2 Kings 9
New American Standard Bible
Jehu Reigns over Israel
9 Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of (A)the sons of the prophets and said to him, “[a](B)Get ready and (C)take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to (D)Ramoth-gilead. 2 When you arrive there, then look there for (E)Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and (F)have him get up from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(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 servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 When he arrived, behold, the commanders of the army were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, commander.” And Jehu said, “[b]For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, commander.” 6 He then got up and went into the house, and the prophet’s servant poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘(I)I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, (J)so that I may avenge (K)the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, (L)at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and (M)I will eliminate from Ahab (N)every male person (O)both [c]slave and free in Israel. 9 (P)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)The dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.
11 Now Jehu went out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “(S)Is everything well? Why did this (T)crazy fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know very well the man and his talk.” 12 And they said, “It is a lie; tell us now.” And he said, “Such and such he said to me, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” 13 Then (U)they hurried, and each man took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and (V)blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu Assassinates Jehoram (Joram)
14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (W)Now Joram [d]with all Israel was [e]defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15 but (X)King [f]Joram had returned to Jezreel to have himself healed of the wounds which the Arameans had [g]inflicted on him when he fought Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said to the other men, “If this is your [h]intent, then let no [i]one escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, since Joram was lying there recovering. (Y)And Ahaziah the king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the [j]company of Jehu as he came, and he said, “I see a [k]company.” And [l]Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him [m]ask, ‘Is your intention peace?’” 18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” But Jehu said, “[n](Z)How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” And the watchman [o]reported, “The messenger came to them, but he did not return.” 19 Then he sent a second horseman, and he came to them and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” And Jehu [p]answered, “[q]How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” 20 And the watchman [r]reported, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and (AA)the [s]driving is like the driving of (AB)Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
21 Then [t]Joram said, “[u]Get ready.” And they [v]made his chariot ready. (AC)Then [w]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 on the [x](AD)property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 When [y]Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is your intention peace, Jehu?” And he [z]answered, “What ‘peace,’ (AE)so long as your mother Jezebel’s acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?” 23 So [aa]Joram [ab]turned back and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “(AF)There is treachery, Ahaziah!” 24 Then (AG)Jehu [ac]drew his bow with his full strength and [ad]shot [ae]Joram between his arms; and the arrow went [af]through his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and (AH)throw him on the [ag]property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when [ah]you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the (AI)Lord brought this (AJ)pronouncement against him: 26 ‘(AK)I have certainly seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ declares the Lord, ‘and (AL)I will repay you on this [ai]property,’ declares the Lord. Now then, pick him up and throw him on the [aj]property, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”
Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah
27 (AM)When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by way of the garden house. But Jehu pursued him and said, “[ak]Shoot him too, in the chariot.” So they shot him 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.
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, and (AQ)she put makeup on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked down through the window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “(AR)Is your intention peace, Zimri, his master’s murderer?” 32 Then he raised his face toward the window and said, “Who is with me, who?” And two or three officials looked down at him.
Jezebel Is Killed
33 Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her underfoot. 34 When he came in, he ate and drank; and he said, “See now to (AS)this cursed woman and bury her, for (AT)she is a king’s daughter.” 35 So they went to bury her, but they found nothing of her except the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 Therefore they returned and informed him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘(AU)On the [al]property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; 37 and (AV)the corpse of Jezebel will be like dung on the face of the field in the [am]property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 9:1 Lit Belt up your waist
- 2 Kings 9:5 Lit To whom of us all?
- 2 Kings 9:8 Or child and adult
- 2 Kings 9:14 Lit he and
- 2 Kings 9:14 Lit protecting
- 2 Kings 9:15 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:15 Lit struck
- 2 Kings 9:15 Lit soul
- 2 Kings 9:15 Lit escapee leave
- 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
- 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
- 2 Kings 9:17 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:17 Lit say
- 2 Kings 9:18 Lit What to you and to peace
- 2 Kings 9:18 Lit reported, saying
- 2 Kings 9:19 Lit said
- 2 Kings 9:19 See note 1 v 18
- 2 Kings 9:20 Lit reported, saying
- 2 Kings 9:20 I.e., of the chariot
- 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:21 Lit Harness the chariot
- 2 Kings 9:21 Lit harnessed
- 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:21 Lit portion
- 2 Kings 9:22 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:22 Lit said
- 2 Kings 9:23 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:23 Lit turned his hands
- 2 Kings 9:24 Lit filled his hand with the bow
- 2 Kings 9:24 Lit struck
- 2 Kings 9:24 Heb Jehoram
- 2 Kings 9:24 Lit out from
- 2 Kings 9:25 Lit portion
- 2 Kings 9:25 Lit I and you
- 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
- 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
- 2 Kings 9:27 Lit strike
- 2 Kings 9:36 Lit portion
- 2 Kings 9:37 Lit portion
2 Rois 9
La Bible du Semeur
Elisée envoie l’un de ses disciples oindre Jéhu
9 Le prophète Elisée appela l’un des disciples des prophètes et lui dit : Habille-toi pour partir. Prends cette fiole d’huile et va à Ramoth en Galaad. 2 Là tu iras voir Jéhu, fils de Josaphat et petit-fils de Nimshi. Tu l’aborderas et tu lui demanderas de laisser ses compagnons et de te suivre seul dans une pièce retirée. 3 Tu prendras la fiole d’huile et tu en verseras le contenu sur sa tête en disant : « Voici ce que déclare l’Eternel : Je te confère l’onction pour t’établir roi d’Israël ! » Puis tu te précipiteras vers la porte et tu t’enfuiras sans attendre.
4 Le jeune prophète partit donc pour Ramoth en Galaad. 5 Quand il arriva, il trouva les chefs de l’armée d’Israël siégeant ensemble. Il dit : Chef, j’ai un message pour toi.
Jéhu demanda : Pour lequel d’entre nous ?
Il répondit : Pour toi, chef !
6 Jéhu se leva et entra dans la maison. Le prophète lui répandit l’huile sur la tête et lui dit : Voici ce que déclare l’Eternel, le Dieu d’Israël : « Je te confère l’onction pour t’établir roi d’Israël, le peuple de l’Eternel[a]. 7 Tu frapperas la maison d’Achab, ton seigneur. Ainsi, je vengerai le meurtre de mes serviteurs les prophètes et celui de tous les serviteurs de l’Eternel assassinés par Jézabel. 8 Oui, toute la famille d’Achab périra. J’en exterminerai tous les hommes, esclaves et libres, en Israël. 9 Je traiterai cette maison comme j’ai traité celle de Jéroboam, fils de Nebath, et celle de Baésha, fils d’Ahiya[b]. 10 Quant à Jézabel, elle sera dévorée par les chiens dans le domaine de Jizréel, sans qu’il y ait personne pour l’enterrer[c]. »
Après avoir dit cela, le prophète ouvrit la porte et s’enfuit.
11 Lorsque Jéhu revint auprès des autres officiers du roi, ils lui demandèrent : Est-ce que ça va ? Pourquoi cet exalté est-il venu te voir ?
Jéhu leur répondit : Vous connaissez bien ce genre de personnes et leurs divagations.
12 Mais ils répliquèrent : Tu mens ! Raconte-nous donc ce qui s’est passé.
– Eh bien, dit-il, voici comment il m’a parlé. Il m’a dit : « Voici ce que déclare l’Eternel : Je te confère l’onction pour t’établir roi d’Israël. »
13 A ces mots, les officiers s’empressèrent d’étendre leurs manteaux devant lui sur les marches de l’escalier, puis ils sonnèrent du cor et se mirent à crier : Vive le roi Jéhu !
Jéhu assassine Yoram et Ahazia
14 C’est ainsi que Jéhu, fils de Josaphat, petit-fils de Nimshi, forma une conspiration contre Yoram à l’époque où celui-ci défendait, avec tout Israël, Ramoth en Galaad contre Hazaël, roi de Syrie. 15 Le roi Yoram était retourné à Jizréel pour se faire soigner des blessures que lui avaient infligées les Syriens pendant le combat contre Hazaël, roi de Syrie. Jéhu dit à ses compagnons : Si vous êtes décidés à vous rallier à moi, il faut que personne ne s’échappe de la ville pour aller annoncer la chose à Jizréel.
16 Puis Jéhu monta sur son char et partit pour Jizréel où Yoram était alité et recevait la visite d’Ahazia, le roi de Juda.
17 La sentinelle, postée sur la tour de Jizréel, vit venir la troupe de Jéhu et fit dire au roi : J’aperçois une troupe.
Yoram ordonna : Qu’on désigne un cavalier et qu’on l’envoie à leur rencontre pour leur demander s’ils viennent pour la paix.
18 Le cavalier se rendit à la rencontre de Jéhu et lui dit : Ainsi parle le roi : « Viens-tu pour la paix ? »
Jéhu répondit : Que t’importe la paix ? Fais demi-tour et passe derrière moi.
La sentinelle fit son rapport en disant : Le messager est arrivé jusqu’à eux, mais il ne revient pas.
19 On envoya un deuxième cavalier qui arriva auprès d’eux et dit : Ainsi parle le roi : « Viens-tu pour la paix ? »
Jéhu répondit : Que t’importe la paix ? Fais demi-tour et passe derrière moi.
20 La sentinelle fit son rapport en disant : Il est arrivé jusqu’à eux, mais il ne revient pas. Le chef de la troupe conduit son char à la manière de Jéhu, petit-fils de Nimshi : il conduit comme un fou.
(2 Ch 22.7-9)
21 Alors Yoram ordonna : Qu’on attelle mon char !
Et l’on attela son char. Yoram, roi d’Israël et Ahazia, roi de Juda, sortirent chacun sur son char pour aller au-devant de Jéhu, ils le rejoignirent dans le champ de Naboth de Jizréel[d]. 22 Dès que Yoram fut à portée de voix de Jéhu, il lui demanda : Viens-tu pour la paix, Jéhu ?
Jéhu répondit : Comment peut-il être question de paix tant que durent les prostitutions de ta mère Jézabel et ses innombrables pratiques de sorcellerie ?
23 Alors Yoram fit demi-tour et s’enfuit, en criant à Ahazia : Attention, Ahazia ! c’est une trahison !
24 Mais Jéhu saisit son arc et tira. La flèche frappa Yoram entre les deux épaules, lui transperça le cœur et ressortit par la poitrine. Yoram s’effondra mort dans son char. 25 Jéhu dit à son écuyer Bidqar : Prends son cadavre et jette-le dans le champ de Naboth de Jizréel ! Te rappelles-tu ? Lorsque nous étions ensemble sur un char derrière son père Achab, l’Eternel a prononcé contre lui cette sentence : 26 « Voici ce que déclare l’Eternel : Puisque j’ai vu couler le sang de Naboth et celui de ses enfants, je te le ferai payer dans ce champ même – l’Eternel le déclare[e] ! » Maintenant donc, emporte-le et jette-le dans ce champ, comme l’Eternel l’a annoncé.
27 Quand Ahazia, roi de Juda, vit ce qui se passait, il s’enfuit en direction de Beth-Hagân. Mais Jéhu se lança à sa poursuite et ordonna à ses hommes : Lui aussi, frappez-le sur son char !
Il fut blessé à la montée de Gour près de Yibleam et réussit à fuir jusqu’à Meguiddo où il mourut. 28 Ses serviteurs le ramenèrent sur un char à Jérusalem, et l’ensevelirent dans son tombeau à côté de ses ancêtres dans la Cité de David. 29 Ahazia était devenu roi de Juda la onzième année du règne de Yoram, fils d’Achab.
La fin de Jézabel
30 Jéhu était sur le point d’entrer à Jizréel. A cette nouvelle, Jézabel se farda les yeux, arrangea sa chevelure et se pencha à sa fenêtre pour regarder. 31 Lorsque Jéhu eut franchi la porte de la ville, elle lui cria : Viens-tu pour la paix, nouveau Zimri[f], assassin de ton seigneur ?
32 Il leva les yeux vers la fenêtre et s’écria : Qui de vous est pour moi ? Qui donc ?
Alors deux ou trois chambellans se penchèrent vers lui aux fenêtres. 33 Il leur ordonna : Jetez-la en bas !
Ils la précipitèrent dans le vide, et son sang éclaboussa le mur et les chevaux. Jéhu passa sur elle avec son char, 34 puis il entra dans le palais pour manger et pour boire. Ensuite, il ordonna à ses compagnons : Occupez-vous de cette femme maudite et enterrez-la. Après tout, c’est une fille de roi[g]. 35 Ses hommes allèrent pour la mettre au tombeau, mais ils ne trouvèrent d’elle que son crâne, ses pieds et ses mains. 36 Ils retournèrent l’annoncer à Jéhu qui s’écria : C’est bien ce que l’Eternel avait annoncé par son serviteur Elie de Tishbé, lorsqu’il a déclaré : « Les chiens dévoreront le corps de Jézabel dans le champ de Jizréel[h]. 37 Les restes du cadavre de Jézabel seront dispersés comme du fumier épandu sur le sol du champ de Jizréel, de sorte que personne ne pourra dire : C’est Jézabel. »
Footnotes
- 9.6 Voir 1 R 19.6.
- 9.9 Voir 1 R 15.29 ; 16.11-12.
- 9.10 Voir 1 R 21.23.
- 9.21 Voir 1 R 21.1.
- 9.26 Voir 1 R 21.19.
- 9.31 Allusion à Zimri, qui tua le roi Ela d’Israël 45 ans plus tôt, assassina toute la famille de Baésha, mais ne régna que sept jours (1 R 16.8-20).
- 9.34 Du roi des Sidoniens (1 R 16.31).
- 9.36 Voir 1 R 21.23.
2 Kings 9
King James Version
9 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 Ramothgilead:
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 Ramothgilead.
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.
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.
14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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