2 Kings 9 13

2 Kings 9:13 kjv

Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.

2 Kings 9:13 nkjv

Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, "Jehu is king!"

2 Kings 9:13 niv

They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"

2 Kings 9:13 esv

Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, "Jehu is king."

2 Kings 9:13 nlt

Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram's horn, shouting, "Jehu is king!"

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 13 Meaning

This verse vividly portrays the immediate and public acclamation of Jehu as king by the military officers present at Ramoth-gilead. Following the prophet's secret anointing and revelation of God's command for Jehu to overthrow the house of Ahab, these men instinctively recognize Jehu's new status and render immediate homage by laying their garments before him, creating an improvised royal carpet, and loudly proclaiming him king with the sound of a trumpet. It signifies the swift and decisive transfer of power, divinely ordained and publicly declared in a military context.

2 Kings 9 13 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the prophetic commission and secret anointing of Jehu by a young prophet sent by Elisha. The prophet explicitly states God's command for Jehu to "strike down the house of Ahab" to avenge the blood of the Lord's prophets and servants killed by Jezebel. Jehu, a military commander, is left stunned but quickly returns to his fellow officers at Ramoth-gilead. Their immediate question, "Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?" indicates their curiosity and slight dismissiveness towards the prophet. When Jehu finally reveals the prophet's message of his anointing as king, their response is swift and unambiguous: they immediately accept and proclaim his new kingship. Historically, this event marks a pivotal moment in the succession of Israelite kings, signifying the abrupt end of the Omride dynasty (which included Ahab and his son Joram) and the beginning of the Jehu dynasty, the longest-lasting in Israel. It is an act of divine judgment against a corrupt royal line, fulfilling prophecies spoken against Ahab.

2 Kings 9 13 Word Analysis

• Then they hastened (wa-yimahăru - וַיְמַֽהֲרוּ): This conveys immediacy and urgency. The officers acted without delay, indicating their conviction and support for the divine mandate just delivered. It's a quick, almost eager response.
• and took every man his garment (wa-yiqəḥū ’îš bigdô - וַיִּקְח֤וּ אִ֣ישׁ בִּגְדוֹ֙): "Every man" emphasizes the unanimity of the officers. "Garment" (beged) refers to an outer cloak. Laying garments down was a symbolic act of respect, homage, and submission, akin to rolling out a red carpet. It signified profound honor and a declaration of loyalty, placing one's own identity (symbolized by the garment) beneath the new king's authority. This act elevates the chosen individual.
• and put them under him (wa-yyaśîmû taḥtāyw - וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו): Literally, "and placed them under him." This reinforces the gesture of immediate enthronement. By placing the garments beneath Jehu, they created an impromptu, but symbolic, royal dais or carpet, acknowledging him as sovereign. It's a spontaneous act of making a humble man into a kingly figure.
• on the top of the stairs (ro’š hammaʿălōt - רֹ֤אשׁ הַמַּעֲלוֹת֙): This specific location suggests a visible, elevated, and perhaps strategic spot within the military camp or fortress. Being "on the top of the stairs" means he was publicly elevated above them, visible to many, solidifying the public nature of their declaration. It would have been a place accessible and central to the troops.
• and blew the trumpet (wa-yitqaʿû baššôpār - וַֽיִּתְקְע֥וּ בַשּׁוֹפָֽר): The shofar (ram's horn) was used for various purposes in ancient Israel: summoning, signaling battle, announcing new moons/feasts, and most significantly, proclaiming a king. It's a loud, unmistakable public declaration that could be heard over a great distance, formally announcing Jehu's ascent to kingship to all in earshot. It adds gravity and a ceremonial aspect to the otherwise improvised coronation.
• saying, ‘Jehu is king!’ (wayyo’mrû Malak Yahû - וַֽיֹּאמְר֖וּ מָלַ֥ךְ יֵהֽוּא): This is the decisive, definitive proclamation. It's a direct, declarative statement confirming his newly appointed status. The collective, enthusiastic voice underscores the unanimous consent of the officers, affirming the divine selection.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "They hastened... took every man his garment and put them under him on the top of the stairs": This phrase details a rapid, collective act of reverence and enthronement. It highlights the immediate understanding and acceptance of the divine mandate by Jehu's officers, despite the unusual nature of the prophetic visit. It signifies not just belief in the prophecy, but swift obedience and decisive action to confirm it.
• "Blew the trumpet, saying, ‘Jehu is king!’": This combination describes the formal, public acclamation of kingship. The trumpet blast signals the monumental shift in power, and the unanimous verbal proclamation legitimizes Jehu's rule among the military leadership and implicitly before God and the nation. It's an act of defiance against the reigning monarch (Joram) and a clear allegiance to the newly appointed leader.

2 Kings 9 13 Bonus section

The speed and nature of the officers' response (immediately laying cloaks and sounding the shofar) suggest not just blind obedience, but potentially relief or eagerness to support a strong leader. The Omride dynasty had become synonymous with apostasy and weakness in many sectors. This public declaration served as an immediate act of rebellion against the existing monarch, King Joram (son of Ahab), and therefore required significant conviction on the part of the officers. The lack of delay also underlines the weight and authority attributed to prophetic pronouncements in Israel, especially when linked to God's will for kingship. This scenario deviates significantly from the more formal and ceremonial coronations seen with kings like Solomon (1 Kgs 1) but shares the critical element of public acclamation following anointing.

2 Kings 9 13 Commentary

This verse encapsulates the swift and resolute acceptance of God's directive by Jehu's military commanders. Their actions are not merely customary but represent immediate, decisive allegiance to a divinely chosen king, bypassing any existing formal structures. The improvised "throne" of garments signifies their humility and unreserved support, acknowledging Jehu's legitimacy stemming directly from divine anointing rather than human lineage or popular vote. The public proclamation by trumpet and shouts ensures wide communication of the shift in power, marking the beginning of the end for the idolatrous Omride dynasty and ushering in a new, God-ordained era of leadership in Israel, albeit one that would still require great conviction and action from Jehu. It's a testament to the powerful, transformative impact of prophetic revelation when met with obedient hearts.