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2 Kings 9 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
One of my favorite parts to this story is the fact that Jehu was recognized by his furious driving.
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
2 Kings 9:20 ESV
It would take a furious man with a wave of righteous anger to purge the nation of the most wicked leadership it had ever known. Jehu was the avenger that the Lord chose in order to carry out his mission and plan against Ahab and Jezebel’s family. He was urgently anointed as the new king before being given specific instructions.
“Jehu is the only king of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) to have been anointed, perhaps to indicate that he should follow in the Davidic tradition, as Saul had been anointed by Samuel; David by Samuel, to mark the Spirit of God endowing him for the task.” -Donald Wiseman
The prophecy carried out as God had said it would with the kings of Israel and Judah meeting Jehu at the same place where Ahab and Jezebel had killed Naboth. I am drawn to how King Joram addressed Jehu when he rode out to him.
“Get my chariot ready,” King Joram ordered. It was done, and he and King Ahaziah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the field which had belonged to Naboth. 22 “Are you coming in peace?” Joram asked him. “How can there be peace,” Jehu answered, “when we still have all the witchcraft and idolatry that your mother Jezebel started?”
2 Kings 9:21-22 GNB
He wanted peace from Jehu but he had not made a decision to turn from the ways of his mother and father. Jehu’s reasoning is spot on. How can there be peace when there has not been repentance? Joram wanted peace from man without peace from God. Jehu took his position as the anointed leader of God very seriously. He did not hesitate, and in the end, did exactly what he was asked.