_A.M. 3120. B.C. 884._
Elisha sends a young prophet to Ramoth-gilead, with instructions to
anoint Jehu king over Israel, whom he charges to destroy the house of
Ahab, and fleeth, 2 Kings 9:1. Jehu, being made king, kills Joram in
the field of Naboth, 2 Kings 9:11. He kills also Ahaziah, king of
Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Elisha the prophet called_, &c. The Prophet Elijah was commanded
to anoint Jehu about twelve years before this time; but, because of
Ahab's humiliation, the execution of the judgment pronounced upon him
and his family was deferred. The office of anointing Jehu therefore,
it seems, was left to b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make him arise up from among his brethren_ From the other officers of
the army, 2 Kings 9:5. _Carry him to an inner chamber_ This he orders,
partly that the work might not be hindered, and partly for the
security of the young prophet's own person. _And say, Thus saith the
Lord, I have anointed_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_So the young man went to Ramoth-gilead_ It argued great faith in this
young prophet that he undertook so readily the execution of this
command. For there was no small danger in anointing a new king, as
Elisha himself plainly intimated, when he ordered him to flee away as
fast as he could, as soon a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehu said, Unto which of us all?_ It does not appear that Jehu aimed
at the government, or that he ever thought of it, but the commission
given him was a perfect surprise to him. Some indeed think he had been
anointed before by Elijah, but privately, and with an intimation that
he must not act till... [ Continue Reading ]
_He arose and went into the house_ That is, into an inner chamber in
the house. _And he poured the oil on his head_ Thereby giving him, in
God's name both a right to the kingdom and the actual possession of
it. The Israelites, it must be observed, were still by _right_ and
_profession_ the people of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab_ Thou shalt execute my
judgment upon them, pronounced long ago. _That I may avenge the blood
of my servants the prophets_, &c. That they were idolaters was bad
enough, and merited all that was brought upon them; yet this is not
mentioned here; but the controve... [ Continue Reading ]
_ For the whole house of Ahab shall perish_ That is, all his posterity
and all his kindred. Jehu, therefore, having received such a charge,
is to be considered, in what he afterward did to the house of Ahab, as
acting not out of a spirit of revenge, for he had no quarrel with the
house of Ahab; but,... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the portion of Jezreel_ In that portion of land, in or near the
city, which belonged to Naboth. _There shall be none to bury her_ That
is, none shall bury her, or she shall not be buried; for it appears
from 2 Kings 9:34, that Jehu gave orders to have her buried, sending
out persons for that pur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore came this mad fellow to thee?_ What business has he with
thee? And why wouldst thou gratify him so far as to retire to converse
with him? They perceived him to be a prophet by his air, habit, and
manner of speech, as well as by his accosting Jehu so boldly, and so
suddenly vanishing when... [ 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 the nature of most men; and principally by God's
providence inclining their hearts to Jehu. _And took every man his
garment, and put it under him_... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Jehu conspired against Joram_ Contrived with the rest of the
captains how to destroy Joram: for which they had the fairer
opportunity, because he was gone from the army to Jezreel. _Now Joram
had kept Ramoth-gilead_ That is, kept a strong garrison there, upon
the frontiers of his kingdom, it hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_There stood a watchmen on the tower_ For watchmen were set on high
places in time of peace as well as war wherever the king was, that he
might not be surprised. _Let him say, Is it peace?_ Inquire who it is
that comes, and if he comes on peaceable terms. For he feared lest
either the Syrians had pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_They went out against him_ Or rather, _to meet him_, that they might
know his intention, and, by their presence, repress any seditious
inclinations which might be in Jehu or his followers. _And met him in
the portion of Naboth_ The very sight of that ground was enough to
make Jehu triumph, and Jora... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it peace, Jehu?_ 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, God hiding it from him before, in order to his
destruction. _And he answered, What peace_, &c.? What cause hast thou
to expect peace, when tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joram turned his hands_ Or the reins of his chariot; _and said, There
is treachery, O Ahaziah_ Jehu is our enemy: it is time for us to shift
for our safety. _Jehu drew a bow and smote Jehoram between his arms_
Or shoulders, when he was turned or turning back, the chariot being
probably open behind,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the blood of his sons_ Who, many commentators have thought, were
killed by their father, by Jezebel's advice, to make the possession of
the vineyard more sure to Ahab. Some however, are of opinion, as we
have no account in the history of Naboth, (1 Kings 21.,) that his sons
were killed with him... [ Continue Reading ]
_He fled by the way of the garden-house_ By some secret way, hoping to
escape while they were busy about Joram. _Jehu said, Smite him also_
As you have done Joram, for he also is of the house of Ahab, chap. 2
Kings 8:18. _And they did so_ They wounded him, but not mortally;
being the more remiss in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jezebel heard of it_, &c. She had heard that Jehu had slain her son,
and slain him for her murders, idolatries, and other crimes, and
thrown his dead body into the portion of Naboth, according to the word
of the Lord; and now she learned he was come to Jezreel, where she
could not but dread falling... [ Continue Reading ]
_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
grand-father Omri, (see the margin,) and expect thou the same
treatment from some of my posterity. She t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, Who is on my side?_ He had been called out by God to the
work of punishing those who had corrupted the land, and he here calls
out for assistance in doing it. _And there looked out to him two or
three eunuchs_ Or _chamberlains_, for such used to attend upon queens
in their chambers. “And b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go see now this cursed woman_ She had been the greatest delinquent in
the house of Ahab. She had introduced Baal; slain the Lord's prophets;
contrived the murder of Naboth; excited her husband first, and then
her sons, to do wickedly. She had been a curse to her country, and one
whose memory all wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, This is the word of the Lord_ He now calls to mind the words
of the Prophet Elijah, which before he had forgot, or did not regard.
_And the carcass of Jezebel_, &c. These words are not extant in the
place where this prophecy is first mentioned, 1 Kings 21:23; but are
here added by Jehu, by... [ Continue Reading ]