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Texts -- 2 Kings 9:9-37 (NET)

Context
9:9 I will make Ahab’s dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah . 9:10 Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel ; she will not be buried .’” Then he opened the door and ran away . 9:11 When Jehu rejoined his master’s servants , they asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman visit you?” He replied , “Ah, it’s not important. You know what kind of man he is and the kinds of things he says .” 9:12 But they said , “You’re lying ! Tell us what he said .” So he told them what he had said . He also related how he had said , “This is what the Lord says , ‘I have designated you as king over Israel .’” 9:13 Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps . The trumpet was blown and they shouted , “Jehu is king !”
Jehu the Assassin
9:14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram . Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army, guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria . 9:15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria . Jehu told his supporters, “If you really want me to be king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel .” 9:16 Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel , for Joram was recuperating there . (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram .) 9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching . He said , “I see troops !” Jehoram ordered , “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask , ‘Is everything all right?’” 9:18 So the horseman went to meet him and said , “This is what the king says , ‘Is everything all right ?’” Jehu replied , “None of your business ! Follow me.” The watchman reported , “The messenger reached them , but hasn’t started back .” 9:19 So he sent a second horseman out to them and he said , “This is what the king says , ‘Is everything all right ?’” Jehu replied , “None of your business ! Follow me.” 9:20 The watchman reported , “He reached them, but hasn’t started back . The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi ; he drives recklessly .” 9:21 Jehoram ordered , “Hitch up my chariot .” When his chariot had been hitched up , King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots to meet Jehu . They met up with him in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel . 9:22 When Jehoram saw Jehu , he asked , “Is everything all right , Jehu ?” He replied , “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices ?” 9:23 Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off . He said to Ahaziah , “It’s a trap , Ahaziah !” 9:24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram’s shoulders . The arrow went through his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot . 9:25 Jehu ordered his officer Bidkar , “Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel . Remember , you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab , when the Lord pronounced this judgment on him, 9:26 _’"Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday ,” says the Lord , “and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land,” says the Lord .’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the Lord said .” 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan . Jehu chased him and ordered , “Shoot him too .” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam . He fled to Megiddo and died there . 9:28 His servants took his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the city of David . 9:29 Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab . 9:30 Jehu approached Jezreel . When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner , fixed up her hair , and leaned out the window . 9:31 When Jehu came through the gate , she said , “Is everything all right , Zimri , murderer of his master ?” 9:32 He looked up at the window and said , “Who is on my side ? Who ?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 9:33 He said , “Throw her down !” So they threw her down , and when she hit the ground, her blood splattered against the wall and the horses , and Jehu drove his chariot over her. 9:34 He went inside and had a meal . Then he said , “Dispose of this accursed woman’s corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king’s daughter .” 9:35 But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but the skull , feet , and palms of the hands . 9:36 When they went back and told him, he said , “The Lord’s word through his servant , Elijah the Tishbite , has come to pass. He warned , ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel , dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh . 9:37 Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel . People will not be able to even recognize her .’”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Zeal

    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • Watches

    [ebd] the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen w...

  • Usurpation

    [nave] USURPATION. Of Political Functions By Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:1-12. By Adonijah, 1 Kin. 1:5-9. By Baasha, 1 Kin. 15:27, 28. By Zimri, 1 Kin. 16:9, 10. By Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:11-37. By Athaliah, 2 Kin. 11:1-16. By Shallum, 2 Ki...

  • PALESTINE, 2

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...

  • Naboth

    [ebd] fruits, "the Jezreelite," was the owner of a portion of ground on the eastern slope of the hill of Jezreel (2 Kings 9:25, 26). This small "plat of ground" seems to have been all he possessed. It was a vineyard, and lay "hard...
    [isbe] NABOTH - na'-both, na'-both (nabhoth, from nubh, "a sprout"; Nabouthai): The owner of a vineyard contiguous to the palace of King Ahab. The king desired, by purchase or exchange, to add the vineyard to his own grounds. Nabot...
    [smith] (fruits), the victim of Ahab and Jezebel, was the owner of a small vineyard at Jezreel, close to the royal palace of Shab. (1 Kings 21:1,2) (B.C. 897.) It thus became an object of desire to the king, who offered an equival...
    [nave] NABOTH, a Jezreelite. His vineyard forcibly taken by Ahab; stoned at the instigation of Jezebel, 1 Kin. 21:1-19. His murder avenged, 2 Kin. 9:21-36.

  • Jezreel, Portion of

    [ebd] the field adjoining the city (2 Kings 9:10, 21, 36, 37). Here Naboth was stoned to death (1 Kings 21:13).

  • Jezreel, Blood of

    [ebd] the murder perpetrated here by Ahab and Jehu (Hos. 1:4; comp. 1 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 9:6-10).

  • Jezreel

    [ebd] God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against...
    [isbe] JEZREEL - jez'-re-el, jez'-rel (yizre`e'l, "God soweth"): (1) A city on the border of the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18). 1. Territory: It is named with Chesulloth and Shunem (modern Iksal and Solam). It remained loyal t...
    [smith] A city situated in the plain of the same name between Gilboa and Little Hermon, now generally called Esdraelon. [ESDRAELON] It appears in (Joshua 19:18) but its historical importance dates from the reign of Ahab, B.C. 918-89...
    [nave] JEZREEL 1. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:56; 1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3; 29:1, 11. 2. A city of Issachar, Josh. 19:18; 2 Sam. 2:9. Ahab's residence in, 1 Kin. 18:45, 46; 21:1. Naboth's vineyard in, 1 Kin. 21:1. Joram's res...

  • Jehu

    [ebd] Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38). (2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3). (3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2...
    [isbe] JEHU - je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Ki 19:16,17; 2 Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of ...
    [smith] (the living). The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Eli...
    [nave] JEHU 1. The prophet who aounced the wrath of Jehovah against Baasha, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:1, 7, 12; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34. 2. Son of Nimshi, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 19:16; 2 Kin. 9:1-14. Religious zeal of, in slaying idol...

  • JEHORAM; JORAM

    [isbe] JEHORAM; JORAM - je-ho'-ram, written also in the abbreviated form, (yehoram, yoram, "Yahweh is high"; the Revised Version (British and American) retains "Joram" for Hebrew yehoram in 2 Ki 9:15-24): (1) Ninth king of Israel (...

  • JEHORAM

    [ebd] Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer (2 Sam. 8:10). (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr. 26:25). (3.) A priest sen...
    [smith] (whom Jehovah has exalted). Son of Ahab king of Israel, who succeeded his brother Ahaziah B.C. 896, and died B.C. 884. The alliance between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, commenced by his father and Jehoshaphat, was very ...

  • Horse

    [ebd] always referred to in the Bible in connection with warlike operations, except Isa. 28:28. The war-horse is described Job 39:19-25. For a long period after their settlement in Canaan the Israelites made no use of horses, acco...

  • Homicide

    [nave] HOMICIDE. Accidental Ex. 21:13, 28-32; Num. 35:11-15, 22-28, 32 Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-10. Josh. 20:1-9 Felonious or Murder: Gen. 4:9-11 v. 12.; Gen. 9:5, 6; Gen. 49:7; Ex. 20:13 Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9. Ex. 21:29-32; Num. 35...

  • Golgotha

    [ebd] the common name of the spot where Jesus was crucified. It is interpreted by the evangelists as meaning "the place of a skull" (Matt. 27:33; Mark 15:22; John 19:17). This name represents in Greek letters the Aramaic word Gulg...

  • Esdraelon

    [ebd] the Greek form of the Hebrew "Jezreel," the name of the great plain (called by the natives Merj Ibn Amer; i.e., "the meadow of the son of Amer") which stretches across Central Palestine from the Jordan to the Mediterraanean,...

  • Elisha

    [ebd] God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). ...

  • Dung

    [ebd] (1.) Used as manure (Luke 13:8); collected outside the city walls (Neh. 2:13). Of sacrifices, burned outside the camp (Ex. 29:14; Lev. 4:11; 8:17; Num. 19:5). To be "cast out as dung," a figurative expression (1 Kings 14:10;...

  • Church and State

    [nave] CHURCH AND STATE (Identical in the theocratic period. No particular Scripture can be cited, but the student is directed to the legislative, judicial, and administrative functions of Moses, Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel as s...

  • CHARIOT

    [ebd] a vehicle generally used for warlike purposes. Sometimes, though but rarely, it is spoken of as used for peaceful purposes. The first mention of the chariot is when Joseph, as a mark of distinction, was placed in Pharaoh's s...
    [isbe] CHARIOT - char'-i-ot (merkabh, merkabhah, "riding-chariot," rekhebh, "war-chariot"; harma): 1. Chariots of Egypt 2. Chariots of the Canaanites 3. Chariots of Solomon and Later Kings 4. Chariots of the Assyrians 5. Chariots o...
    [smith] a vehicle used either for warlike or peaceful purposes, but most commonly the former. The Jewish chariots were patterned after the Egyptian, and consisted of a single pair of wheels on an axle, upon which was a car with high ...

  • Ahaziah

    [ebd] held by Jehovah. (1.) The son and successor of Ahab. He followed the counsels of his mother Jezebel, and imitated in wickedness the ways of his father. In his reign the Moabites revolted from under his authority (2 Kings 3:5...
    [isbe] AHAZIAH - a-ha-zi'-a ('achazyah and 'achazyahu, "Yah holds, or sustains"): I. Ahaziah. Son of Ahab and Jezebel, eighth king of Israel (1 Ki 22:51 through 2 Ki 1:18). 1. His Reign: Ahaziah became king over Israel in the seven...
    [nave] AHAZIAH 1. King of Judah. Called Azariah and Jehoahaz, 2 Chr. 21:17; 25:23. History of, 2 Kin. 8:25-29; 9:16-29. Gifts of, to the temple, 2 Kin. 12:18. Brethren of, slain, 2 Kin. 10:13, 14. Succeeded by Athaliah, 2 Chr. ...

Arts

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:121. David's declining health 1:1-42. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne 1:5-533. David's charge to Solomon 2:1-94. David's death 2:10-12B. ...
  • The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.123During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relati...
  • Even though Jezebel was behind the murder of Naboth, God held her husband Ahab responsible (v. 19). Jezebel's evil influence over her husband stands out in this story.221Ahab was willing to murder a godly Israelite to obtain ...
  • Again God told Elijah to "go"(v. 18; cf. 17:3, 9; 18:1; 19:15). As a faithful servant, he went to confront the king again.226Ahab was not in Samaria then (v. 18) but in Jezreel (v. 19). The mention of Samaria was evidently an...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Kings)3. Ahaziah's evil reign in Israel -1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 1:184. Jehoram's evil reign in Israel 2:1-8:155. Jehoram's evil reign in Judah 8:16-246. Ahaziah's evil reign in Judah 8:25-9:29C. The ...
  • Second Kings begins with Ahaziah's reign that fell during the 33-year period of Israel and Judah's alliance (874-841 B.C.; -1 Kings 16:29-2 Kings 9:29). This period in turn fits within the larger context of the divided kingdo...
  • Hazael was the governor of Damascus.50The Gentile King of Aram had more interest in inquiring of Yahweh than Jehoram's predecessor did (v. 8; cf. 1:2). It was customary in the Near East to make a great show of giving gifts. I...
  • God had told Elijah that he would anoint Jehu (1 Kings 19:16).55He did this through his successor Elisha who accomplished it by using one of his protégés (v. 1). Jehu would wipe out Omri's dynasty in Israel (v. 7-10...
  • Israel had evidently retaken Ramoth-gilead after Ben-Hadad I had defeated Ahab there 12 years earlier. Israel was now defending it against the attacking Arameans (v. 14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?"w...
  • Jehu executed Ahaziah because he was a member of Ahab's family. He died an ignominious death because of his wickedness as did the kings of Israel in Omri's dynasty. Nevertheless Ahaziah received an honorable burial (v. 28).Th...
  • Since the writer did not record Jehu's coronation, we should probably regard his reign as beginning when Joram died (9:24). Jehu began Israel's fifth and longest royal dynasty. He and his descendants reigned 88 years (841-753...
  • Jezebel evidently painted her eyes and adorned her head (v. 30) to receive Jehu. Unwittingly, or perhaps deliberately,59she prepared herself for her own death. At least one interpreter believed she was trying to seduce Jehu.6...
  • Athaliah was the mother of the Judean king Ahaziah whom Jehu assassinated (9:27-29). She was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the sister of the Israelite kings Ahaziah and Joram who had succeeded Ahab. She was the wife of J...
  • Though Athaliah claimed Jehoash's coronation was treasonous, she was the one guilty of treason. Jehoash was a legitimate heir to the throne of Judah, but she was not since she was not a descendant of David but had married int...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. "An Interpretation of the Babylonian Exile: A Study of 2 Kings 20, Isaiah 38-39."Scottish Journal of Theology27:3:(August 1974):329-52.Albright, William F. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pel...
  • 3:16 At the end of these seven days the Lord's word came to Ezekiel. "The word of the Lord came to me"is a key phrase in Ezekiel occurring in 41 verses. It appears in Jeremiah nine times and in Zechariah twice."For no other p...
  • "Chapter 39 retells the story of God's attack and defeat but with a slightly different emphasis from that of the prior chapter. Not much attention is given to the attack itself (merely vv. 1-2), whereas a great deal of space ...
  • The Lord used Hosea's family members as signs to communicate His message of coming judgment on Israel.1:2 At the beginning of Hosea's ministry, Yahweh commanded him to take a wife of harlotry and to have children of harlotry....
  • 9:7 Israel was to know that the days of her punishment and retribution were imminent because the nation's iniquity was fat and its hostility to the Lord was great. Another reason for her judgment was that the Israelites had r...
  • 7:10 Amaziah, who was one of the apostate priests who served at the Bethel sanctuary (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33), felt that Amos was being unpatriotic in what he was prophesying. So Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II charg...
  • 5:10-11 In that future eschatological day the Lord also promised to remove the vain sources of security that had always tempted the Israelites represented by horses, chariots, cities, and fortifications (cf. Deut. 17:16).5:12...
  • 21:8 The people where acknowledging Jesus as a King by spreading their garments on the road before Him (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). Likewise throwing small branches before Him symbolized the same thing (cf. 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7...
  • This is only the second incident that all four evangelists recorded, the other being the feeding of the 5,000 (cf. 6:30-44). This fact reflects its importance. Mark's account of this event gives much detail indicating its eye...
  • Luke did not record Jesus' actual entrance into the city of Jerusalem. He stressed Jesus' approach to Jerusalem and His lamentation over it (vv. 41-44). This presentation has the effect of eliminating the triumphant spirit of...
  • Evidently a woman claiming to be a prophetess (cf. Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; 1 Cor. 11:5) had been influencing some in this church to join the local trade guilds without which a tradesman could not work in Thyatira. This meant pa...
  • 17:15 The angel next helped John understand the identity of the waters (v. 1). Water is a common symbol for people in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps. 18:4, 16; 124:4; Isa. 8:7; Jer. 47:2). The harlot exercises a controlling infl...
  • 18:21 The angelic act of throwing the millstone into the sea is symbolic of Babylon's fate (cf. Jer. 51:63-64). As it is impossible for that huge stone to rise to the surface, so the economic system that has driven this world...
  • 19:17 John saw next an angel standing in the sun, a conspicuous position in which all the birds could see him. He cried loudly for all the birds flying in midheaven to assemble (cf. Ezek. 39:4, 17). Jesus referred to the same...
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