2Ki 9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Kgs 9:1-37: 9:1-37 The writer recaps Jehu’s coup that instituted the fourth dynasty in Israel in four phases: (1) Elisha sent a member of the prophetic band to the army camp at Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu as the next king of Israel (9:1-10 ); (2) Jehu’s men learned of the prophet’s visit to their commander and proclaimed Jehu as king (9:11-15 ); (3) Both Joram and King Ahaziah of Judah were killed (9:16-29 ); and (4) Jezebel was killed (9:30-37 ). Summary for 2Kgs 9:1-3: 9:1-3 Although Jehu received prophetic endorsement of his kingship, his anointing did not signify approval of all his subsequent actions. It did, however, carry a divine charge to execute the house of Ahab as punishment for his wickedness and idolatry (9:8-10 ).

Summary for 2Kgs 9:1-37: 9:1-37 ^a The writer recaps Jehu’s coup that instituted the fourth dynasty in Israel in four phases: (1) Elisha sent a member of the prophetic band to the army camp at Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu as the next king of Israel (9:1-10 ^b); (2) Jehu’s men learned of the prophet’s visit to their commander and proclaimed Jehu as king (9:11-15 ^c); (3) Both Joram and King Ahaziah of Judah were killed (9:16-29 ^d); and (4) Jezebel was killed (9:30-37 ^e).
Summary for 2Kgs 9:1-3: 9:1-3 ^f Although Jehu received prophetic endorsement of his kingship, his anointing did not signify approval of all his subsequent actions. It did, however, carry a divine charge to execute the house of Ahab as punishment for his wickedness and idolatry (9:8-10 ^g).
9:2 ^h This Jehoshaphat is not to be confused with the former king of Judah, who was the son of Asa.
Summary for 2Kgs 9:4-10: 9:4-10 ⁱ As the young prophet carried out his commission, he detailed for Jehu the means for carrying out the divine sentence against the family of Ahab (see 1 Kgs 21:20-24 ^j).
9:11 ^k madman: God’s faithful servants are often disdained as mad by others (see Jer 29:26 ^l; Hos 9:7 ^m).
9:13 ⁿ The bare steps of the house served as a throne and the soldiers’ cloaks as a carpet. Spreading out garments in this fashion was a sign of respect (see Matt 21:8 ^o).
Summary for 2Kgs 9:14-15: 9:14-15 ^p led a conspiracy: Because Jezreel, where Joram was recovering from his wounds, lay about forty-five miles away, Jehu’s coup needed to be carried out swiftly and inconspicuously.
9:16 ^q While Jehu was receiving the homage of his men as their king, Joram and Ahaziah were still at Jezreel (8:28-29 ^r; 9:14-15 ^s).
9:21 ^t the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth: The property Ahab took from Naboth became the location for the demise of Ahab’s line, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy (1 Kgs 21:19-24 ^u).
Summary for 2Kgs 9:22-24: 9:22-24 ^v The charges against Joram echoed those against his father Ahab and his mother Jezebel (1 Kgs 16:30-33 ^w; 21:25-26 ^x).
Summary for 2Kgs 9:27-28: 9:27-28 ^y The road to Beth-haggan led southward along the eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley, past Ibleam and on to Samaria.

• Megiddo ... he died there: King Ahaziah escaped to Samaria, where he was captured and brought to Jehu (2 Chr 22:8-9 ^z). The accounts in Chronicles and Kings might be combined to show that although Ahaziah was wounded at Gur, he managed to go on to Samaria. Later, Jehu’s men seized him and brought him to Jehu, where he was put to death. Since the Chronicler associates Ahaziah’s capture with Jehu’s slaying of Ahab’s descendants and some of Ahaziah’s relatives (see 2 Kgs 10:1-17 ^aa), it appears that Ahaziah avoided his pursuers for a time. The account here is greatly compressed, with the writer recording Ahaziah’s death and burial before relating further events.
9:30 ^ab The narrator returns to events at Jezreel. Defiant Jezebel prepared for Jehu’s arrival and her impending death by adorning herself, remaining haughty to the end.
9:31 ^ac Jezebel accused Jehu of being another Zimri, perhaps to remind him that Zimri’s quest for power was short-lived (1 Kgs 16:15-19 ^ad).
Summary for 2Kgs 9:32-33: 9:32-33 ^ae Jehu showed his violent nature when he trampled Jezebel’s body under his horses’ hooves.

• While the Hebrew word translated eunuchs can refer to emasculated males, it can also refer to high officials.
Summary for 2Kgs 9:34-37: 9:34-37 ^af The scene depicting Jezebel’s end brought Elijah’s prophecy against the house of Ahab to final fulfillment (1 Kgs 21:21-24 ^ag; 22:34-38 ^ah). 9:34 ^ai Jehu went into the palace to dine, a tacit declaration of his assumption of the throne.