14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.(A) Joram and all Israel had been at Ramoth-gilead on guard against King Hazael of Aram. 15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought against Aram’s King Hazael. Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king,[a] then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.”

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah

16 Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel since Joram was laid up there and King Ahaziah of Judah had gone down to visit Joram. 17 Now the watchman(B) was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s mob approaching and shouted, “I see a mob!”

Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’” (C)

18 So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”

The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them but hasn’t started back.”

19 So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”

20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them but hasn’t started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi(D)—he drives like a madman.”

21 “Get the chariot ready!” Joram shouted, and they got it ready. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu at the plot of land of Naboth the Jezreelite.(E) 22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?”

He answered, “What peace can there be as long as there is so much prostitution and sorcery from your mother Jezebel?” (F)

23 Joram turned around and fled, shouting to Ahaziah, “It’s treachery,(G) Ahaziah!”

24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.(H) 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite.(I) For remember when you and I were riding side by side behind his father Ahab, and the Lord uttered this pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘so will I repay you on this plot of land’—this is the Lord’s declaration. So now, according to the word of the Lord, pick him up and throw him on the plot of land.”(J)

27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot him in his chariot[b] at Gur Pass near Ibleam,(K) but he fled to Megiddo(L) and died there.(M) 28 Then his servants carried him to Jerusalem in a chariot and buried him in his ancestors’ tomb in the city of David.(N) 29 It was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had become king over Judah.(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:15 Lit “If your desire exists
  2. 9:27 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT omits So they shot him

Jehu Assassinates Jehoram (Joram)

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (A)Now Joram [a]with all Israel was [b]defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15 but (B)King [c]Joram had returned to Jezreel to have himself healed of the wounds which the Arameans had [d]inflicted on him when he fought Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said to the other men, “If this is your [e]intent, then let no [f]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. (C)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 [g]company of Jehu as he came, and he said, “I see a [h]company.” And [i]Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him [j]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, “[k](D)How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” And the watchman [l]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 [m]answered, “[n]How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” 20 And the watchman [o]reported, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and (E)the [p]driving is like the driving of (F)Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21 Then [q]Joram said, “[r]Get ready.” And they [s]made his chariot ready. (G)Then [t]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 [u](H)property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 When [v]Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is your intention peace, Jehu?” And he [w]answered, “What ‘peace,’ (I)so long as your mother Jezebel’s acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?” 23 So [x]Joram [y]turned back and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “(J)There is treachery, Ahaziah!” 24 Then (K)Jehu [z]drew his bow with his full strength and [aa]shot [ab]Joram between his arms; and the arrow went [ac]through his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and (L)throw him on the [ad]property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when [ae]you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the (M)Lord brought this (N)pronouncement against him: 26 (O)I have certainly seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ declares the Lord, ‘and (P)I will repay you on this [af]property,’ declares the Lord. Now then, pick him up and throw him on the [ag]property, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah

27 (Q)When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by way of the garden house. But Jehu pursued him and said, “[ah]Shoot him too, in the chariot.” So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is at (R)Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 (S)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 (T)the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit he and
  2. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit protecting
  3. 2 Kings 9:15 Heb Jehoram
  4. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit struck
  5. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit soul
  6. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit escapee leave
  7. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
  8. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
  9. 2 Kings 9:17 Heb Jehoram
  10. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit say
  11. 2 Kings 9:18 Lit What to you and to peace
  12. 2 Kings 9:18 Lit reported, saying
  13. 2 Kings 9:19 Lit said
  14. 2 Kings 9:19 See note 1 v 18
  15. 2 Kings 9:20 Lit reported, saying
  16. 2 Kings 9:20 I.e., of the chariot
  17. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  18. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit Harness the chariot
  19. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit harnessed
  20. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  21. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit portion
  22. 2 Kings 9:22 Heb Jehoram
  23. 2 Kings 9:22 Lit said
  24. 2 Kings 9:23 Heb Jehoram
  25. 2 Kings 9:23 Lit turned his hands
  26. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit filled his hand with the bow
  27. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit struck
  28. 2 Kings 9:24 Heb Jehoram
  29. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit out from
  30. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit portion
  31. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit I and you
  32. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  33. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  34. 2 Kings 9:27 Lit strike