Joram and Ahaziah Are Killed^(A)

¹⁴ So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, ·made plans [conspired; plotted] 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 [recover] from the ·injuries [wounds] the Arameans had given him when he fought against Hazael king of Aram.

Jehu said, “If you ·agree with this [want me to be king], don’t let anyone leave the city to 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 [a company of] soldiers!”

Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them. Tell him to ask, ‘·Is all in order [Do you come in peace; ^LIs it peace]?’”

¹⁸ The horseman rode out to meet Jehu, and he said, “This is what the king says: ‘·Is all in order [Do you come in peace; ^LIs it peace]?’”

Jehu said, “·Why bother yourself with order [What is peace to you]? ·Come along [Fall in] 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 [Do you come in peace; ^LIs it peace]?’”

Jehu answered, “·Why bother yourself with order [What is peace to you]? ·Come along [Fall in] behind me.”

²⁰ The lookout reported, “He 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 [like a madman/maniac]!”

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, and met Jehu at the ·property of [plot of ground belonging to] Naboth the Jezreelite [1 Kin. 21:1–19].

²² When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “·Is all in order [Do you come in peace; ^LIs it peace], Jehu?”

Jehu answered, “There will never be any ·order [peace] as long as your mother ·Jezebel worships idols and uses witchcraft [Jezebel’s prostitutions/harlotries and witchcraft/sorceries abound].”

²³ Joram turned the horses to run away and yelled to Ahaziah, “·It’s a trick [Treason; Treachery], Ahaziah!”

²⁴ Then Jehu drew his bow with all his strength and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow ·went through [pierced] Joram’s heart, and he ·fell [sank; slumped] 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 [behind] Joram’s father Ahab. The Lord ·made this prophecy [pronounced this oracle; 1 Kin. 19:17, 21:19–29] against him: ²⁶ ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons, says the Lord, so I will ·punish [repay] Ahab in his field, says the Lord.’ Take Joram’s body and throw it into the field, ·as the Lord has said [^Lin accordance with the word of the Lord].”

²⁷ When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he ·ran away [fled] toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, saying, “Shoot Ahaziah, too!” Ahaziah was wounded in his chariot ·on the way up to [at the Ascent of] 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 [fathers] in his tomb in the City of David [^CJerusalem]. ²⁹ (Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year Joram son of Ahab was king.)