ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Kings 9

2 Kings 9:1–10:17 First Kings 19:15–18 tells of three men whom God would use to bring about the end of Baal worship in Israel. Two of those men—Elisha and Hazael—have already appeared on the scene. This next section tells the story of Jehu.

2 Kings 9:1 Tie up your garments. See 1 Kings 18:46 and 2 Kings 4:29. Speed will be important for this messenger from among the sons of the prophets (see note on 2:3). The army is still at Ramoth-gilead, even though the king has withdrawn to Jezreel (8:29).

2 Kings 9:2 Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Jehu was described in 1 Kings 19:16 only as “son of Nimshi” (see also 2 Kings 9:20). Nimshi is actually his grandfather rather than his father (who is not the Judean king Jehoshaphat). It is unusual for the grandfather to be referred to in citations of this kind. Perhaps Nimshi was a particularly well-known person.

2 Kings 9:3 flask of oil. Elijah had been commanded to anoint Jehu king over Israel (1 Kings 19:16), but had failed to do so. The reasons for Elisha’s advice to the messenger to open the door and flee are not given. The reference to Jehu’s reckless chariot driving (2 Kings 9:20) perhaps suggests that he has a reputation for reckless behavior and could be dangerous to the messenger.

2 Kings 9:7 you shall strike down the house of Ahab. The pronouncement the messenger delivered is much longer than the one Elisha gave in v. 3 and the one Jehu later gave to his fellow officers (v. 12). The authors probably shortened the other versions of the message to avoid repetition.

2 Kings 9:10 none shall bury her. It was considered a terrible thing in Israel not to be given a proper burial (see Deut. 28:25–26; Jer. 16:4).

2 Kings 9:13 they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” The people’s eagerness to do this suggests that there was instability in the army because of Jehoram’s lack of military success.

2 Kings 9:17–20 I see a company. As Jehu approaches with his army, the people in the city are not sure what is happening.

2 Kings 9:22 Is it peace, Jehu? It seems unlikely that Jehoram and Ahaziah would have left the safety of Jezreel to meet Jehu if they had doubted Jehu’s peaceable intentions. The Hebrew phrase probably could be translated, “Is all well?” What peace can there be? Jehu’s response is to ask how things can be well in a kingdom dominated by the Baal religion and the whorings of Joram’s mother Jezebel.

2 Kings 9:25–26 plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. See note on 1 Kings 21:19.

2 Kings 9:27–28 he fled to Megiddo and died there. Linked with Ahab in marriage and practicing the same idol worship, Ahaziah also shares in his fate. He is shot . . . in the chariot, later to be transported dead to his capital city for burial.

2 Kings 9:30 she painted her eyes and adorned her head. Jezebel met her end proudly, dressed up as a queen should be.

2 Kings 9:31 Jezebel sarcastically compares Jehu to a previous king, Zimri, whose reign lasted only seven days (1 Kings 16:8–20). She implies that Jehu will not survive his own revolution.

2 Kings 9:32 Kings in ancient times often hired eunuchs (castrated males) to guard their harems. This assured the king that the males close to his women were not capable of sexual relations with them. Eunuchs also served as cooks, scribes, ambassadors, and in administrative roles.

2 Kings 9:36 the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah. Elijah earlier prophesied the gruesome death of Jezebel (1 Kings 21:23). dogs shall eat. Leaving Jezebel’s corpse to devouring dogs meant disgrace, since burial was now impossible.