2 Kings 9:1–26
9:1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild1 and told him, “Tuck your robes into your belt, take this container2 of olive oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 9:2 When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room.3 9:3 Take the container of olive oil, pour it over his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord says, “I have designated4 you as king over Israel.” ’ Then open the door and run away quickly!”5
9:4 So the young prophet6 went to Ramoth Gilead. 9:5 When he arrived, the officers of the army were sitting there.7 So he said, “I have a message for you, O officer.”8 Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”9 He replied, “For you, O officer.” 9:6 So Jehu10 got up and went inside. Then the prophet11 poured the olive oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘I have designated you as king over the Lord’s people Israel. 9:7 You will destroy the family of your master Ahab.12 I will get revenge against Jezebel for the shed blood of my servants the prophets and for the shed blood of all the Lord’s servants.13 9:8 Ahab’s entire family will die. I14 will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated.15 9:9 I will make Ahab’s dynasty16 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.’ ”17 Then he opened the door and ran away.
9:11 When Jehu rejoined18 his master’s servants, they19 asked him, “Is everything all right?20 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.”21 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,22 “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’s23 feet on the steps.24 The trumpet was blown25 and they shouted, “Jehu is26 king!” 9:14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.
Jehu the Assassin
Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army,27 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 Syrians28 when he fought against King Hazael of Syria.29 Jehu told his supporters,30 “If you really want me to be king,31 then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.” 9:16 Jehu drove his chariot32 to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating33 there. (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit34 Joram.)
9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching.35 He said, “I see troops!”36 Jehoram ordered,37 “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, ‘Is everything all right?’ ”38 9:18 So the horseman39 went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’ ”40 Jehu replied, “None of your business!41 Follow me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.” 9:19 So he sent a second horseman out to them42 and he said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’ ”43 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;44 he drives recklessly.” 9:21 Jehoram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.”45 When his chariot had been hitched up,46 King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots47 to meet Jehu. They met up with him48 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?”49 9:23 Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off.50 He said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap,51 Ahaziah!” 9:24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram’s shoulders.52 The arrow went through53 his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. 9:25 Jehu ordered54 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,”55 says the Lord.’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the Lord said.”56