2 Kings 9
New Century Version
Jehu Is Chosen King
9 At the same time, Elisha the prophet called a man from the groups of prophets. Elisha said, “Get ready, and take this small bottle of olive oil in your hand. Go to Ramoth in Gilead. 2 When you arrive, find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in and make Jehu get up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room. 3 Then take the bottle and pour the oil on Jehu’s head and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run away. Don’t wait!”
4 So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth in Gilead. 5 When he arrived, he saw the officers of the army sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.”
Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”
The young man said, “For you, commander.”
6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu’s head and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘I have appointed you king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7 You must destroy the family of Ahab your master. I will punish Jezebel for the deaths of my servants the prophets and for all the Lord’s servants who were murdered. 8 All of Ahab’s family must die. I will not let any male child in Ahab’s family live in Israel, whether slave or free. 9 I will make Ahab’s family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 The dogs will eat Jezebel at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’”
Then the young prophet opened the door and ran away.
11 When Jehu went back to his master’s officers, one of them said to Jehu, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy man come to you?”
Jehu answered, “You know the man and how he talks.”
12 They answered, “That’s not true. Tell us.”
Jehu said, “He said to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you to be king over Israel.’”
13 Then the officers hurried, and each man took off his own coat and put it on the stairs for Jehu. They blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Joram and Ahaziah Are Killed
14 So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, made plans against Joram. Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth in Gilead from Hazael king of Aram. 15 But King Joram had to return to Jezreel to heal from the injuries the Arameans had given him when he fought against Hazael king of Aram.
Jehu said, “If you agree with this, don’t let anyone leave the city. They might tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then he got into his chariot and set out for Jezreel, where Joram was resting. Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17 The lookout was standing on the watchtower in Jezreel when he saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some soldiers!”
Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them. Tell him to ask, ‘Is all in order?’”
18 The horseman rode out to meet Jehu, and he said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is all in order?’”
Jehu said, “Why bother yourself with order? Come along behind me.”
The lookout reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.”
19 Then Joram sent out a second horseman. This rider came to Jehu’s group and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is all in order?’”
Jehu answered, “Why bother yourself with order? Come along behind me.”
20 The lookout reported, “The second man reached them, but he is not coming back. The man in the chariot is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives as if he were crazy!”
21 Joram said, “Get my chariot ready.” Then the servant got Joram’s chariot ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is all in order, Jehu?”
Jehu answered, “There will never be any order as long as your mother Jezebel worships idols and uses witchcraft.”
23 Joram turned the horses to run away and yelled to Ahaziah, “It’s a trick, Ahaziah!”
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow went through Joram’s heart, and he fell down in his chariot.
25 Jehu ordered Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick up Joram’s body, and throw it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember when you and I rode together with Joram’s father Ahab. The Lord made this prophecy against him: 26 ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons, says the Lord, so I will punish Ahab in his field, says the Lord.’ Take Joram’s body and throw it into the field, as the Lord has said.”
27 When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he ran away toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, saying, “Shoot Ahaziah, too!” Ahaziah was wounded in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam. He got as far as Megiddo but died there. 28 Ahaziah’s servants carried his body in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in Jerusalem. 29 (Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year Joram son of Ahab was king.)
Death of Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She put on her eye makeup and fixed her hair. Then she looked out the window. 31 When Jehu entered the city gate, Jezebel said, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri,[a] you who killed your master?”
32 Jehu looked up at the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three servants looked out the window at Jehu. 33 He said to them, “Throw her down.” So they threw Jezebel down, and the horses ran over her. Some of her blood splashed on the wall and on the horses.
34 Jehu went into the house and ate and drank. Then he said, “Now see about this cursed woman. Bury her, because she is a king’s daughter.”
35 The men went to bury Jezebel, but they could not find her. They found only her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told Jehu, he said, “The Lord said this through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel at Jezreel. 37 Her body will be like manure on the field in the land at Jezreel. No one will be able to say that this is Jezebel.’”
Footnotes
- 9:31 Zimri He was the man who killed Elah and the family of Baasha. Read 1 Kings 16:8–12.
2 Kings 9
English Standard Version
Jehu Anointed King of Israel
9 Then Elisha the prophet called one of (A)the sons of the prophets and said to him, (B)“Tie up your garments, and take this (C)flask of oil in your hand, and go to (D)Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu (E)the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among (F)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, (G)I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee; do not linger.”
4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for 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, (H)I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge (I)on Jezebel 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, (J)and I will cut off from Ahab (K)every male, (L)bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like (M)the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like (N)the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 (O)And the dogs shall eat Jezebel 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, (P)“Is all well? Why did (Q)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 (R)every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare[a] steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, (S)“Jehu is king.”
Jehu Assassinates Joram and Ahaziah
14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. ((T)Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against (U)Hazael king of Syria, 15 (V)but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, 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 Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.
17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw 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 do you have to do with peace? Turn around 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 do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving (W)is like the driving of Jehu (X)the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
21 Joram said, (Y)“Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. (Z)Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him (AA)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 (AB)the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, O Ahaziah!” 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 (AC)his aide, “Take him up and throw him (AD)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 (AE)the Lord made this (AF)pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the Lord—I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”
27 (AG)When Ahaziah 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[b] in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by (AH)Ibleam. And he fled to (AI)Megiddo and died there. 28 (AJ)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 (AK)eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.
Jehu Executes Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And (AL)she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, (AM)“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, (AN)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 Elijah the Tishbite: (AO)‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be (AP)as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’”
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 9:13 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- 2 Kings 9:27 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Septuagint); Hebrew lacks and they shot him
4 Царств 9
Священное Писание (Восточный Перевод)
Помазание Иеву на царство в Исраиле
9 Пророк Елисей призвал одного из учеников пророческих и сказал ему:
– Поторопись, возьми этот сосуд с маслом и ступай в Рамот Галаадский. 2 Когда придёшь туда, разыщи там Иеву, сына Иосафата, внука Нимши. Пойди к нему и уведи его от его друзей во внутреннюю комнату. 3 Возьми этот сосуд, полей масло ему на голову и произнеси: «Так говорит Вечный: „Я помазываю[a] тебя в цари Исраила“». Потом открой дверь и беги, не задерживайся!
4 И молодой ученик пошёл в Рамот Галаадский. 5 Когда он пришёл туда, он увидел военачальников, сидящих вместе.
– У меня есть весть для тебя, военачальник, – сказал он.
– Для кого из нас? – спросил Иеву.
– Для тебя, военачальник, – ответил он.
6 Иеву встал и прошёл в дом. И пророк возлил масло на голову Иеву и произнёс:
– Так говорит Вечный, Бог Исраила: «Я помазываю тебя в цари Исраила, народа Вечного. 7 Истреби дом Ахава, твоего господина, чтобы Мне отомстить за кровь Моих рабов пророков и за кровь всех рабов Вечного, пролитую Иезевелью. 8 Погибнет весь дом Ахава. Я истреблю у Ахава всякого человека мужского пола – и раба, и свободного. 9 Я уподоблю дом Ахава дому Иеровоама, сына Невата, и дому Бааши, сына Ахии.[b] 10 А Иезевель сожрут псы на участке земли в Изрееле, и никто её не похоронит».
После этого он открыл дверь и убежал. 11 Когда Иеву вышел к друзьям, один из них спросил его:
– Всё ли благополучно? Зачем к тебе приходил этот сумасшедший?
– Вы сами знаете, что это за человек и что он может сказать, – ответил Иеву.
12 – Неправда! – сказали они. – Расскажи нам.
Иеву сказал:
– Он сказал мне: «Так говорит Вечный: „Я помазываю тебя в цари Исраила“».
13 Они заторопились, взяли плащи и постелили их ему прямо на ступеньках. Потом они затрубили в рог и закричали:
– Воцарился Иеву!
Гибель царей Иорама и Охозии(A)
14 Иеву, сын Иосафата, внук Нимши, составил заговор против Иорама. (Иорам и весь Исраил защищали Рамот Галаадский от Хазаила, царя Сирии, 15 но царь Иорам вернулся в Изреель, чтобы оправиться от ран, которые сирийцы нанесли ему в битве с царём Сирии Хазаилом.) Иеву сказал:
– Если вы согласны, то не давайте никому выйти из города и рассказать новости в Изрееле.
16 Он взошёл на колесницу и поехал в Изреель, потому что там отдыхал Иорам, а Охозия, царь Иудеи, пришёл его навестить. 17 Когда часовой, стоявший на башне в Изрееле, увидел, как приближаются воины Иеву, он закричал:
– Я вижу воинов!
– Отправь им навстречу всадника, – приказал Иорам. – Пусть спросит: «С миром ли вы?»
18 Всадник выехал навстречу Иеву и сказал:
– Царь спрашивает, с миром ли вы?
– Что тебе до мира? – ответил Иеву. – Поезжай за мной.
И часовой доложил:
– Посланец доехал до них, но назад не возвращается.
19 Тогда царь послал второго всадника. Подъехав к ним, он сказал:
– Царь спрашивает, с миром ли вы?
Иеву ответил:
– Что тебе до мира? Поезжай за мной.
20 И часовой доложил:
– Посланец доехал до них, но и он не возвращается назад. А человек, скачущий впереди, похож на Иеву, сына Нимши, – он скачет, как безумец.
21 – Запрягай мою колесницу, – приказал Иорам.
И когда её запрягли, Иорам, царь Исраила, и Охозия, царь Иудеи, выехали в своих колесницах навстречу Иеву. Они встретили его у участка земли, который принадлежал Навоту из Изрееля.
22 Увидев Иеву, Иорам спросил:
– Ты с миром, Иеву?
– Какой мир, – ответил Иеву, – пока множатся идолопоклонство и чародейство твоей матери Иезевели?
23 Иорам повернул назад и обратился в бегство, крича Охозии:
– Измена, Охозия!
24 Иеву натянул лук и поразил Иорама между лопатками. Стрела пронзила ему сердце, и он осел в колеснице. 25 А Иеву сказал своему сановнику Бидкару:
– Подними его и брось на поле, что принадлежало Навоту из Изрееля. Помнишь, как мы с тобой ехали в колесницах за его отцом Ахавом, когда Вечный изрёк о нём такое пророчество: 26 «Вчера Я видел кровь Навота и кровь его сыновей, – возвещает Вечный, – и непременно взыщу с тебя за неё на этом участке земли». Итак, подними его и брось на тот самый участок, по слову Вечного.[c]
27 Увидев, что случилось, Охозия, царь Иудеи, бежал по дороге к Бет-Гану[d]. Иеву гнался за ним, крича:
– Убейте и этого!
Люди ранили Охозию в колеснице на дороге, поднимающейся к Гуру, что близ Ивлеама, но он скрылся в городе Мегиддо, где и умер. 28 Слуги отвезли его на колеснице в Иерусалим и похоронили с предками в его гробнице в Городе Давуда. 29 (Охозия стал царём Иудеи на одиннадцатом году правления Иорама, сына Ахава.)
Гибель Иезевели
30 А Иеву пошёл в Изреель. Когда Иезевель услышала об этом, она подвела глаза, уложила волосы и стала смотреть в окно. 31 Когда Иеву вошёл в ворота, она спросила:
– Обрёл ли покой Зимри, убийца своего господина?[e]
32 Он поднял взгляд к окну и позвал:
– Кто за меня? Кто?
Из окна выглянули два или три евнуха.
33 – Сбросьте её вниз! – сказал Иеву.
Они сбросили её, и её кровь брызнула на стену и на коней, которые растоптали её.
34 Иеву зашёл, поел и попил. Потом он сказал:
– Разыщите эту проклятую и похороните, она всё-таки царская дочь.
35 Но когда пошли её хоронить, то не нашли ничего, кроме черепа, ног и кистей рук 36 и, вернувшись, доложили Иеву, который сказал:
– Это слово Вечного, которое Он изрёк через Своего раба Ильяса из Тишбы: «На земле Изрееля псы сожрут тело Иезевели. 37 Труп Иезевели будет на участке Изрееля, как навоз на поле, так что никто не скажет: „Это Иезевель“».[f]
Footnotes
- 9:3 Посредством обряда помазания человек посвящался на определённое служение. Такого помазания удостаивались пророки, цари и священнослужители.
- 9:9 См. 3 Цар. 14:10-11; 16:3-4.
- 9:25-26 См. 3 Цар. 21:19, 24, 29.
- 9:27 Или: «по дороге, которая ведёт к садовому дому».
- 9:31 Иезевель намекает здесь на судьбу военачальника Зимри, который убил своего царя Елу и истребил весь царский род, но сам погиб через семь дней (см. 3 Цар. 16:9-20).
- 9:33-37 См. ст. 10 и 3 Цар. 21:23.
2 Kings 9
New English Translation
Jehu Becomes King
9 Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild[a] and told him, “Tuck your robes into your belt, take this container[b] of olive oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room.[c] 3 Take the container of olive oil, pour it over his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord has said, “I have designated[d] you as king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and run away quickly!”[e]
4 So the young prophet[f] went to Ramoth Gilead. 5 When he arrived, the officers of the army were sitting there.[g] So he said, “I have a message for you, O officer.”[h] Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”[i] He replied, “For you, O officer.” 6 So Jehu[j] got up and went inside. Then the prophet[k] poured the olive oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said, ‘I have designated you as king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7 You will destroy the family of your master Ahab.[l] I will get revenge against Jezebel for the shed blood of my servants the prophets and for the shed blood of all the Lord’s servants.[m] 8 Ahab’s entire family will die. I[n] will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated.[o] 9 I will make Ahab’s dynasty[p] like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel; she will not be buried.’”[q] Then he opened the door and ran away.
11 When Jehu rejoined[r] his master’s servants, they[s] asked him, “Is everything all right?[t] Why did this madman visit you?” He replied, “Ah, it’s not important. You know what kind of man he is and the kinds of things he says.”[u] 12 But they said, “You’re lying! Tell us what he said.” So he told them what he had said. He also related how he had said,[v] “This is what the Lord has said, ‘I have designated you as king over Israel.’” 13 Each of them quickly took off his cloak, and they spread them out at Jehu’s[w] feet on the steps.[x] The trumpet was blown[y] and they shouted, “Jehu is[z] king!” 14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.
Jehu the Assassin
Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army,[aa] guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria. 15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians[ab] when he fought against King Hazael of Syria.[ac] Jehu told his supporters,[ad] “If you really want me to be king,[ae] then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.” 16 Jehu drove his chariot[af] to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating[ag] there. (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit[ah] Joram.)
17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching.[ai] He said, “I see troops!”[aj] Joram[ak] ordered,[al] “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, ‘Is everything all right?’”[am] 18 So the horseman[an] went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’”[ao] Jehu replied, “None of your business![ap] Follow me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.” 19 So he sent a second horseman out to them[aq] and he said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’”[ar] Jehu replied, “None of your business! Follow me.” 20 The watchman reported, “He reached them, but hasn’t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi;[as] he drives recklessly.” 21 Joram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.”[at] When his chariot had been hitched up,[au] King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots[av] to meet Jehu. They met up with him[aw] in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.
22 When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?” He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?”[ax] 23 Joram turned his chariot around and took off.[ay] He said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap,[az] Ahaziah!” 24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Joram’s shoulders.[ba] The arrow went through[bb] his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. 25 Jehu ordered[bc] his officer Bidkar, “Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Remember, you and I were riding together behind his father, Ahab, when the Lord pronounced this oracle against him, 26 ‘“Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday,” says the Lord, “and that I will give you what you deserve[bd] right here in this plot of land,” says the Lord.’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as in the Lord’s message.”
27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off[be] up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered, “Shoot him too.” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam.[bf] He fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants took his body[bg] back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. 29 Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.
30 Jehu approached Jezreel. When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner,[bh] fixed up her hair, and leaned out the window. 31 When Jehu came through the gate, she said, “Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?”[bi] 32 He looked up at the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three[bj] eunuchs looked down at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground,[bk] her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her.[bl] 34 He went inside and had a meal.[bm] Then he said, “Dispose of this accursed woman’s corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king’s daughter.”[bn] 35 But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but[bo] the skull, feet, and palms of the hands. 36 So they went back and told him. Then he said, “It is the fulfillment of the Lord’s message[bp] that he had spoken through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37 Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel. People will not be able to even recognize her.’”[bq]
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 9:1 tn Heb “one of the sons of the prophets.”
- 2 Kings 9:1 tn Or “flask.”
- 2 Kings 9:2 tn Heb “and go and set him apart from his brothers and bring him into an inner room in an inner room.”
- 2 Kings 9:3 tn Heb “anointed.”
- 2 Kings 9:3 tn Heb “and open the door and run away and do not delay.”
- 2 Kings 9:4 tc Heb “the young man, the young man, the prophet.” The MT is probably dittographic, the phrase “the young man” being accidentally repeated. The phrases “the young man” and “the prophet” are appositional, with the latter qualifying more specifically the former.
- 2 Kings 9:5 tn Heb “and he arrived and look, the officers of the army were sitting.”
- 2 Kings 9:5 tn Heb “[there is] a word for me to you, O officer.”
- 2 Kings 9:5 tn Heb “To whom from all of us?”
- 2 Kings 9:6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehu) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 9:6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 9:7 tn Heb “strike down the house of Ahab your master.”
- 2 Kings 9:7 tn Heb “I will avenge the shed blood of my servants the prophets and the shed blood of all the servants of the Lord from the hand of Jezebel.”
- 2 Kings 9:8 tc The LXX has the second person, “you.”
- 2 Kings 9:8 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Ahab those who urinate against a wall, [including both those who are] restrained and let free [or, ‘abandoned’] in Israel.” On the phrase וְעָצוּר וְעָזוּב (veʿatsur veʿazur, translated here “weak and incapacitated”) see the note at 1 Kgs 14:10.
- 2 Kings 9:9 tn Heb “house.”
- 2 Kings 9:10 sn Note how the young prophet greatly expands the message Elisha had given to him. In addition to lengthening the introductory formula (by adding “the God of Israel”) and the official declaration that accompanies the act of anointing (by adding “the Lord’s people”), he goes on to tell how Jehu will become king (by a revolt against Ahab’s dynasty), makes it clear that Jehu will be an instrument of divine vengeance, and predicts the utter annihilation of Ahab’s family and the violent death of Jezebel.
- 2 Kings 9:11 tn Heb “went out to.”
- 2 Kings 9:11 tc The MT has the singular, “he said,” but many witnesses correctly read the plural.
- 2 Kings 9:11 tn Heb “Is there peace?”
- 2 Kings 9:11 tn Heb “He said, ‘You, you know the man and his thoughts.’” Jehu tries to deflect their question by reminding them that the man is an eccentric individual who says strange things. His reply suggests that the man said nothing of importance. The translation seeks to bring out the tone and intent of Jehu’s reply.
- 2 Kings 9:12 tn Heb “So he said, ‘Like this and like this he said to me, saying.’” The words “like this and like this” are probably not a direct quote of Jehu’s words to his colleagues. Rather this is the narrator’s way of avoiding repetition and indicating that Jehu repeated, or at least summarized, what the prophet had said to him.
- 2 Kings 9:13 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Jehu) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 9:13 tn Heb “and they hurried and took, each one his garment, and they placed [them] beneath him on the bone [?] of the steps.” The precise nuance of גֶּרֶם (gerem), “bone,” is unclear. Some suggest the nuance “bare” here; it may be a technical architectural term in this context.
- 2 Kings 9:13 tn Heb “they blew the trumpet.” This has been translated as a passive to avoid the implication that the same ones who shouted had all blown trumpets.
- 2 Kings 9:13 tn Or “has become.”
- 2 Kings 9:14 tn Heb “he and all Israel.”
- 2 Kings 9:15 tn Heb “which the Syrians inflicted [on] him.”
- 2 Kings 9:15 sn See 2 Kgs 8:28-29a.
- 2 Kings 9:15 tn The words “his supporters” are added for clarification.
- 2 Kings 9:15 tn Heb “If this is your desire.” נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) refers here to the seat of the emotions and will. For other examples of this use of the word, see BDB 660-61 s.v.
- 2 Kings 9:16 tn Heb “rode [or, ‘mounted’] and went.”
- 2 Kings 9:16 tn Heb “lying down.”
- 2 Kings 9:16 tn Heb “to see.”
- 2 Kings 9:17 tn Heb “the quantity [of the men] of Jehu, when he approached.” Elsewhere שִׁפְעַה (shifʿah), “quantity,” is used of a quantity of camels (Isa 60:6) or horses (Ezek 26:10) and of an abundance of water (Job 22:11; 38:34).
- 2 Kings 9:17 tn The term שִׁפְעַת (shifʿat) appears to be a construct form of the noun, but no genitive follows.
- 2 Kings 9:17 tn Heb “Jehoram” here and in vv. 21, 22, 23, 24; Joram is a short form of the name Jehoram.
- 2 Kings 9:17 tn Heb “said.”
- 2 Kings 9:17 tn Heb “Get a rider and send [him] to meet him and let him ask, ‘Is there peace?’”
- 2 Kings 9:18 tn Heb “the rider of the horse.”
- 2 Kings 9:18 tn Heb “Is there peace?”
- 2 Kings 9:18 tn Heb “What concerning you and concerning peace?” That is, “What concern is that to you?”
- 2 Kings 9:19 tn Heb “and he came to them.”
- 2 Kings 9:19 tc The MT has simply “peace,” omitting the prefixed interrogative particle. It is likely that the particle has been accidentally omitted; several ancient witnesses include it or assume its presence.
- 2 Kings 9:20 tn Heb “and the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi.”
- 2 Kings 9:21 tn The words “my chariot” are added for clarification.
- 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “and he hitched up his chariot.”
- 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “each in his chariot and they went out.”
- 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “they found him.”
- 2 Kings 9:22 tn Heb “How [can there be] peace as long as the adulterous acts of Jezebel your mother and her acts of sorcery [are] many?” In this instance “adulterous acts” is employed metaphorically for idolatry. As elsewhere in the OT, worshiping other gods is viewed as spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. The phrase “many acts of sorcery” could be taken literally, for Jezebel undoubtedly utilized pagan divination practices, but the phrase may be metaphorical, pointing to her devotion to pagan customs in general.
- 2 Kings 9:23 tn Heb “and Jehoram turned his hands and fled.” The phrase “turned his hands” refers to how he would have pulled on the reins in order to make his horses turn around.
- 2 Kings 9:23 tn Heb “Deceit, Ahaziah.”
- 2 Kings 9:24 tn Heb “and Jehu filled his hand with the bow and he struck Jehoram between his shoulders.”
- 2 Kings 9:24 tn Heb “went out from.”
- 2 Kings 9:25 tn Heb “said to.”
- 2 Kings 9:26 tn Heb “I will pay you back.”
- 2 Kings 9:27 tn Heb “and Ahaziah king of Judah saw and fled.”
- 2 Kings 9:27 tn After Jehu’s order (“kill him too”), the MT has simply, “to the chariot in the ascent of Gur which is near Ibleam.” The main verb in the clause, “they shot him” (וַיַּכֻּהוּ, vayyakkuhu), has been accidentally omitted by virtual haplography/homoioteleuton. Note that the immediately preceding form הַכֻּהוּ (hakkuhu), “shoot him,” ends with the same suffix.
- 2 Kings 9:28 tn Heb “drove him.”
- 2 Kings 9:30 tn Heb “she fixed her eyes with antimony.” Antimony (פּוּךְ, pukh) was used as a cosmetic. The narrator portrays her as a prostitute (see Jer 4:30), a role she has played in the spiritual realm (see the note at v. 22).
- 2 Kings 9:31 sn Jezebel associates Jehu with another assassin, Zimri, who approximately 44 years before had murdered King Elah, only to meet a violent death just a few days later (1 Kgs 16:9-20). On the surface Jezebel’s actions seem contradictory. On the one hand, she beautifies herself as if to seduce Jehu, but on the other hand, she insults and indirectly threatens him with this comparison to Zimri. Upon further reflection, however, her actions reveal a clear underlying motive. She wants to retain her power, not to mention her life. By beautifying herself, she appeals to Jehu’s sexual impulses; by threatening him, she reminds him that he is in the same precarious position as Zimri. But, if he makes Jezebel his queen, he can consolidate his power. In other words through her actions and words Jezebel is saying to Jehu, “You desire me, don’t you? And you need me!”
- 2 Kings 9:32 tn Heb “two, three.” The narrator may be intentionally vague or uncertain here, or the two numbers may represent alternate traditions.
- 2 Kings 9:33 tn The words “when she hit the ground” are added for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Kings 9:33 tn Heb “and he trampled her.”
- 2 Kings 9:34 tn Heb “and he went in and ate and drank.”
- 2 Kings 9:34 tn Heb “Attend to this accursed woman and bury her for she was the daughter of a king.”
- 2 Kings 9:35 tn Heb “they did not find her, except for.”
- 2 Kings 9:36 tn Heb “It is the Lord’s message.”
- 2 Kings 9:37 tn Heb “so that they will not say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”
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