2 Kings 9

The Explanation

Elisha the prophet has a secret assignment. He calls one of his students and gives him a small bottle of oil. "Go to Ramoth Gilead," he says. "Find a soldier named Jehu. Take him to a back room, pour this oil on his head, and say: God has made you king over Israel. Then open the door and run. Do not wait for a second."

The young prophet does exactly what he is told. He walks into a room full of army officers. "I have a message for you, captain," he says. Jehu asks: "For which of us?" "For you." In a side room the oil runs over Jehu's head. God has chosen him as king. Then the young man runs off, just as Elisha said.

The other officers are curious. "What did that crazy fellow want?" they ask. When Jehu finally tells them, they immediately spread their cloaks under his feet on the steps and blow the trumpet. "Jehu is king!"

Now something serious begins. The current king, Joram son of Ahab, is lying wounded in the city of Jezreel. Jehu jumps into his chariot and races off. A watchman on the tower sees the dust cloud coming. "It looks like Jehu," he says, "he drives like a madman." Joram rides out to meet him. He asks, "Is it peace, Jehu?" Jehu answers: "What peace, as long as your mother Jezebel keeps doing her evil things?" Joram turns to flee, but an arrow strikes him. Jehu tells his officer to throw the body onto the field of Naboth. Long ago, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had murdered Naboth for that piece of land. God had said back then that this would be paid back. Now it happens.

Ahaziah, the king of Judah, is there too and tries to escape. He is also struck and dies at Megiddo.

Then Jehu rides on to the palace. Jezebel hears he is coming. She paints her eyes and does her hair, and stands at an upper window. She calls down mocking words. Jehu looks up and shouts: "Who is on my side?" A few servants look out. "Throw her down!" And they do. Jezebel dies. Later they want to bury her, but almost nothing is left of her, just as the prophet Elijah had once said.

What Does This Mean?

This is a dark chapter. There is blood, revenge, and a queen who dies in a terrible way. It does not read like a sweet Bible story. And that is honest, because the Bible does not hide how bad things had become in Israel.

Ahab and Jezebel had chased away God's prophets, murdered innocent people like Naboth, and led the whole country to worship the idol Baal. God had waited long. He had sent Elijah, He had sent warnings. Now God's patience has run out. What He said long ago through Elijah, now comes true. Every word.

That is the main point of this chapter: God's word does not fall to the ground. What He says, happens. Even if it takes years.

The Common Thread

The Bible is one big story about a King. In this chapter Jehu is anointed with oil, that means God chooses him. The word "Messiah" means "anointed one." Many kings were anointed, but they all failed in the end, including Jehu, as we will see later. There is only one King who is truly good: Jesus. He is the real Anointed One.

And notice this: Jesus does not come with a bow and arrow. He comes to give His own blood, so that people who did wrong things can still come to God. Jehu brings judgment. Jesus takes the judgment on Himself.

For You

You might think: why is this in the Bible at all? That is a good question, and you may keep asking it. Part of the answer is that God is honest. He shows you that evil is not a small thing. Bullying, lying, hurting people, worshiping other things instead of God, all of that matters to Him.

But God is also patient. Jezebel had years to change. So do you. Every day is a day to say: God, I want to live with You.

Talk About It

Which part of this chapter do you find hardest to understand, and why?

Jehu was anointed as king. What is different about Jesus as King?

Praying Together

Lord God, thank You that Your words always come true. Thank You that Jesus is a different kind of King, one who saves instead of destroys. Help me to take You seriously, and help me when I do not understand everything in the Bible. Amen.