7 'You shall strike the house of Ahab your 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 every male e person both bond and free in Israel . 9 ' 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 ' The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory 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, " Is all well ? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" And he said to them, "You know very well the man and his talk ." 12 They said , "It is a lie , tell us now ." And he said , "Thus and thus he said to me, 'Thus says the Lord , "I have anointed you king over Israel .""' 13 Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps , and blew the trumpet , saying , "Jehu is king !"
14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram . Now Joram with all Israel was defending Ramoth-gilead against e Hazael king of Aram , 15 but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram . So Jehu said , "If this is your mind , then let no one escape or leave e the city to go tell it in Jezreel ."
16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel , for Joram was lying there . 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 company of Jehu as he came , and said , "I see a 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 , " What have you to do with peace ? Turn behind e me." And the watchman reported , "The messenger came to them, but he did not return ." 19 Then he sent out a second horseman , who came to them and said , "Thus says the king , 'Is it peace ?' " And Jehu answered , "What have you to do with peace ? Turn behind e me." 20 The watchman reported , "He came even to them, and he did not return ; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi , for he drives furiously ." 21 Then Joram said , "Get ready ." And they made his chariot ready . 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 property of Naboth the Jezreelite . 22 When Joram saw Jehu , he said , "Is it peace , Jehu ?" And he answered , "What peace , so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many ?" 23 So Joram reined e about e and fled and said to Ahaziah , " There is treachery , O Ahaziah !" 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his arms ; and the arrow went through his heart and he sank in his chariot . 25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer , "Take him up and cast him into the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite , for I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab his father , that the Lord laid this oracle against him: 26 'Surely e I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons ,' says the Lord , 'and I will repay you in this property ,' says the Lord . Now then, take and cast him into the property , according to the word of the Lord ."
27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house . And Jehu pursued him and said , "Shoot him too , in the chariot ." So they shot him at the ascent of Gur , which is at Ibleam . But he fled to Megiddo and died there . 28 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 the eleventh e year of Joram , the son of Ahab , Ahaziah became king over Judah .
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel , Jezebel heard of it, and she painted e her eyes and adorned her head and looked out the window . 31 As Jehu entered the gate , she said , " Is it well , Zimri , your master's murderer ?" 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 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 When he came in, he ate and drank ; and he said , "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter ." 35 They went to bury her, but they found nothing more e of her than e the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands . 36 Therefore they returned and told him. And he said , "This is the word of the Lord , which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite , saying , ' In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel ; 37 and the corpse of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field in the property of Jezreel , so they cannot say , "This is Jezebel .""'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 9:7-37
Commentary on 2 Kings 9:1-10
(Read 2 Kings 9:1-10)
In these and the like events, we must acknowledge the secret working of God, disposing men to fulfil his purposes respecting them. Jehu was anointed king over Israel, by the Lord's special choice. The Lord still had a remnant of his people, and would yet preserve his worship among them. Of this Jehu was reminded. He was commanded to destroy the house of Ahab, and, as far as he acted in obedience to God, and upon right principles, he needed not to regard reproach or opposition. The murder of God's prophets is strongly noticed. Jezebel persisted in idolatry and enmity to Jehovah and his servants, and her iniquity was now full.
Commentary on 2 Kings 9:11-15
(Read 2 Kings 9:11-15)
Those who faithfully deliver the Lord's message to sinners, have in all ages been treated as madmen. Their judgment, speech, and conduct are contrary to those of other men; they endure much in pursuit of objects, and are influenced by motives, into which the others cannot enter. But above all, the charge is brought by the worldly and ungodly of all sorts, who are mad indeed; while the principles and practice of the devoted servants of God, prove to be wise and reasonable. Some faith in the word of God, seems to have animated Jehu to this undertaking.
Commentary on 2 Kings 9:16-29
(Read 2 Kings 9:16-29)
Jehu was a man of eager spirit. The wisdom of God is seen in the choice of those employed in his work. But it is not for any man's reputation to be known by his fury. He that has rule over his own spirit, is better than the mighty. Joram met Jehu in the portion of Naboth. The circumstances of events are sometimes ordered by Divine Providence to make the punishment answer to the sin, as face answers to face in a glass. The way of sin can never be the way of peace, Isaiah 57:21. What peace can sinners have with God? No peace so long as sin is persisted in; but when it is repented of and forsaken, there is peace. Joram died as a criminal, under the sentence of the law. Ahaziah was joined with the house of Ahab. He was one of them; he had made himself so by sin. It is dangerous to join evil-doers; we shall be entangled in guilt and misery by it.
Commentary on 2 Kings 9:30-37
(Read 2 Kings 9:30-37)
Instead of hiding herself, as one afraid of Divine vengeance, Jezebel mocked at fear. See how a heart, hardened against God, will brave it out to the last. There is not a surer presage of ruin, than an unhumbled heart under humbling providences. Let those look at Jezebel's conduct and fate, who use arts to seduce others to commit wickedness, and to draw them aside from the ways of truth and righteousness. Jehu called for aid against Jezebel. When reformation-work is on foot, it is time to ask, Who sides with it? Her attendants delivered her up. Thus she was put to death. See the end of pride and cruelty, and say, The Lord is righteous. When we pamper our bodies, let us think how vile they are; shortly they will be a feast for worms under ground, or beasts above ground. May we all flee from that wrath which is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.