Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Jehu is anointed king during the lifetime of Joram king of Israel. Jehu murders Joram, Ahaziah king of Judah, and Jezebel the queen mother.
II. Photo
Elisha tells his servant to anoint Jehu: “Then take the flask of oil and pour some on his head, and say, ‘Thus said the Lord: I anoint you king over Israel.’” (v. 3)
III. Important Verses
5-10: When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.” “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. He answered, “For you, commander.” So [Jehu] arose and went inside; and [the disciple] poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. You shall strike down the House of Ahab your master; thus will I avenge on Jezebel the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of the other servants of the LORD. The whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off every male belonging to Ahab, bond and free in Israel. I will make the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the House of Baasha son of Ahijah. The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the field of Jezreel, with none to bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.
13: Quickly each man took his cloak and placed it under him, on the top step. They sounded the horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”
21-24: Joram ordered, “Hitch up [the chariot]!” They hitched up his chariot; and King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is all well, Jehu?” But Jehu replied, “How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?” Thereupon Joram turned his horses around and fled, crying out to Ahaziah, “Treason, Ahaziah!” But Jehu drew his bow and hit Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart; and he collapsed in his chariot.
27: On seeing this, King Ahaziah of Judah fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him down too!” [And they shot him] in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there.
30-33: Jehu went on to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard of it, she painted her eyes with kohl and dressed her hair, and she looked out of the window. As Jehu entered the gate, she called out, “Is all well, Zimri, murderer of your master?” He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side, who?” And two or three eunuchs leaned out toward him. “Throw her down,” he said. They threw her down; and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her.
IV. Outline
1-3. Elisha sends a disciple to anoint Jehu king of Israel
4-10. The disciple anoints Jehu and augurs doom for the house of Ahab
11-14a. The soldiers declare Jehu king
14b-15a. Joram rests in Ramoth-gilead
15b-20. Jehu presumptuously advances towards Joram
21-24. Jehu murders Joram
25-26. Joram is thrown onto Naboth’s vineyard
27. Jehu murders Ahaziah
28-29. Ahaziah’s burial; Regnal summary statement
30-33. Jehu murders Jezebel
34-37. Elijah’s prophecy comes true
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. “II Kings” The Anchor Bible v. 11 (USA: Doubleday, 1988).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hobbs, T.R. “2 Kings” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 13 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1985).
Photo taken from http://www.nutri-science.nl/images/site/pouring_oil_772.jpg
