2 Kings 9:11–26

11 Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “aIs all well? Why did this bmad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know very well the man and his talk.”

12 They said, “It is a lie, tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and thus he said to me, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ ”

13 Then athey hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and bblew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Jehoram (Joram) Is Assassinated

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. aNow Joram 1with all Israel was 2defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,

15 but aKing 1Joram had returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had 2inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, “If this is your mind, then let no one escape or 3leave the city to go tell it in Jezreel.”

16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. aAhaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the 1company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a 1company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ”

18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “aWhat have you to do with peace? Turn behind me.” And the watchman 1reported, “The messenger came to them, but he did not return.”

19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu 1answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me.”

20 The watchman 1reported, “He came even to them, and he did not return; and athe driving is like the driving of bJehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21 Then 1Joram said, “2Get ready.” And they made his chariot ready. 1aJoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and found him in the 3bproperty of Naboth the Jezreelite.

22 When 1Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” And he 2answered, “What peace, aso long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?”

23 So 1Joram 2reined about and fled and said to Ahaziah, “aThere is treachery, O Ahaziah!”

24 And aJehu 1drew his bow with his full strength and 2shot 3Joram between his arms; and the arrow went 4through his heart and he sank in his chariot.

25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Take him up and acast him into the 1property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for I remember when 2you and I were riding together after Ahab his father, that the bLord laid this coracle against him:

26 ‘Surely aI have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says the Lord, ‘and bI will repay you in this 1property,’ says the Lord. Now then, take and cast him into the 1property, according to the word of the Lord.”