1Prorok Elizeus povolal jednoho z bratrů proroků a řekl mu: „Opásej si bedra, vezmi s sebou tuto lahvičku s olejem a jdi do galaadského Ramotu. 2Až tam přijdeš, hleď vyhledat Jehua, syna Nimšiho syna Jehošafata. Až ho najdeš, vezmi ho stranou od jeho druhů a zaveď ho do pokoje v ústraní. 3Vezmeš lahvičku s olejem a vyleješ mu ho na hlavu se slovy: ‘Takto mluví Jahve. Pomazal jsem tě na krále Izraele,’ potom otevři dveře a bez meškání uteč.“ 4Mladík odešel do galaadského Ramotu. 5Když přišel, velitelé vojska seděli pospolu; on řekl: „Potřebuji s tebou mluvit, veliteli.“ Jehu se zeptal: „S kým z nás?“ Odpověděl: „S tebou, veliteli.“ 6Tu Jehu vstal a vešel do domu. Mladík mu vylil olej na hlavu a řekl mu: „Takto mluví Jahve, Bůh Izraele. Pomazal jsem tě na krále nad Jahvovým lidem, nad Izraelem. 7Vybiješ rodinu svého pána Achaba a já pomstím krev svých služebníků, proroků, a všech Jahvových služebníků na Jezabel 8a na celé Achabově rodině. Vyhladím mužské příslušníky Achabovy rodiny, svázané i svobodné v Izraeli. 9Naložím s Achabovou rodinou jako s rodinou Nebatova syna Jeroboama a s rodinou Achijova syna Baši. 10Jezabel pak sežerou psi na poli v Jizreelu, nikdo ji nepohřbí. Potom otevřel dveře a uprchl. 11Jehu vyšel a šel za důstojníky svého pána. Oni se ho zeptali: „Je vše v pořádku? Proč k tobě ten blázen přišel?“ Odpověděl: „Však toho člověka a jeho písničku znáte.“ 12Ale oni řekli: „Vytáčíš se! Tak nám to vysvětli!“ Řekl: „Mluvil se mnou tak a tak a řekl: Takto mluví Jahve. Pomazal jsem tě na izraelského krále.“ 13Všichni hned vzali pláště a rozprostřeli mu je pod nohy, přímo na schody; zatroubili na roh a volali: „Jehu je král!“ 14Syn Nimšiho syna Jehošafata Jehu nastrojil spiknutí proti Joramovi. - Joram tehdy se vším Izraelem hájil galaadský Ramot proti útoku aramejského krále Chazaela. 15Ale král Joram se předtím vrátil do Jizreelu, aby si dal ošetřit zranění, jež mu způsobili Aramejci v bojích, které vedl proti aramejskému králi Chazaelovi. - Jehu řekl: „Je-li vaše smýšlení takové, ať nikdo nevyklouzne z města a nezanese tu novinu do Jizreelu.“ 16Jehu nasedl na vůz a odjel do Jizreelu. Joram tam byl upoután na loži a judský král Ochoziáš byl u něho na návštěvě. 17Strážný, jenž stál na věži v Jizreelu, viděl, jak přijíždí Jehuův oddíl, a ohlásil: „Vidím jakýsi oddíl.“ Joram nařídil: „Ať vezmou nějakého jezdce a pošlou ho těm mužům naproti a ať se zeptá: Je vše v pořádku?“ 18Jezdec přijel Jehuovi vstříc a zeptal se: „Takto mluví král: Je vše v pořádku?“ - „Co je ti po tom, zda je vše v pořádku?“ odpověděl Jehu. „Zařaď se za mne.“ Strážný ohlásil: „Posel k nim dorazil a nevrací se.“ 19Král vypravil druhého jezdce; on k nim dorazil a zeptal se: „Takto mluví král: Je vše v pořádku?“ - „Co je ti po tom, zda je vše v pořádku?“ odpověděl Jehu. „Zařaď se za mne.“ 20Strážný ohlásil: „On k nim dorazil a nevrací se. Takhle jezdí Nimšiho syn Jehu; jede jako šílenec!“ 21Joram řekl: „Ať zapřáhnou!“ a zapřáhli do jeho vozu. Izraelský král Joram a judský král Ochoziáš odjeli Jehuovi naproti každý na svém voze. Dorazili k němu na poli Nabota z Jizreelu. 22Jakmile Joram uviděl Jehua, zeptal se: „Je vše v pořádku, Jehu?“ On odpověděl: „Co je to za otázku, když pořád trvají smilstva tvé matky Jezabel a všechny její čáry!“ 23Joram otočil, dal se na útěk a řekl Ochoziášovi: „Zrada, Ochoziáši!“ 24Jehu napjal luk, zasáhl Jorama mezi lopatky, šíp proklál králi srdce a on se zhroutil na vůz. 25Jehu řekl svému zbrojnoši Bidkarovi: „Odnes ho a hoď ho na pole Nabota z Jizreelu. Vzpomeň si: když jsme ty a já byli oba na voze za jeho otcem Achabem, pronesl nad ním Jahve tento rozsudek: 26‘Potvrzuji to! Viděl jsem včera Nabotovu krev a krev jeho synů, Jahvův výrok. Splatím týmž přímo na tomto poli, Jahvův výrok!’ Odnes ho tedy a hoď ho podle Jahvova slova na to pole.“ 27Když to uviděl judský král Ochoziáš, dal se na útěk cestou k Bet-Ganu, ale Jehu ho pronásledoval a nařídil: „Zabijte i jeho!“ Na svahu Gur, který je poblíž Jibleamu, ho na jeho voze zranili a on se uchýlil do Megida a tam zemřel. 28Jeho služebníci ho na voze odvezli do Jeruzaléma a pochovali ho do jeho hrobu v Davidově městě. 29Judským králem se Ochoziáš stal v jedenáctém roce Achabova syna Jorama. 30Jehu se vrátil do Jizreelu a Jezabel se to dozvěděla. Nalíčila si oči, ozdobila si hlavu, vyhlížela z okna, 31a když Jehu překračoval práh, řekla: „Je vše v pořádku, Zimri, vrahu svého pána?“ 32Jehu pozdvihl hlavu k oknu a řekl: „Kdo je se mnou, kdo?“ A vyklonili se k němu dva nebo tři kleštěnci. 33Řekl: „Shoďte ji dolů.“ Shodili ji dolů, její krev postříkala koně i zeď a Jehu přešel po jejím těle. 34Vešel dovnitř, najedl se a napil, potom nařídil: „Postarejte se o tu prokletou a pohřběte ji, neboť je to královská dcera.“ 35Šli ji pochovat, ale našli z ní jen lebku, ruce a nohy. 36Vrátili se a zpravili o tom Jehua, jenž řekl: „To je Jahvovo slovo, které pronesl prostřednictvím svého služebníka, Tišbana Eliáše: ‘Jezabelino tělo sežerou na poli v Jizreelu psi, 37Jezabelina mrtvola bude jako hnůj rozházený po poli, takže nebude možno říci: To je Jezabel!’“
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 JEHU IS ANOINTED. (2Ki. 9:1-23)
Ramoth-gilead--a city of great importance to the Hebrew people, east of Jordan, as a fortress of defense against the Syrians. Jehoram had regained it (
2Kgs 8:29). But the Israelitish army was still encamped there, under the command of Jehu.
Elisha . . . called one of the children of the prophets--This errand referred to the last commission given to Elijah in Horeb (
1Kgs 19:16).
box of oil--(See
1Sam 10:1).
2 carry him to an inner chamber--both to ensure the safety of the messenger and to prevent all obstruction in the execution of the business.
3 I have anointed thee king over Israel--This was only a part of the message; the full announcement of which is given (
2Kgs 9:7-10).
flee, and tarry not--for fear of being surprised and overtaken by the spies or servants of the court.
4 So the young man . . . went to Ramoth-gilead--His ready undertaking of this delicate and hazardous mission was an eminent proof of his piety and obedience. The act of anointing being done through a commissioned prophet, was a divine intimation of his investiture with the sovereign power. But it was sometimes done long prior to the actual possession of the throne (
1Sam 16:13); and, in like manner, the commission had, in this instance, been given also a long time before to Elijah [
1Kgs 19:16], who, for good reasons, left it in charge to Elisha; and he awaited God's time and command for executing it [POOLE].
10 in the portion of Jezreel--that is, that had formerly been the vineyard of Naboth.
11 Is all well? &c.--Jehu's attendants knew that the stranger belonged to the order of the prophets by his garb, gestures, and form of address; and soldiers such as they very readily concluded such persons to be crackbrained, not only from the sordid negligence of their personal appearance and their open contempt of the world, but from the religious pursuits in which their whole lives were spent, and the grotesque actions which they frequently performed (compare
Jer 29:26).
13 they hasted, and took every man his garment--the upper cloak which they spread on the ground, as a token of their homage to their distinguished commander (
Matt 21:7).
top of the stairs--from the room where the prophet had privately anointed Jehu. That general returned to join his brother officers in the public apartment, who, immediately on learning his destined elevation, conducted him to the top of the stairs leading to the roof. This was the most conspicuous place of an Oriental structure that could be chosen, being at the very top of the gate building, and fully in view of the people and military in the open ground in front of the building [KITTO]. The popularity of Jehu with the army thus favored the designs of Providence in procuring his immediate and enthusiastic proclamation as king, and the top of the stairs was taken as a most convenient substitute for a throne.
14 Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead--rather, "was keeping," guarding, or besieging it, with the greater part of the military force of Israel. The king's wounds had compelled his retirement from the scene of action, and so the troops were left in command of Jehu.
16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel--Full of ambitious designs, he immediately proceeded to cross the Jordan to execute his commission on the house of Ahab.
17 there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezreel--The Hebrew palaces, besides being situated on hills had usually towers attached to them, not only for the pleasure of a fine prospect, but as posts of useful observation. The ancient watchtower of Jezreel must have commanded a view of the whole region eastward, nearly down to the Jordan. Beth-shan stands on a rising ground about six or seven miles below it, in a narrow part of the plain; and when Jehu and his retinue reached that point between Gilboa and Beth-shan, they could be fully descried by the watchman on the tower. A report was made to Joram in his palace below. A messenger on horseback was quickly despatched down into the plain to meet the ambiguous host and to question the object of their approach. "Is it peace?" We may safely assume that this messenger would meet Jehu at the distance of three miles or more. On the report made of his being detained and turned into the rear of the still advancing troops, a second messenger was in like manner despatched, who would naturally meet Jehu at the distance of a mile or a mile and a half down on the plain. He also being turned into the rear, the watchman now distinctly perceived "the driving to be like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." The alarmed monarch, awakened to a sense of his impending danger, quickly summoned his forces to meet the crisis. Accompanied by Ahaziah, king of Judah, the two sovereigns ascended their chariots to make a feeble resistance to the impetuous onset of Jehu, who quickly from the plain ascended the steep northern sides of the site on which Jezreel stood, and the conflicting parties met "in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite," where Joram was quickly despatched by an arrow from the strong arm of Jehu. We were impressed with the obvious accuracy of the sacred historian; the localities and distances being such as seem naturally to be required by the incidents related, affording just time for the transactions to have occurred in the order in which they are recorded [HOWE].
25 cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, &c.--according to the doom pronounced by divine authority on Ahab (
1Kgs 21:19), but which on his repentance was deferred to be executed on his son.
26 the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord--Although their death is not expressly mentioned, it is plainly implied in the confiscation of his property (see
1Kgs 21:16).
27 AHAZIAH IS SLAIN. (
2Kgs 9:27-35)
Ahaziah--was grandnephew to King Joram, and great-grandson to King Ahab.
Ibleam--near Megiddo, in the tribe of Issachar (
Josh 17:11;
Judg 1:27); and Gur was an adjoining hill.
30 Jezebel painted her face--literally, "her eyes," according to a custom universal in the East among women, of staining the eyelids with a black powder made of pulverized antimony, or lead ore mixed with oil, and applied with a small brush on the border, so that by this dark ligament on the edge, the largeness as well as the luster of the eye itself was thought to be increased. Her object was, by her royal attire, not to captivate, but to overawe Jehu.
35 found no more of her than the skull, and the palms of her hands, &c.--The dog has a rooted aversion to prey on the human hands and feet.
36 JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS. (
2Kgs 9:36-37)
This is the word of the Lord--(See
1Kgs 21:23). Jehu's statement, however, was not a literal but a paraphrased quotation of Elijah's prophecy.
