2 Kings 9:21-27

9:21 Jehoram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.” ¹  When his chariot had been hitched up, ²  King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots ³  to meet Jehu. They met up with him ⁴  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?” ⁵  9:23 Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off. ⁶  He said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap, ⁷  Ahaziah!” 9:24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram’s shoulders. ⁸  The arrow went through ⁹  his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. 9:25 Jehu ordered ¹⁰  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,” ¹¹  says the Lord.’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the Lord said.” ¹² 

9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off ¹³  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. ¹⁴  He fled to Megiddo ¹⁵  and died there.

[9:21]  ¹ tn The words “my chariot” are added for clarification.

[9:21]  ² tn Heb “and he hitched up his chariot.”

[9:21]  ³ tn Heb “each in his chariot and they went out.”

[9:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “they found him.”

[9:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “How [can there be] peace as long as the adulterous acts of Jezebel your mother and her many acts of sorcery [continue]?” In this instance “adulterous acts” is employed metaphorically for idolatry. As elsewhere in the OT, worshiping other gods is viewed as spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. The phrase “many acts of sorcery” could be taken literally, for Jezebel undoubtedly utilized pagan divination practices, but the phrase may be metaphorical, pointing to her devotion to pagan customs in general.

[9:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “and Jehoram turned his hands and fled.” The phrase “turned his hands” refers to how he would have pulled on the reins in order to make his horses turn around.

[9:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “Deceit, Ahaziah.”

[9:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “and Jehu filled his hand with the bow and he struck Jehoram between his shoulders.”

[9:24]  ⁹ tn Heb “went out from.”

[9:25]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “said to.”

[9:26]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and I will repay you in this plot of land.”

[9:26]  ¹² tn Heb “according to the word of the Lord.”

[9:27]  ¹³ tn Heb “and Ahaziah king of Judah saw and fled.”

[9:27]  ¹⁴ tn After Jehu’s order (“kill him too”), the MT has simply, “to the chariot in the ascent of Gur which is near Ibleam.” The main verb in the clause, “they shot him” (וַיִּכְהוּ, vayyikhhu), has been accidentally omitted by virtual haplography/homoioteleuton. Note that the immediately preceding form הַכֻּהוּ (hakkuhu), “shoot him,” ends with the same suffix.

[9:27]  ¹⁵ map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.