2 Kings 9

Passage overview

1 Chronicles 9 organizes the genealogical records of the people of Israel and Judah, and introduces those who lived in Jerusalem after the return from exile. The preceding list of genealogies continues, and it especially deals with historical changes after the exile. In the final part, Saul’s genealogy is mentioned again, completing the overall flow of the genealogies.

1verseElisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.

2verseWhen you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room.

3verseThen take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘The LORD says, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door, flee, and don’t wait.”

4verseSo the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.

5verseWhen he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, “I have a message for you, captain.” Jehu said, “To which one of us?” He said, “To you, O captain.”

6verseHe arose, and went into the house. Then he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

7verseYou must strike your master Ahab’s house, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

8verseFor the whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.

9verseI will make Ahab’s house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.

10verseThe dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

11verseWhen Jehu came out to the servants of his lord and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” He said to them, “You know the man and how he talks.”

12verseThey said, “That is a lie. Tell us now.” He said, “He said to me, ‘The LORD says, I have anointed you king over Israel.’”

13verseThen they hurried, and each man took his cloak, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king.”

14verseSo Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;

15versebut King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, “If this is your thinking, then let no one escape and go out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.”

16verseSo Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17verseNow the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” Joram said, “Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

18verseSo one went on horseback to meet him, and said, “the king says, ‘Is it peace?’” Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman said, “The messenger came to them, but he isn’t coming back.”

19verseThen he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them and said, “The king says, ‘Is it peace?’” Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!”

20verseThe watchman said, “He came to them, and isn’t coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21verseJoram said, “Get ready!” They got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot; and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him on Naboth the Jezreelite’s land.

22verseWhen Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?”

23verseJoram turned his hands and fled, and said to Ahaziah, “This is treason, Ahaziah!”

24verseJehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

25verseThen Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden on him:

26verse‘Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will repay you in this plot of ground,’ says the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the LORD’s word.”

27verseBut when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, “Strike him also in the chariot!” They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.

28verseHis servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in David’s city.

29verseIn the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

30verseWhen Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out at the window.

31verseAs Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?”

32verseHe lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

33verseHe said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot.

34verseWhen he had come in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.”

35verseThey went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.

36verseTherefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is the LORD’s word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of Jezreel,

37verseand the body of Jezebel will be as dung on the surface of the field on Jezreel’s land, so that they won’t say, “This is Jezebel.”’”

The Flow of the Text

  • Verses 1–2: The people of Israel were taken captive to Babylon because of their crimes, and those who returned afterward are mentioned.
  • Verses 3–9: The various tribes that settled in Jerusalem and their families are recorded. (Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, etc.)
  • Verses 10–34: The genealogies and roles of the priests of the temple, the Levites, and those responsible for temple service (such as gatekeepers, those in charge of singing, temple managers, etc.) are described in detail.
  • Verses 35–44: Saul’s genealogy is organized again, preparing for the historical flow of the royal line of Saul that follows.

Overall Meaning

1 Chronicles 9 shows a story of restoration: although the people of Israel received judgment and were taken to Babylon as captives, God brings them back again. It emphasizes how people from various tribes live together in Jerusalem, and how each group remains faithful in its own duties, such as the priests and the Levites. It is also a symbolic scene that shows God’s community being rebuilt according to order and roles. It suggests that even after the return from exile, the community centered on God must be restored.

Points to Ponder

  • Let’s remember that God’s people are restored again through God’s guidance even after suffering.
  • By seeing that there are those who serve God faithfully in various roles and positions, we can reflect on how all the offices and acts of service in the community are precious.

Applying It to Me

  • Let’s consider what roles and positions I am currently serving in the community (home, faith community, and society).
  • Even if there were past failures or disappointments, let’s commit to living today with hope, holding onto the belief that God gives an opportunity to start again.

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