Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 9:17
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, [Is it] peace?
17. And there stood a watchman ] R.V. Now the watchman stood. While such danger was threatening one part of the land, and the army was in the field, the watchman would be kept permanently on the lookout for any messenger that might be seen coming. The tower was probably some lofty part of the royal palace, for the news seems easily to have been conveyed to the king.
Is it peace? ] There would be much anxiety in the king’s mind, though he would not expect what was coming. He might suppose that the army in Ramoth had been defeated, and that the hasty messenger was coming to announce that Ramoth was again in the hand of Syria. So the ‘Is all well?’ of the margin of R.V. gives an excellent sense, and is the rendering of the same phrase in verse 11, though it does not admit of the reply which Jehu gives in the next verse.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. A watchman on the tower] These watchmen, fixed on elevated places and generally within hearing of each other, served as a kind of telegraphs, to communicate intelligence through the whole country. But, in some cases, it appears that the intelligence was conveyed by a horseman to the next stage, as in the case before us. At this time, when the armies were at Ramoth-gilead, they were, no doubt, doubly watchful to observe the state of the country, and to notice every movement. See on 2Sa 13:34.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Inquire who it is comes, and if he come upon peaceable terms. For he feared, lest either the Syrians had prevailed there, or some sedition or rebellion was raised against him; which the example of Libnah, and his own guilty conscience, made him fear.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17-24. there stood a watchman on thetower of JezreelThe Hebrew palaces, besides being situated onhills had usually towers attached to them, not only for the pleasureof a fine prospect, but as posts of useful observation. The ancientwatchtower of Jezreel must have commanded a view of the whole regioneastward, nearly down to the Jordan. Beth-shan stands on a risingground about six or seven miles below it, in a narrow part of theplain; and when Jehu and his retinue reached that point betweenGilboa and Beth-shan, they could be fully descried by the watchman onthe tower. A report was made to Joram in his palace below. Amessenger on horseback was quickly despatched down into the plain tomeet the ambiguous host and to question the object of their approach.”Is it peace?” We may safely assume that this messengerwould meet Jehu at the distance of three miles or more. On the reportmade of his being detained and turned into the rear of the stilladvancing troops, a second messenger was in like manner despatched,who would naturally meet Jehu at the distance of a mile or a mile anda half down on the plain. He also being turned into the rear, thewatchman now distinctly perceived “the driving to be like thedriving 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 byAhaziah, king of Judah, the two sovereigns ascended their chariots tomake a feeble resistance to the impetuous onset of Jehu, who quicklyfrom the plain ascended the steep northern sides of the site on whichJezreel stood, and the conflicting parties met “in the portionof Naboth the Jezreelite,” where Joram was quickly despatched byan arrow from the strong arm of Jehu. We were impressed with theobvious accuracy of the sacred historian; the localities anddistances being such as seem naturally to be required by theincidents related, affording just time for the transactions to haveoccurred in the order in which they are recorded [HOWE].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezreel,…. Who could see afar off when an enemy was coming, and his business was to give notice of it; and especially he was now on his watch tower, because the king was there, and this was necessary for his safety:
and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company; a troop of soldiers, though he did not know who they were, and to whom they belonged, whether they were Syrians or Israelites; which was reported to the king:
and Joram said, take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, is it peace? he might fear some ill had befallen his army at Ramothgilead, and the Syrians had got the advantage of them; or they had made an irruption into his country, and were coming to attack him at Jezreel; or there was an insurrection among his own people.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
B. THE DEATH OF JEHORAM OF ISRAEL 9:1726
TRANSLATION
(17) Now the watchman was standing upon the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and he said, A company I see! And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is all well? (18) So a horseman went to meet him and he said, Thus says the king: Is all well? And Jehu said, What concern is it of yours? Turn in behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came unto them, and he did not return. (19) And he sent a second horseman, and he came unto them, and said, Thus says the king: Is all well? And Jehu said, What concern is it of yours? Turn in behind me. (20) And the watchman told, saying, He came unto them, and he did not return. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, for he drives like a madman. (21) And Joram said, Hitch up! And he hitched up his chariot. And Joram the king of Israel and Ahaziah the king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu. And they found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. (22) And it came to pass when Joram saw Jehu that he said, Is all well, Jehu? And Jehu said, How can it be so long as the harlotries of Jezebel your mother and her many witchcrafts con tinue. (23) And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, Treachery, O Ahaziah! (24) And Jehu drew his bow, and smote Joram between his shoulders, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he slumped over in his chariot. (25) Then he said to Bidkar his captain, Take up, cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, and the LORD laid this burden upon him: (26) Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons (oracle of the LORD); and I will recompense you in this portion (oracle of the LORD). Now lift him up, and cast him into the portion according to the word of the LORD.
COMMENTS
A watchman in the tower at Jezreel spied the band approaching and notified the king. Joram was not alarmed, and suspected that the small group of chariots was bringing news from the war front. He dispatched a messenger to find out if the news was good or bad (2Ki. 9:17). Jehu refused to answer the question of the messenger, but said to him in effect, What does it matter to a common man like you whether or not my tidings are peaceful? He then directed the messenger to fall in behind him, and the messenger had no choice but to obey. The watchman noting this suspicious behavior reported it at once to the king. Joram should now have realized something was amiss, but he seems to have been oblivious to danger (2Ki. 9:18). A second messenger was sent out with the same question, and he too was rebuffed and ordered to fall in behind Jehu (2Ki. 9:19). The sending of the second messenger was an indication that the king was displeased with the detention of the first. When the second messenger failed also to return, Joram realized that whoever was leading that chariot band was acting in open defiance of the royal will. From the reckless pace at which the chariots were heading for Jezreel the watchman at Jezreel concluded that General Jehu, who had a reputation for such driving, was leading the group (2Ki. 9:20).
When Joram heard that Jehu led the company which was approaching, his apprehension disappeared. Jehu was known for his loyalty to the house of Ahab. The king and his nephew from Judah decided to ride out to meet the great general to find out why he had abandoned his post at Ramoth-gilead. It so happened in Gods judicial providence that the kings meet Jehu and his company in the portion of ground which Ahab had so ruthlessly taken away from Naboth (2Ki. 9:21). Joram asked the same question which the two messengers asked, but perhaps there is a bit different connotation to it. Jehu at any rate interpreted the kings question, Is all well? to mean, Is all well between you and me? Jehu answered the question in the negative. Now that the king is within bowshot, Jehu threw off his mask and announced, as it were, his conspiracy. No peace between Jehu and Joram could exist so long as the idolatrous influence of the queen mother was allowed to continue. The witchcrafts of Jezebel would be those magical acts commonly practiced in heathen kingdoms of that day but forthrightly condemned in the Law of Moses (2Ki. 9:22). By so speaking of the queen mother, Jehu was clearly indicating that he was no longer willing to be a subject of her son.
Joram realized his precarious position and ordered his chariot driver to turn the chariot. At the same time, Joram shouted to Ahaziah to warn him of the treachery (2Ki. 9:23). Jehu by this time had his bow in hand, and he quickly shot an arrow that penetrated the kings back and came out his heart. The king immediately slumped into his chariot dead (2Ki. 9:24). Jehu then gave orders to one of his captains to cast the corpse of the king into the portion of ground which had formerly belonged to Naboth. Several years earlier both men had ridden with Ahab in his chariot, and they had heard the burden or sentence pronounced against him by Elijah (2Ki. 9:25). Due to the lapse of some fifteen years, Jehu could not recall the exact words of the prophecy, but he remembered the gist of it, viz., that in Naboths plot Ahab would be recompensed for his crime (2Ki. 9:26). The execution of Naboths sons was not previously mentioned, but Ahab would have to have had them slain, else he could not have come into possession of the plot. The evil pronounced against Ahab had been deferred to the days of his sons since Ahab did manifest some repentance with regard to the violence done against Naboth.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(17) And there stood a watchman.Literally, and the watchman was standing. The tower was attached to the palace, and the latter was, perhaps, near the eastern wall of the town.
The company of Jehu.The word (shiphh) literally means overflow, and so a multitude of waters (Job. 22:11), of camels (Isa. 60:6), of horses (Eze. 26:10). Jehu was accompanied, therefore, by a considerable force.
Joram said.Not to the watchman, but to one of his courtiers. The narrative is very concise.
Is it peace?This hardly represents the force of the original. Joram is not yet apprehensive. His question merely means, What is the news? He expects news from the army at Ramoth. Thenius, however, explains Come ye with friendly or hostile intention? In that case, would the king have sent a single horseman to ascertain the truth?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. A watchman on the tower “There was usually in ancient times a watchtower over the royal residence, where a man was always stationed, night and day, to keep a good look out in all directions, but especially in that direction from which any sort of tidings could be expected. What he beheld, which he deemed of any consequence, he declared below in the courts of the palace. In the present case the frequency of reports from the seat of war, and the king’s anxiety for intelligence, naturally kept the attention of the watchman much in that direction.” Kitto. Dr. Robinson, describing the modern village of Jezreel, mentions “a square tower of some height, partly in ruins, from the several windows of which we enjoyed a splendid view of the adjacent country in all directions.”
I see a company A vast multitude. Jehu had not come alone; probably a large part of the army followed him.
Take a horseman Jehu’s company were yet a great way off, and the position of Jezreel the modern Zerin (see note on 1Ki 18:45,) commanded a wide view both to the east and west.
Jehu and his company must have approached Jezreel from the east, through the deep broad valley of the Wady Jalud. From the heights of Jezreel one can see the acropolis of Beth-shean, some ten miles down this valley, and also the mountains beyond the Jordan.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 9:17. There stood a watchman on the tower In times of peace as well as war, it was usual to have watchmen set on high and eminent places wherever the king was, to prevent his being surprised. Thus David at Jerusalem was informed by the watchmen, that his sons were escaped from the slaughter of Absalom, when he thought them all lost, 2Sa 13:34.; and therefore Jehoram, who had an armor lying before Ramoth-gilead, had good reason to keep a watchful eye upon every motion, especially from that quarter. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 9:17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, [Is it] peace?
Ver. 17. Is it peace? ] This was ever the great question; 2Ki 9:11 , Is all well? Heb., Is it peace? This their guiltiness asketh. All would be well but for their sins. They fear not these; they fear all others, as Cain did, who to them, like comets, are seldom seen without the portendment of a mischief.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
an horseman, or a charioteer.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a watchman: 2Sa 13:34, 2Sa 18:24, Isa 21:6-9, Isa 21:11, Isa 21:12, Isa 56:10, Isa 62:6, Eze 33:2-9, Act 20:26-31
Take an horseman: 2Ki 7:14
Is it peace: 2Ki 9:19, 1Sa 16:4, 1Sa 17:22, 1Ki 2:15, Luk 10:5, Luk 10:6
Reciprocal: 2Ki 5:21 – Is all well 2Ki 9:11 – Is all well 2Ki 9:22 – Is it peace Hab 2:1 – tower
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 9:17-18. 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 prevailed at Ramoth-gilead, or some sedition or rebellion was raised against him, which the example of Libnah, and his own guilty conscience, made him fear. Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? It is not to thee, but to him that sent thee, that I will give answer. Turn thee behind me Join thyself to my followers, if thou wishest for safety. This order he did not dare to disobey, seeing such a company of soldiers with Jehu.