2 Kings 9

Jehu received a prophetic endorsement to become king, but this did not mean approval of all his actions. However, he did have a divine command to punish the house of Ahab for their wickedness and idolatry (2 Kings 9:8–10).

The writer summarizes Jehu's takeover, which started Israel's fourth dynasty, in four steps:

1. Elisha sent a prophet to the army camp at Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu as Israel's next king (2 Kings 9:1–10).

2. Jehu's soldiers learned about the prophet's visit and declared Jehu king (2 Kings 9:11–15).

3. Both Joram and King Ahaziah of Judah were killed (2 Kings 9:16–29).

4. Jezebel was killed (2 Kings 9:30–37).

This Jehoshaphat is different from the earlier king of Judah, who was Asa's son.

The young prophet explained to Jehu how to carry out God's judgment against Ahab's family (see 1 Kings 21:20–24).

madman: God’s faithful servants are sometimes mocked or rejected as insane ("mad") or foolish by others (see Jeremiah 29:26; Hosea 9:7).

The bare steps of the house acted like a throne, and the soldiers' cloaks served as a carpet. Spreading garments this way showed respect (see Matthew 21:8).

conspired: Jezreel, where Joram was healing from his injuries, was about forty-five miles away. Jehu needed to act quickly and secretly for his coup.

While Jehu was being honored by his men as their king, Joram and Ahaziah were still in Jezreel (2 Kings 8:28–29; 9:14–15).

the property of Naboth the Jezreelite: Ahab took this property from Naboth, and it became the site where Ahab's family line ended, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy (1 Kings 21:19–24).

The accusations against Joram were similar to those against his father, Ahab, and his mother, Jezebel (1 Kings 16:30–33; 21:25–26).

• The road to Beth-haggan went south along the eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley, passing Ibleam and continuing to Samaria.

• Megiddo … he died there: King Ahaziah fled to Samaria, where he was captured and taken to Jehu (2 Chronicles 22:8–9). Chronicles and Kings together suggest that although Ahaziah was wounded at Gur, he managed to reach Samaria. Later, Jehu’s men caught him and brought him to Jehu, where he was executed.

• The writer of Chronicles links Ahaziah’s capture with Jehu’s killing of Ahab’s descendants and some of Ahaziah’s relatives (see 2 Kings 10:1–17), suggesting Ahaziah evaded capture for a while. This account is very brief, mentioning Ahaziah’s death and burial before describing later events.

The narrator goes back to the events at Jezreel. Jezebel, knowing Jehu was coming and she would soon die, dressed up and stayed proud until the end.

Jezebel accused Jehu of being like Zimri, possibly to remind him that Zimri's quest for power was brief (1 Kings 16:15–19).

• Jehu showed his violent nature by trampling Jezebel's body under his horses' hooves.

• The Hebrew word translated eunuchs can mean emasculated males, but it can also mean important officials.

Jehu entered the palace to eat, silently declaring he had taken the throne.

The scene showing Jezebel's end fulfilled Elijah's prophecy against Ahab's family (1 Kings 21:21–24; 22:34–38).