2 Kings 9:31

9:31 When Jehu came through the gate, she said, “Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?” ¹ 

2 Kings 5:25

5:25 When he came and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He answered, “Your servant hasn’t been anywhere.”

2 Kings 8:14

8:14 He left Elisha and went to his master. Ben Hadad ²  asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?” Hazael ³  replied, “He told me you would surely recover.”

2 Kings 5:1

Elisha Heals a Syrian General

5:1 Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, was esteemed and respected by his master, ⁴  for through him the Lord had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease. ⁵ 

2 Kings 9:11

9:11 When Jehu rejoined ⁶  his master’s servants, they ⁷  asked him, “Is everything all right? ⁸  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 

2 Kings 19:4

19:4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. ¹⁰  When the Lord your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. ¹¹  So pray for this remnant that remains.’” ¹² 

2 Kings 6:32

6:32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders. ¹³  The king ¹⁴  sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, ¹⁵  Elisha ¹⁶  said to the leaders, ¹⁷  “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?” ¹⁸  Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it. His master will certainly be right behind him.” ¹⁹ 

[9:31]  ¹ sn Jezebel associates Jehu with another assassin, Zimri, who approximately 44 years before had murdered King Elah, only to meet a violent death just a few days later (1 Kgs 16:9-20). On the surface Jezebel’s actions seem contradictory. On the one hand, she beautifies herself as if to seduce Jehu, but on the other hand, she insults and indirectly threatens him with this comparison to Zimri. Upon further reflection, however, her actions reveal a clear underlying motive. She wants to retain her power, not to mention her life. By beautifying herself, she appeals to Jehu’s sexual impulses; by threatening him, she reminds him that he is in the same precarious position as Zimri. But, if he makes Jezebel his queen, he can consolidate his power. In other words through her actions and words Jezebel is saying to Jehu, “You desire me, don’t you? And you need me!”

[8:14]  ² tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:14]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Hazael) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:1]  ³ tn Heb “was a great man before his master and lifted up with respect to the face.”

[5:1]  ⁴ tn For a discussion of מְצֹרָע (mÿtsora’), traditionally translated “leprous,” see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 63. Naaman probably had a skin disorder of some type, not leprosy/Hansen’s disease.

[9:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “went out to.”

[9:11]  ⁵ tc The MT has the singular, “he said,” but many witnesses correctly read the plural.

[9:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “Is there peace?”

[9:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “He said, ‘You, you know the man and his thoughts.’” Jehu tries to deflect their question by reminding them that the man is an eccentric individual who says strange things. His reply suggests that the man said nothing of importance. The translation seeks to bring out the tone and intent of Jehu’s reply.

[19:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “all the words of the chief adviser whom his master, the king of Assyria, sent to taunt the living God.”

[19:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “and rebuke the words which the Lord your God hears.”

[19:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “and lift up a prayer on behalf of the remnant that is found.”

[6:32]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the elders were sitting with him.”

[6:32]  ⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:32]  ⁸ tn Heb “sent a man from before him, before the messenger came to him.”

[6:32]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:32]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “elders.”

[6:32]  ¹¹ tn Heb “Do you see that this son of an assassin has sent to remove my head?”

[6:32]  ¹² tn Heb “Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”