7 and thou hast smitten the house of Ahab thy lord, and I have required the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Jehovah, from the hand of Jezebel; 8 and perished hath all the house of Ahab, and I have cut off to Ahab those sitting on the wall, and restrained, and left, in Israel, 9 and I have given up the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and as the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, 10 and Jezebel do the dogs eat in the portion of Jezreel, and there is none burying;' and he openeth the door and fleeth.
11 And Jehu hath gone out unto the servants of his lord, and 'one' saith to him, 'Is there peace? wherefore came this madman unto thee?' and he saith unto them, 'Ye have known the man and his talk.' 12 And they say, 'False, declare, we pray thee, to us;' and he saith, 'Thus and thus spake he unto me, saying, Thus said Jehovah, I have anointed thee for king unto Israel.' 13 And they haste and take each his garment, and put 'it' under him at the top of the stairs, and blow with a trumpet, and say, 'Reigned hath Jehu!'
14 And Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspireth against Joram—(and Joram was keeping in Ramoth-Gilead, he and all Israel, from the presence of Hazael king of Aram, 15 and king Joram turneth back to be healed in Jezreel, of the wounds with which the Aramaeans smite him, in his fighting with Hazael king of Aram)—and Jehu saith, 'If it is your mind, let not an escaped one go out from the city, to go to declare 'it' in Jezreel.'
16 And Jehu rideth, and goeth to Jezreel, for Joram is lying there, and Ahaziah king of Judah hath gone down to see Joram. 17 And the watchman is standing on the tower in Jezreel, and seeth the company of Jehu in his coming, and saith, 'A company I see;' and Joram saith, 'Take a rider and send to meet them, and let him say, Is there peace?' 18 and the rider on the horse goeth to meet him, and saith, 'Thus said the king, Is there peace?' and Jehu saith, 'What—to thee and to peace? turn round behind me.' And the watchman declareth, saying, 'The messenger came unto them, and he hath not returned.' 19 And he sendeth a second rider on a horse, and he cometh in unto them, and saith, 'Thus said the king, Is there peace?' and Jehu saith, 'What—to thee and to peace? turn round behind me.' 20 And the watchman declareth, saying, 'He came unto them, and he hath not returned, and the driving 'is' like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for with madness he driveth.' 21 And Jehoram saith, 'Harness;' and his chariot is harnessed, and Jehoram king of Israel goeth out, and Ahaziah king of Judah, each in his chariot, and they go out to meet Jehu, and find him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And it cometh to pass, at Jehoram's seeing Jehu, that he saith, 'Is there peace, Jehu?' and he saith, 'What 'is' the peace, while the whoredoms of Jezebel thy mother, and her witchcrafts, are many?' 23 And Jehoram turneth his hands, and fleeth, and saith unto Ahaziah, 'Deceit, O Ahaziah!' 24 And Jehu hath filled his hand with a bow, and smiteth Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow goeth out from his heart, and he boweth down in his chariot. 25 And 'Jehu' saith unto Bidkar his captain, 'Lift up, cast him into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite—for, remember, I and thou were riding together after Ahab his father, and Jehovah lifted upon him this burden: 26 Have I not the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons seen yesternight—the affirmation of Jehovah—yea, I have recompensed to thee in this portion—the affirmation of Jehovah;—and now, lift up, cast him into the portion, according to the word of Jehovah.'
27 And Ahaziah king of Judah hath seen, and fleeth the way of the garden-house, and Jehu pursueth after him, and saith, 'Smite him—also him—in the chariot,' in the going up to Gur, that 'is' Ibleam, and he fleeth to Megiddo, and dieth there, 28 and his servants carry him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and bury him in his burying-place, with his fathers, in the city of David. 29 And in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab reign did Ahaziah over Judah.
30 And Jehu cometh in to Jezreel, and Jezebel hath heard, and putteth her eyes in paint and maketh right her head, and looketh out through the window. 31 And Jehu hath come into the gate, and she saith, 'Was there peace 'to' Zimri—slayer of his lord?' 32 And he lifteth up his face unto the window, and saith, 'Who 'is' with me?—who?' and look out unto him do two 'or' three eunuchs; 33 And he saith, 'Let her go;' and they let her go, and 'some' of her blood is sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses, and he treadeth her down. 34 And he cometh in, and eateth, and drinketh, and saith, 'Look after, I pray you, this cursed one, and bury her, for she 'is' a king's daughter.' 35 And they go to bury her, and have not found of her except the skull, and the feet, and the palms of the hands. 36 And they turn back, and declare to him, and he saith, 'The word of Jehovah it 'is', that He spake by the hand of this servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel do the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the carcase of Jezebel hath been as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, that they say not, 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.