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2 Kings 9
Legacy Standard Bible

Jehu Anointed King over Israel

9 Now Elisha the prophet called one of (A)the sons of the prophets and said to him, “(B)Gird up your loins, and (C)take this flask of oil in your hand and go to (D)Ramoth-gilead. 2 And you will come there and look there for (E)Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi. And you will come in and [a](F)bid him arise from among his brothers. And you will cause him to come in to an inner room. 3 Then you will take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “(G)I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee and do not wait.”

4 So (H)the young man—the young man of the prophet—went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 Then he came, and behold, the commanders of the military were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “[b]For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, O commander.” 6 And he arose and came into the house, and he poured the oil on his head and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘(I)I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel. 7 And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, (J)that I may avenge (K)the blood of My slaves the prophets, and the blood of all the slaves of Yahweh, (L)at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and (M)I will cut off from Ahab (N)every [c]male person (O)both bond and free in Israel. 9 (P)And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and (Q)like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 (R)And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the [d]property of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

11 Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “(S)Is all well? Why did this (T)mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his talk.” 12 And they said, “It is a lie, declare it to us now.” And he said, “Thus and thus he said to me, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” 13 Then (U)they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and (V)blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Jehu Deceives Joram

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (W)Now Joram [e]with all Israel was [f]guarding Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15 but (X)King [g]Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Arameans had struck him with when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, “If this is your mind, then let no one escape or [h]leave the city to go declare it in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. (Y)Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the [i]company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a [j]company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’” 18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “(Z)What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me.” And the watchman declared saying, “The messenger came to them, but he did not return.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman. And he came to them and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu [k]answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me.” 20 And the watchman declared saying, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and (AA)the driving is like the driving of (AB)Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives in madness.”

21 Then [l]Joram said, “[m]Get ready.” And they made his chariot ready. [n](AC)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 [o](AD)property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 Now it happened that when [p]Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” And he [q]answered, “What peace, (AE)so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her sorceries are so many?” 23 So [r]Joram [s]turned about and fled and said to Ahaziah, “(AF)There is deception, O Ahaziah!” 24 And (AG)Jehu [t]drew his bow with his full strength and struck [u]Joram between his arms; and the arrow went [v]through his heart and he crouched down in his chariot. 25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Lift him up and (AH)cast him into the [w]property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for I remember when [x]you and I were riding together after Ahab his father, that (AI)Yahweh lifted up this (AJ)oracle against him: 26 ‘Surely (AK)I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says Yahweh, ‘and (AL)I will repay you in this [y]property,’ says Yahweh. So now, lift him up and cast him into the [z]property, according to the word of Yahweh.”

Jehu Strikes Down Ahaziah

27 (AM)And Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this and fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Strike him down too, in the chariot.” So they struck him down at the ascent of Gur, which is at (AN)Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 (AO)Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the city of David.

29 Now in (AP)the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

Jezebel Is Eaten by Dogs

30 Then Jehu came to Jezreel, and Jezebel heard of it and (AQ)she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out the window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “(AR)Is it [aa]peace, Zimri, [ab]your master’s killer?” 32 Then he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three officials looked down at him. 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 trampled her under foot. 34 Then he came in and ate and drank. And he said, “Take care now of (AS)this cursed woman and bury her, for (AT)she is a king’s daughter.” 35 They went to bury her, but they found nothing more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 Therefore they returned and declared it to him. And he said, “This is the word of Yahweh, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘(AU)In the [ac]property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; 37 and (AV)the corpse of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field in the [ad]property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 9:2 Lit cause him to
  2. 2 Kings 9:5 Lit To whom of us all?
  3. 2 Kings 9:8 Lit him who urinates against the wall, cf. 1 Sam 25:22, 34; 1 Kin 14:10, 21:21; 2 Kin 9:8
  4. 2 Kings 9:10 Lit portion
  5. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit he and
  6. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit keeping
  7. 2 Kings 9:15 Heb Jehoram
  8. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit go out from
  9. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit multitude
  10. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit multitude
  11. 2 Kings 9:19 Lit said
  12. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  13. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit Yoke the chariot
  14. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  15. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit portion
  16. 2 Kings 9:22 Heb Jehoram
  17. 2 Kings 9:22 Lit said
  18. 2 Kings 9:23 Heb Jehoram
  19. 2 Kings 9:23 Lit turned his hands
  20. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit filled his hand with the bow
  21. 2 Kings 9:24 Heb Jehoram
  22. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit out at
  23. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit portion
  24. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit I and you
  25. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  26. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  27. 2 Kings 9:31 Or well
  28. 2 Kings 9:31 Lit his
  29. 2 Kings 9:36 Lit portion
  30. 2 Kings 9:37 Lit portion
Close RSV

2 Kings 9
Revised Standard Version

Anointing of Jehu

9 Then Eli′sha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehosh′aphat, son of Nimshi; and go in and bid him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee; do not tarry.”

4 So the young man, the prophet,[a] went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council; and he said, “I have an errand to you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose, and went into the house; and the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the Lord the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge on Jez′ebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jerobo′am the son of Nebat, and like the house of Ba′asha the son of Ahi′jah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jez′ebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door, and fled.

11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment, and put it under him on the bare[b] steps, and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”

Joram of Israel Killed

14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehosh′aphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Haz′ael king of Syria; 15 but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Haz′ael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your mind, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot, and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahazi′ah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.

17 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.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them, and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn round and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.”

21 Joram said, “Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahazi′ah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the harlotries and the sorceries of your mother Jez′ebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahazi′ah, “Treachery, O Ahazi′ah!” 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up, and cast him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the Lord uttered this oracle against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—says the Lord—I will requite you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and cast him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

Ahaziah of Judah Killed

27 When Ahazi′ah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, and said, “Shoot him also”; and they shot him[c] in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megid′do, and died there. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.

29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahazi′ah began to reign over Judah.

Jezebel’s Violent Death

30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jez′ebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” 32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down; and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. 34 Then he went in and ate and drank; and he said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Eli′jah the Tishbite, ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jez′ebel; 37 and the corpse of Jez′ebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jez′ebel.’”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 9:4 Gk Syr: Heb the young man, the young man, the prophet
  2. 2 Kings 9:13 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  3. 2 Kings 9:27 Syr Vg Compare Gk: Heb lacks and they shot him
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