2 Kings 9:14-26

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 (2 Kings 9:14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?" were asking if Israel had successfully defended Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 9:17; 2 Kings 9:19; 2 Kings 9:22). Jehu’s reply to the two horsemen, "What have you to do with peace?" (2 Kings 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 (2 Kings 9:22). Jezebel was a spiritual harlot, having pursued many idols. Her witchcraft (Heb. kesapim, lit. sorceries) involved seeking information from demonic forces (cf. Isaiah 47:9; Isaiah 47:12; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4). This was a capital offense under the Mosaic Law (Exodus 22:18; Deuteronomy 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 (2 Kings 9:24). Jehu desired to fulfill the prophecy of Ahab’s punishment (2 Kings 9:26; cf. 1 Kings 21:21-22). God had mitigated Ahab’s judgment because he had repented (1 Kings 21:29), but now his descendants were reaping the consequences, as God had promised. 2 Kings 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 (Leviticus 25:25; Numbers 36:7).