2 Kings 9

1 Now Elisha [the prophet of God, a spokesperson for the divine] the prophet summoned [called out to, sent for] one of the sons [a descendant, a young prophet] of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck [gird, put on] your cloak [outer garment, robe] under your belt, take [get, receive] this flask [vial, container] of oil [olive oil], and go [walk, journey] to Ramoth-gilead [a city in the region of Gilead, a place of significant events]. word study 2 When you arrive [come to the place, reach the destination], look for Jehu [grandson of Nimshi, a future king] son of Jehoshaphat [a king of Judah, a leader of God’s people], the son of Nimshi [rescued, a man of God’s deliverance]. Go in [enter, approach], get him away from his companions [brothers, fellow soldiers], and take him to an inner room [a private chamber, a secret place]. word study 3 Then take the flask [vial, container] of oil [olive oil], pour it on his head [the topmost part of the body], and declare, ‘This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: I anoint [set apart, rub oil on] you king [royal ruler] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob].’ Then open [to engrave or carve] the door [entrance or access] and run [flee, quickly leave]. Do not delay [wait patiently, tarry]!” word study 4 So the young [youth, from infancy to adolescence] prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] went [to walk, to move from one place to another] to Ramoth-gilead [a location east of the Jordan River, a significant place], word study 5 and when he arrived [came to the scene], the army commanders [captains of the host, leaders of the force] were sitting [dwelling, seated together] there. “I have a message [word, errand] for you, commander [ruler, captain],” he said. “For which of us [which one of all of us]?” asked Jehu. “For you, commander [to you, O captain],” he replied. word study 6 So Jehu got up [arose, stood up] and went into the house [dwelling place], where the young prophet poured the oil [holy anointing oil] on his head [the topmost part of the body] and declared, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], says: ‘I anoint [set apart, rub oil on] you king [royal ruler] over the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] people [nation, community] Israel [the chosen nation]. word study 7 And you are to strike down [smite, utterly destroy] the house [family, dynasty] of your master Ahab [your lord, ruler], so that I may avenge [punish, take revenge for] the blood [life, sacrifice] of My servants [messengers, prophets] the prophets [spokesmen for God] and the blood [lives, martyrdom] of all [every, the entire company] the servants [worshipers, followers] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] shed [poured out, slaughtered] by the hand [power, direction] of Jezebel [the wicked queen, enemy of God]. word study 8 The whole [entire, all-inclusive] house [family, dynasty] of Ahab [a king of Israel who lived a long time ago] will perish [be destroyed, come to an end], and I will cut off [destroy, eliminate] from Ahab every male [man-child, one who urinates against the wall], both slave [one bound to service] and free [at large], in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants]. word study 9 I will make the house [dwelling place, family] of Ahab [a king of Israel who lived a long time ago] like the houses [families, dynasties] of Jeroboam [the people will contend, a king of Israel] son of Nebat [an Ephraimite from Zereda] and Baasha [a king of Israel, founder of the second dynasty] son of Ahijah [brother of Jehovah, a prophet]. word study 10 And on the plot of ground [portion, inheritance] at Jezreel [God sows, a place of growth] the dogs [despised ones, lowly creatures] will devour [eat, consume] Jezebel [the wife of King Ahab, a queen of Israel], and there will be no one [none, nothing] to bury [inter, lay to rest] her.’” Then the young prophet opened [engraved, carved] the door [entrance, access] and ran [fled, escaped]. word study 11 When Jehu [the prophet, or one who spoke for God] went out to the servants [or slaves, those bound to serve] of his master [or lord, one who has authority], they asked, “Is everything all right [is there peace, or shalom, completeness and wellness]? Why did this madman [one who is crazy, or acting insanely] come to you?” “You know his kind [the type of person he is, or his character] and their babble [or talk, empty and meaningless words],” he replied. word study 12 “That is a lie [deception, falsehood]!” they said. “Tell us [declare to us, inform us] now!” So Jehu answered, “He talked to me about this [these things, various matters] and that, and he said, ‘This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: I anoint [set apart, consecrate] you king [ruler, leader] over Israel [the people of God, the descendants of Jacob].’” word study 13 Quickly [with haste, in a rush], each man [individual, person] took his garment [cloak, robe] and put it under Jehu [the newly appointed king] on the bare steps [top of the stairs, elevated platform]. Then they blew the ram’s horn [trumpet] and proclaimed, “Jehu is king [reigns, rules as monarch]!” word study 14 Thus Jehu [a king’s descendant] son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi [rescued, a grandfather of faith], conspired [plotted rebellion, made secret plans] against Joram [a king of Israel]. (Now Joram [a king, a ruler] and all [every single one, the entire nation] Israel had been defending [keeping, watching over] Ramoth-gilead [a city of refuge, a place of safety] against [in opposition to, in battle with] Hazael [one who sees God, a king of Aram] king of Aram [Syria, a neighboring nation], word study 15 but King Joram [the son of Ahab] had returned [to turn back, to recover] to Jezreel [God sows, a city in Issachar] to recover [to heal, to mend] from the wounds [blows, defeats] he had suffered [received, endured] at the hands of the Arameans [people of Aram, Syrians] in the battle [fight, war] against Hazael [one who sees God, a king of Aram] their king [ruler, sovereign].) So Jehu [a prophet, a king of Israel] said, “If you commanders [leaders, rulers] wish [desire, want] to make me king [ruler, sovereign], then do not let anyone [no person, no survivor] escape [flee, go out] from the city [town, settlement] to go and tell [declare, announce] it in Jezreel [God sows, a city in Issachar].” word study 16 Then Jehu [the appointed king, God’s instrument] got into his chariot [vehicle, means of transportation] and went [traveled, journeyed] to Jezreel [God sows, a place of nurture], because Joram [the king, ruler] was laid up [resting, recuperating] there [in that place, location] and Ahaziah [held by God] king of Judah [the southern kingdom, tribe of Judah] had gone down [descended, traveled] to see [visit, care for] him. word study 17 Now the watchman [standing guard, observing from a distance] standing on the tower [a tall structure, a high place of observation] in Jezreel [God sows, a city of growth] saw Jehu’s troops [a company of soldiers, a multitude] approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops [a large group of people, an abundance]!” “Choose a rider [a charioteer, a horseman],” Joram [the king, the ruler] commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace [shalom, completeness and wellness]?’” word study 18 So a horseman [on a chariot, riding swiftly] rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king [ruler, monarch] asks: ‘Have you come in [true, lasting] peace [shalom, completeness, wellness]?’” “What do you know about [understand, experience] peace [shalom, harmony]?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me [follow, turn back].” And the watchman [observer, sentinel] reported, “The messenger [representative, envoy] reached them, but he is not coming back [returning, turning back].” word study 19 So the king [ruler, sovereign] sent out a second [another, additional] horseman [rider, charioteer], who went to them and said, “This is what the king [monarch, leader] asks: ‘Have you come in [with a sense of, characterized by] peace [shalom, completeness, wellness]?’” “What do you know about [have to do with, concern for] peace [harmony, tranquility]?” Jehu [the appointed one, prophet] replied. “Fall in behind [follow, come after] me.” word study 20 Again the watchman [observer, one who waits and watches] reported, “He reached them [came to them, arrived at their location], but he is not coming back [does not return, will not come again]. And the charioteer [driver, one who guides the chariot] is driving [guiding, controlling the vehicle] like Jehu [a king of Israel] son of Nimshi [rescued, saved]—he is driving [controlling, guiding] like a madman [with madness, in a furious manner, with intense fury]!” word study 21 “Harness [Make ready, Prepare my chariot]!” Joram [Jehoram, son of Ahab] shouted, and they harnessed [prepared, made ready] his chariot [vehicle, team of horses]. Then Joram [the king of Israel] king of Israel and Ahaziah [Jehovah holds or sustains] king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot [cavalry, horse-drawn carriage], and met [encountered, came face to face with] Jehu on the property [portion, plot of ground] of Naboth [an Israelite who owned a vineyard] the Jezreelite [a native of Jezreel, meaning sown of God]. word study 22 When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in [true, lasting] peace, Jehu?” “How can there be [spiritual, inner] peace,” he replied, “as long as the [idolatrous, spiritual] idolatry and [sorcerous, magical] witchcraft of your mother [influential, authoritative] Jezebel [a queen of Israel, known for her evil deeds] abound [are plentiful, widespread]?” word study 23 Joram [the son of Ahab and Jezebel] turned around [reversed his direction, to overturn] and fled [to quickly escape, to take flight], calling out to Ahaziah [Jehovah holds or sustains], “Treachery [deceit, betrayal, cheating], Ahaziah [Jehovah holds or sustains]!” word study 24 Then Jehu [with his full strength, mightily] drew his bow [an archer’s weapon] and shot Joram [between the shoulder blades, in his arms] between the shoulders [between his arms, in the area of his heart]. The arrow [sharp projectile, piercing instrument] pierced his heart [the center of his being, his innermost self], and he slumped down [fell, sank, collapsed] in his chariot [vehicle, throne, seat of power]. word study 25 And Jehu said to Bidkar [his captain] his officer, “Pick him up and throw him into the field [portion, plot] of Naboth [from Jezreel] the Jezreelite. For remember [to recall, to mark] that when you and I were riding [on horses, in chariots] together behind his father Ahab [the king of Israel], the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] lifted up [raised, proclaimed] this burden [message, prophecy] against him: word study 26 ‘As surely as I saw [yesterday, in the recent past] the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of Naboth and the blood [the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life] of his sons [descendants, heirs] yesterday, declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], so will I repay [to make amends, to recompense] you on this plot of ground [a specific portion, a smooth and level area], declares the LORD [the supreme Ruler and Judge].’ Now then, according to the word [a declaration, an utterance] of the LORD, pick him up and throw [to cast away, to hurl] him on the plot of ground [the designated area, the assigned portion].” word study 27 When King Ahaziah [the king of Judah, descendant of David] of Judah saw this, he fled [to escape, to run away] up the road [the way, the path] toward Beth-haggan [the house of gardens, a place of beauty]. And Jehu [the prophet, the anointed one] pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too [strike him, smite him]!” So they shot Ahaziah [the king, the ruler] in his chariot [the vehicle, the means of transportation] on the Ascent of Gur [the going up, the upward movement], near Ibleam [the city, the town], and he fled [to escape, to run away] to Megiddo [the place of gathering, the city of armies] and died [to pass away, to cease living] there [in that place, at that time]. word study 28 Then his servants [faithful attendants, slaves] carried him by chariot [a vehicle, carriage] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital] and buried him [laid to rest, interred] with his fathers [ancestors, forefathers] in his tomb [sepulchre, grave] in the City of David [the city of the king, the royal city]. word study 29 (In the eleventh year [a period of time, a cycle of seasons] of Joram [a king of Israel] son of Ahab [a king who did evil], Ahaziah [Jehovah holds or sustains] had become [to reign, to rule as king] king [a ruler, a monarch] over [upon, in charge of] Judah [a tribe, a region, the southern kingdom].) word study 30 Now when Jehu [the king who overthrew the dynasty of Omri] arrived in Jezreel [God sows, a city in Issachar], Jezebel [the wife of King Ahab, a queen of Israel] heard [listened and gave attention] of it. So she painted [applied stibium, a type of eye makeup] her eyes [the source of sight and perception], adorned [made beautiful and pleasing] her head [the topmost part of the body], and looked down [gazed or peeped out] from a window [a hole in the wall, an opening for observation]. word study 31 And as Jehu [the tenth king of Israel] entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in [with a peaceful intention, to bring wellness] peace [shalom, completeness and friendship], O Zimri [the murderer, one who slew], murderer [one who kills with intent] of your master [lord or ruler]?” word study 32 He looked up [lifted his face] at the window [a hole in the wall, an opening] and called out, “Who [what person, which one] is on my side [with me, in my favor]? Who [which one, what person]?” And two [a pair, dual] or three [a trio, triple] eunuchs [high-ranking officials, attendants] looked down [gazed, peeped] at him. word study 33 “Throw [let go, release] her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw [cast, sent] her down, and her blood [the liquid essential for life] splattered [was sprinkled, spilled] on the wall [a barrier, a dividing structure] and on the horses [chariot horses, swift and powerful] as they trampled [tread, crushed] her underfoot. word study 34 Then Jehu went in [to the palace, came inside] and ate [took food, devoured] and drank [consumed beverages, feasted]. “Take care of [reckon with, oversee] this cursed [execrated, under God’s judgment] woman,” he said, “and bury [inter, lay to rest] her, for she was the daughter [a female child, a woman] of a king [a royal person, a monarch].” word study 35 But when they went out [to walk, to move from one place to another] to bury [to inter, to lay to rest] her, they found [to discover, to attain] nothing but her skull [head, the bones of the head], her feet [the lower extremities], and the palms [the inner surfaces] of her hands [the open hands]. word study 36 So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], which He spoke [uttered, proclaimed] through His servant [attendant, messenger] Elijah the Tishbite [from Tishbe, a region in Gilead]: ‘On the plot of ground [portion, inheritance] at Jezreel [God sows, a city in Issachar] the dogs [despised animals, scavengers] will devour [eat, consume] the flesh [body, physical being] of Jezebel [the queen of Israel]. word study 37 And Jezebel’s body [carcass, dead body] will lie like dung [manure, waste] in the field [open land, terrain] on the plot of ground [portion, inheritance] at Jezreel [God sows, nurtures growth], so that no one can say: This [this specific one] is Jezebel [the queen of Israel, known for evil deeds].’ ” word study