II Kings Chapter 9

Please read:  II Kings 9 –

The last verse of the previous chapter tells us an important fact leading to the events of this chapter, “And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.” King Ahaziah came to visit King Joram of the northern kingdom.  These two kings had previously joined forces to war against Syria, but Joram was injured and became sick, possibly an infection in his body from his wound.  This set in motion the plan of God because Elisha sent one of the prophets under him to go and anoint the next king of Israel, replacing the sick Joram.

This prophet was given explicit instructions about how to anoint the commander of the army whose name was Jehu.  This is the same Jehu that the prophet Elijah had previously anointed to be a future king of Israel.  And now this anointing signified that the prophecy had come to pass.

I Kings 19:16-17 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.

It seems that the unnamed prophet said more to Jehu than Elisha told him to.  Either not all of Elisha’s words were recorded or this prophet heard the Word of the LORD speaking to him at that moment.  God was about to use this man Jehu to wipe out the dynasty of the wicked Ahab and his family, including the queen who was still alive, Jezebel. 

Let's Reflect

1.  How did the men under Jehu’s command take the news when he admitted to them that the prophet had said he would be king over Israel?

2.  Jehu had been stationed at the battle lines of the war with Syria.  Now with his men behind him he left to go and attack his own king who was recuperating in Jezreel. Who would also be there at Jezreel?

3.  A watchman in a tower spotted a company of soldiers heading towards them.  The king dispatched a messenger to find out if this company came in peace or war.  Apparently, the messenger did not care for King Joram.  What did the messenger do?

4.  The king dispatched a second messenger and the watchman said that this second messenger also joined the company approaching them.  And then the watchman could see who was leading the company, Jehu.  What did he say about Jehu?

5.  Joram was smart enough to assume that Jehu was not coming to wish him well on his sick bed.  He went out to meet Jehu in his chariot.  The king of Judah was there as well, both rode out to meet Jehu.  When the king questioned the commander of his army as to whether he came in peace or not, what was Jehu’s answer?  See verse 22.

6.  Joram turned his chariot and tried to flee from Jehu, but Jehu shot and killed him with an arrow.  What did Ahaziah, the king of Judah do when he saw Jehu killed?

7.  We find that Jehu was a man who at least acknowledged the authority of the LORD.  Why did he order his men to take the dead body of Joram to a specific plot of land?

8.  Then the pursuit of Ahaziah was on.  Jehu ordered his men to shoot him.  Ahaziah was hit but did not die immediately.  In what city did he die?

9.  Verse 29 lets us know both kings were now dead.  King Joram of the northern kingdom and King Ahaziah of the southern kingdom.  There are wonderful charts online that show the succession of kings in both kingdoms but each one I found had copyright laws so I cannot share them here.  Who had been first on their respective throne, Joram or Ahaziah?

10.  Jehu then moved to take out the family of Ahab.  Next to die was the wicked queen who practiced sorcery.  She saw Jehu from a window and Jehu shouted, not to her but to some men beside her.  What happened to Jezabel?  And what did Jehu say about her burial?