peace Jehu?” (Jehoram does not suspect trouble of Jehu)

            King Jehoram wants peace w/Jehu.  Jehu asks what peace? As long as wicked Jezebel influences a nation

            * Jehoram didn’t want peace w/ God- he served other Gods, His family killed Naboth-met Naboths prop

·        Jehu is anointed new king, the people follow him. Not thinking political gain but honoring God

 

            King Jehoram says “there is treachery O Ahaziah”

            Jehoram turns to flee and Jehu drew a bow and shot the King thru the heart (divine judgment)

            Jehu has the body of King Jehoram thrown into the field of Naboth (fulfilling Gods word)


[27] But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
[28] And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
[29] And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

 

            5) Association of Corruption             Vs 27-29

 

            King Ahaziah, also fled & Jehu pursued him    (2 Chr 22:7)

            King Ahaziah was happy to associate himself w/ sins of N Kingdom now the same judgment falls on him

            His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel—he reigned 1 yr & was Ahabs grandson

 


[30] And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
[31] And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?
[32] And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
[33] And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
[34] And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
[35] And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
[36] Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
[37] And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

 

            6) Annihilation of Contempt Vs 30-37

 

            Jehu came to the palace of Jezreel after this and Queen Jezebel heard of all these proceedings

            She painted her face, put the queens crown on her head and looked thru the window

            Upon Jehu’s entrance she said “Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

            She threatens the king (reminded him of Zimri who assassinated Elah and was replaced by her f- in law)

            She implies I defy you & I will defeat you (1 K 16:9-12) Zimri was king 7 days before killing himself

 

            Jehu says who is on my side? Throw her down

            The eunuchs of Jezebel grab her and threw her out the window, blood splatted the ground, & is stomped

            Jehu went in to eat and drink and then sent men to bury her

            But the men found only her skull, feet and palms of her hands as the dogs had eaten her (1K21:23,24)

            Reap & sow in garden of herbs by the palace of Ahab was royally dunged by the dead carcase of Jezebel