And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength ,.... To give the arrow all the force he could: and smote Jehoram between his arms ; that is, between his shoulders, his back being turned to him, and the chariot an open one: and the arrow went out at his heart : quite through him: and he sunk down in his chariot ; and died immediately. read more
Drew a bow with his full strength - The marginal reading is correct: He filled his hand with a bow. That is, "He immediately took up his bow, set his arrow, and let fly." This is the only meaning of the passage. Between his arms - That is, between his shoulders; for he was now turned, and was flying from Jehu. read more
THE ANOINTING OF JEHU . His MURDER OF JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH . THE DEATH OF JEZEBEL . read more
The deaths of Jehoram and Jezebel; or, the Divine law of retribution. King Jehoram was lying sick at Jezreel of the wounds he had received in battle from the Syrians. Ahaziah King of Judah had come down to visit him, and, as they conversed together, the watchman upon the city wall brought tidings of an armed company approaching. Jehu, at the head of them, was by-and-by recognized by his furious driving. He had already been proclaimed king in Ramoth-Gilead, but Jehoram knew nothing of this.... read more
Political revolutions justifiable under certain circumstances. In a general way, revolution, resistance to constituted authority, rebellions, risings against the civil power, seem to be condemned, or at any rate discountenanced, by the teaching of Scripture, whether in the Old Testament or the New. They arise, for the most part, from human ambitions, from lust of power, from greed, from unrestrained passions, from selfishness; they involve in their course untold sufferings to large numbers;... read more
Jehu as avenger. No sooner is Jehu proclaimed king than, with characteristic decision, he gives orders that no one be permitted to leave the city to carry news to Jehoram; then, mounting his chariot, he drives off furiously to Jezreel. Whatever Jehu did, he did "with all his might" ( Ecclesiastes 9:10 ). It is this vigorous decision of character which made him so suitable an instrument in executing God's vengeance on the house of Ahab, I. JEHU 'S APPROACH TO JEZREEL . 1. ... read more
And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength. This meaning is scarcely contained in the Hebrew, which merely says that Jehu "filled his hand with his bow," that is to say, took his bow into his hands for the purpose of using it. And smote Jehoram between his arms ; i.e. directed an arrow against Jehoram with so true an aim, that it struck him in the middle of the back between his shoulders. And the arrow went out at his heart. This was quite possible, for the heart lies towards the... read more
Jehu drew a bow ... - literally, as in the margin, i. e., “Jehu took a bow in his hand.” The arrow struck Jehoram’s back, between his two shoulders, as he fled. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 9:16-29
From Ramoth-Gilead to Jezreel was more than one day's march; about the mid-way between them the river Jordan must be crossed. We may suppose Jehu to have marched with all possible expedition, and to have taken the utmost precaution to prevent the tidings from getting to Jezreel before him; and, at length, we have him within sight first, and then within reach, of the devoted king. I. Joram's watchman discovers him first at a distance, him and his retinue, and gives notice to the king of the... read more