2 KINGS CHAPTER 9 Elisha sendeth a young prophet with instructions to
anoint Jehu king over Israel; whom he chargeth to destroy the house of
Ahab, and fleeth, 2 KINGS 9:1. Jehu is made king by the soldiers;
killeth Joram in the field of Naboth, 2 KINGS 9:11; killeth also
Ahaziah king of Judah, 2 KIN... [ Continue Reading ]
Partly that the work may not be hindered, and partly for the security
of thy own person. See 2 KINGS 9:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE ANOINTED THEE KING OVER ISRAEL: this was not his whole message;
but the rest of it is particularly declared 2 KINGS 9:7, and is to be
understood here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which is here noted as an eminent act of obedience, whereby he run
into a manifest hazard of his life.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE HOUSE, i.e. into an inner chamber in the house, 2 KINGS 9:2.
HE POURED THE OIL ON HIS HEAD; thereby in God's name letting him into
the actual possession of the kingdom. For if Elijah did before this
time anoint him, as some think, from 1 KINGS 19:16, that unction did
only confer a remote ri... [ Continue Reading ]
SMITE, i.e. kill and destroy, as that word is used, GENESIS 8:21, and
elsewhere. THY MASTER; thy former lord and king.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE PORTION OF JEZREEL; in that part of land in or near the city,
which belonged to Naboth.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE SERVANTS OF HIS LORD; to the rest of the commanders and
officers there present. IS ALL WELL? is not this unlucky messenger
come with some ill tidings? WHEREFORE CAME THIS MAD FELLOW? they
perceived him to be a prophet by his habit, and gestures, and manner
of speech. And these profane soldier... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS FALSE: there is something extraordinary and of great importance
in his message, as we plainly perceive by his calling thee into an
inner chamber, by his great expedition, and by his gesture and
carriage. TELL US NOW: his concealment of the thing made them more
greedy to know it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY HASTED; being well-pleased with the thing; partly, from the
advantage which hereby they expected; partly, from that desire of
change which is in most men's natures; and principally, by God's
providence inclining their hearts to Jehu. TOOK EVERY MAN HIS GARMENT,
and put it under him; a cere... [ Continue Reading ]
JORAM HAD KEPT RAMOTH-GILEAD; which interpreters conclude to have been
taken by Joram before this time, though the taking of it be not
mentioned. This they gather, first, from the mention of the inner
chamber, 2 KINGS 9:2, and of the top of the stairs here; secondly,
from 2 KINGS 9:15, _Let none go... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE FOUGHT WITH HAZAEL; when he came with an army, either to
retake the city taken by Joram, or to raise the siege. _Out of the
city_; or, _from the city_; either from within the city, or from
before it, from the siege or army. TO GO TO TELL IT IN JEZREEL; that
we may surprise him, and so more e... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT TO JEZREEL, accompanied with the horsemen of his army.... [ Continue Reading ]
Inquire who it is comes, and if he come upon peaceable terms. For he
feared, lest either the Syrians had prevailed there, or some sedition
or rebellion was raised against him; which the example of Libnah, and
his own guilty conscience, made him fear.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAST THOU TO DO WITH PEACE? what right hast thou, or thy master
that sent thee, to peace?... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
As his temper is hasty and fierce, so is his march.... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST JEHU, or, _to meet Jehu_, to know his intentions, and by his
presence to repress any seditious inclinations which might be in Jehu
or his followers. IN THE PORTION OF NABOTH THE JEZREELITE; in that
field which formerly belonged to Naboth, part whereof was enclosed by
Ahab, and made a garden.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT PEACE? dost thou come to me with a peaceable mind, or in a way
of hostility? For now, when it was too late, he began to suspect some
treachery; which God hid from him before, to prepare him for
destruction. WHAT PEACE? what cause hast thou to expect peace, when
thou hast so long abetted, and d... [ Continue Reading ]
JORAM TURNED HIS HANDS; either that therewith he might turn the reins
of the chariot, or that by this motion he might direct his charioteer
to turn it from Jehu.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETWEEN HIS ARMS; between his shoulders, when he was turned or turning
back, the chariot being probably open behind, as many times they were.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I AND THOU RODE TOGETHER AFTER AHAB HIS FATHER; which might be
when Ahab went in his chariot, attended with his nobles or chief
officers, (of which these were two,) to take a formal and solemn
possession of Naboth's land; for then the prophet Elijah met him, and
denounced this judgment against... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLOOD OF HIS SONS; who, as it seems, were killed with their father
by Jezebel's advice, to make the possession of the vineyard more sure
to Ahab, though it be not mentioned in its proper place, 1 KINGS
21:13; for it is not unusual to bring in such fragments of history in
succeeding writings whic... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WAY OF THE GARDEN-HOUSE; by some secret way, hoping to escape
whilst they were busy about Joram. SMITE HIM ALSO, as you have done
Joram; for he also is of the house of Ahab, 2 KINGS 8:18. THEY DID SO;
they smote or wounded him, but not mortally; either supposing that the
wound was mortal; or... [ Continue Reading ]
Which they did by Jehu's permission for Jehoshaphat's sake, 2
CHRONICLES 22:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of this SEE POOLE ON "2 KINGS 8:25".... [ Continue Reading ]
Either hoping that by her majestic dress and carriage she might strike
Jehu or his followers with such an awe, that they should not offer any
injury to her person; or rather, because perceiving her case to be
desperate, and that she could not live, was resolved to die with
honour and gallantry.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE GATE of the king's palace. HAD ZIMRI PEACE, who slew his
master? remember that thy brother traitor Zimri had but a very short
enjoyment of the benefit of his treason, and was speedily and severely
punished for it by my grandfather, Omri, 1 KINGS 16:9,16, and do thou
expect the same from some... [ Continue Reading ]
For such used to attend upon queens in their chambers.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THREW HER DOWN; being mercenary creatures, they quickly comply
with Jehu's command, sacrificing her life to save their own.... [ Continue Reading ]
This he suddenly commanded: either because he had forgot the charge
given him above, 2 KINGS 9:10, or because having done his own
business, he was careless about God's work, and the fulfilling of his
threatening. FOR SHE IS A KING'S DAUGHTER: see 1 KINGS 16:31. He doth
not say, because she was a kin... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD: this strange providence brings that to
his mind which he had forgotten, or did not regard.... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are not extant in the place where this prophecy is first
mentioned, 1 KINGS 21:23, but are here added, either by Jehu, by way
of explication and amplification; or rather, because Elijah spoke
them, though they be not there recorded, as being for the substance of
them contained in the for... [ Continue Reading ]