Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 9:14
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
14. conspired against Joram ] The verb has the notion of ‘binding’. Hence it implies here that Jehu made a league with the other generals to carry out the deposition and slaying of Joram. The word in the form here used is found again 2Ch 24:25-26 of those who combined ‘to execute judgement’ on Joash king of Judah.
Now Joram had kept [R.V. omits had ] Ramoth-gilead ] The reference is to the existing state of the war. The army of Israel was in Ramoth, to protect the place against the threatened invasion of the Syrians.
he and all Israel ] Meaning the greater part of the army, all the soldiery which could come into the field. Syria was clearly a most formidable enemy. Hazael was carrying out to the full the predictions of Elisha (2Ki 8:12).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Had kept – Rather, was keeping watch. The city had been taken: but the war continuing, and there being a danger of the Syrians recovering it, Joram and all Israel (i. e., the whole military force) were guarding the recent conquest, while Hazael threatened it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead] The confederate armies appear to have taken this city; but they were obliged to watch their conquests, as they perceived that Hazael was determined to retake it if possible.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead; which interpreters conclude to have been taken by Joram before this time, though the taking of it be not mentioned. This they gather, first, from the mention of the inner chamber, 2Ki 9:2, and of the top of the stairs here; secondly, from 2Ki 9:15, Let none go forth out of the city. But these arguments seem not to be cogent. Not the former, because there might be some suburbs or outbuildings belonging to the city, or not far from it, which the Israelite might have in their possession. Nor the latter, as we shall there see. And if it was taken, why should all Israel be there to keep it, for which a strong garrison was sufficient? The words therefore may be otherwise rendered, exactly according to the Hebrew,
Joram had kept, or did keep, (to wit, by his army left there,) or put guards, or laid siege at, or to, (for so the particle beth is oft used,)
Ramoth-gilead. And therefore he had all Israel, i.e. all the military force of Israel, with him, that he might both maintain the siege, and withal oppose Hazael, who sought to relieve it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14, 15. Joram had keptRamoth-gileadrather, “was keeping,” guarding, orbesieging it, with the greater part of the military force of Israel.The king’s wounds had compelled his retirement from the scene ofaction, and so the troops were left in command of Jehu.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram,…. He and the captains with him entered into a confederacy to depose Joram, and set him up as king:
now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria; having taken it, he left his army in it, under the command of his captains, of which Jehu was the chief, to keep it from the king of Syria; which gave Jehu a fairer opportunity, having the army at his command, and at a distance from Joram, of forming a conspiracy against him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
II. CONFRONTATION AT JEZREEL 9:1437
The historian takes pains to paint the backdrop for the coup detat in 2Ki. 9:14-16. Then, in a matter-of-fact way, he narrates the bloody deaths of Jehoram of Israel (2Ki. 9:17-26), Ahaziah of Judah (2Ki. 9:27-29), and Jezebel (2Ki. 9:30-37).
A. SETTING FOR THE COUP DETAT 9:1416
TRANSLATION
(14) So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram (now Joram was keeping Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael the king of Aram. And Joram the king had returned to convalesce in Jezreel from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted upon him when he fought against Hazael the king of Aram). And Jehu said, If your minds are thus, do not let a fugitive escape from the city to go to tell it in Jezreel. (16) So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel; for Joram was resting there, and Ahaziah the king of Judah had gone down to visit Joram.
COMMENTS
By the open acts which took place at Ramoth-gilead, Jehus conspiracy against the crown was launched. These soldiers happened to be at Ramoth-gilead in Transjordan because Joram had ordered the city to be defended against the incursions of the Arameans (2Ki. 9:14). The king himself, however, was not present, for he had retired to Jezreel to recuperate from battle wounds. After he was proclaimed to be king, Jehu proposed to his supporting officers that they must take all precaution to prevent anyone loyal to Joram from escaping to warn the king of their plans (2Ki. 9:15). Secrecy was absolutely essential. Had the word reached Jezreel, the king might have been able to field a sizable army of loyalists, consequently plunging the entire nation into a bloody civil war. This Jehu wanted to avoid at all costs. On the very day of his anointing, Jehu gathered a small chariot force and swiftly made his way to Jezreel, hoping to arrive before any suspicion of rebellion or revolt (2Ki. 9:16).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(14, 15) Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead . . . But king Joram was returned.Rather, Now Joram had been on guard in Ramoth-gilead . . . And Jehoram the king returned. The whole is a parenthesis intended to explain Jehus words in 2Ki. 9:15 : Let none go forth . . . to tell it in Jezreel. Although substantially a repetition of 2Ki. 8:28-29, it was hardly superfluous (Thenius) to remind the reader at this point of Jorams absencea material element in the success of the conspiracy. Grafs conjecture that Jehu should be read instead of Joram is an obvious one, but hardly correct.
Because of Hazael.Rather, against Hazael.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
DEATH OF JEHORAM, 2Ki 9:14-26.
14. Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead Rather, was keeping watch in Ramoth-gilead. He had forcibly taken it out of the hands of the Syrians, and now had all the army there to guard it lest it should be retaken by Hazael. The king himself, as we have already seen, (2Ki 8:28,) had been wounded during the siege by the Syrian archers, but after having taken it, he left it in charge of the army under command of Jehu, and returned to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The whole design of this being from the Lord, we have only to remark how the various circumstances all concurred to insure the ruin of Ahab’s house. From Ramoth-Gilead to Jezreel was no small distance, yet to prevent tidings getting there before Jehu, he hastens on to surprize Joram. And on the other hand, the alarm of Joram in sending out, upon the smallest appearance, messengers to enquire into the cause, shows the guilt of his conscience. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked! Isa 48:12 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 9:14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
Ver. 14. Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead. ] Which he had newly won from the Syrians in this expedition, but had somewhat to do to hold it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
had kept = had been keeping.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
The Driving of Jehu
2Ki 9:14-26
Many times in this chapter the question is asked, though in varying tones, Is it peace? The horsemen ask it of the furious driver; the king asks it of his captain; Jezebel asks it of the executioners of her son. Is not the human heart always asking the same question? If there is the slightest tremor in the air, the inquiry is at once started, Will this make or mar our peace? The heart of man is ill at ease. Deeply conscious that all is not right between itself and God, anxious that its efforts to reassure itself should not be disturbed, dreading lest an earthquake or a flood may detect the foundation on sand, the soul asks eagerly, Is it peace?
There can be no peace for man till he has put away the evil things associated with the name of Jezebel. Let us not forget those solemn words of the Holy Spirit, I have against thee that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel. We have to do with One who searches the reins and hearts of professing Christians. See Rev 2:18-29. We are all in danger of being seduced by the soft caresses of the world and the honeyed flattery of false professors. There is no peace apart from true repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, Rom 5:1.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
conspired: 2Ki 9:31, 2Ki 8:12-15, 2Ki 10:9, 2Ki 15:30, 1Ki 15:27, 1Ki 16:7, 1Ki 16:9, 1Ki 16:16
kept Ramothgilead: 2Ki 8:28, 1Ki 22:3
Reciprocal: 1Ki 4:13 – Ramothgilead 1Ki 19:15 – Hazael 1Ki 19:17 – the sword of Jehu 2Ki 9:2 – Jehu 2Ki 15:25 – conspired
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 9:14-15. So Jehu conspired against Joram Contrived with the rest of the captains how to destroy Joram: for which they had the fairer opportunity, because he was gone from the army to Jezreel. Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead That is, kept a strong garrison there, upon the frontiers of his kingdom, it having been taken by him before this time, although the taking of it be not mentioned. He and all Israel, because of Hazael, &c. He left an army also there, or in the neighbouring parts, to watch Hazaels motions; so that Jehu had the army with him which Joram had left, being gone home to Jezreel, ill wounded. Jehu said, Let none go forth out of the city Or, from the city: that is, from within it, or from before it; from the siege or army; to go tell it in Jezreel For he knew how necessary secrecy was to the execution of such great designs as he had in hand.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jehu’s assassination of Joram 9:14-26
Israel had evidently retaken Ramoth-gilead after Ben-Hadad I had defeated Ahab there 12 years earlier. Israel was now defending it against the attacking Arameans (2Ki 9:14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?" were asking if Israel had successfully defended Ramoth-gilead (2Ki 9:17; 2Ki 9:19; 2Ki 9:22). Jehu’s reply to the two horsemen, "What have you to do with peace?" (2Ki 9:18-19) was somewhat enigmatic and meant, "Don’t worry." He did not answer their question. They probably concluded that he did not want to say anything until he saw the king. When Joram asked him about peace, Jehu replied that there could be no peace for Israel as long as Israel’s leaders allowed Jezebel’s sins to continue (2Ki 9:22). Jezebel was a spiritual harlot, having pursued many idols. Her witchcraft (Heb. kesapim, lit. sorceries) involved seeking information from demonic forces (cf. Isa 47:9; Isa 47:12; Mic 5:12; Nah 3:4). This was a capital offense under the Mosaic Law (Exo 22:18; Deu 18:10-12). Joram realized Jehu’s words spelled treason, and he began to flee. He had evidently not worn his armor, and Jehu killed him easily with an arrow (2Ki 9:24). Jehu desired to fulfill the prophecy of Ahab’s punishment (2Ki 9:26; cf. 1Ki 21:21-22). God had mitigated Ahab’s judgment because he had repented (1Ki 21:29), but now his descendants were reaping the consequences, as God had promised. 2Ki 9:26 adds that Jezebel had executed Naboth’s sons, too. The writer did not record this earlier. Perhaps she sought to preclude any claims that Naboth’s descendants could have made to his lands later. These additional murders also violated the Mosaic Law (Lev 25:25; Num 36:7).