2 Kings 9 14

2 Kings 9:14 kjv

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.

2 Kings 9:14 nkjv

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria.

2 Kings 9:14 niv

So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Aram,

2 Kings 9:14 esv

Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria,

2 Kings 9:14 nlt

So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, led a conspiracy against King Joram. (Now Joram had been with the army at Ramoth-gilead, defending Israel against the forces of King Hazael of Aram.

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 14 Meaning

2 Kings 9:14 describes the initiation of Jehu's divinely ordained coup against King Joram of Israel. It states that Jehu, the son of Nimshi, entered into a conspiracy against Joram, capitalizing on the circumstances where Joram and the Israelite army were preoccupied with defending Ramoth-gilead against military aggression from Hazael, king of Syria. This verse sets the stage for Jehu to execute God's judgment against the wicked house of Ahab.

2 Kings 9 14 Context

Chapter 9 of 2 Kings opens with the prophet Elisha sending one of his disciples to Ramoth-gilead with a vial of oil. The disciple's mission is to privately anoint Jehu, one of Joram's military commanders, as king over Israel, and explicitly commission him to utterly destroy the house of Ahab as divine retribution for their egregious idolatry and wickedness. Verses 1-13 detail this clandestine anointing and the swift declaration of Jehu as king by the army commanders present. This immediate context is crucial: Jehu's "conspiracy" is not merely a political maneuver but a direct act of obedience to a prophetic command, making him an agent of divine judgment.

Historically, the Omride dynasty (Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram) was notorious for promoting Baal worship and persecuting God's prophets. Ramoth-gilead was a strategically vital fortress city east of the Jordan River, repeatedly contested between Israel and Aram (Syria). Its capture or control was essential for regional dominance and border security. Joram's injury at Ramoth-gilead forced his withdrawal to Jezreel for recovery, leaving his forces and commanders (including Jehu) at the front. This physical distance and the ongoing conflict created a power vacuum and an opportune moment for Jehu's plot to take hold without immediate detection or organized resistance from Joram's royal court in Jezreel. The verse concisely bridges the immediate anointing of Jehu with the specific circumstances that enabled his swift action.

2 Kings 9 14 Word analysis

• So: This transitional word indicates a consequence or continuation, linking Jehu's anointing (v. 1-13) directly to his subsequent action. It suggests that the "conspiracy" immediately followed his proclamation as king.
• Jehu: יֵהוּא (Yehu). This Hebrew name means "He is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is He." The name itself is a profound theological statement, aligning Jehu with the LORD God of Israel as the true agent behind his actions, despite the violent and humanly "conspiratorial" nature of his ascent. He becomes God's instrument for judgment.
• the son of Nimshi: בֶּן נִמְשִׁי (ben Nimshî). While 2 Kgs 9:2 identifies Jehu as the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, it's possible "Nimshi" was a more renowned paternal ancestor, or the text abbreviates. Identifying him by an established lineage gives him a recognized identity among the military elite and differentiates him from others. This is a common way to specify identity in ancient texts, even if not the immediate father.
• conspired: קָשַׁר (qāshar). This Hebrew verb literally means "to bind," "to tie," and metaphorically, "to join oneself to," "to band together," "to conspire," "to revolt." It frequently describes political coups or treacherous plots (e.g., Baasha against Nadab in 1 Kgs 15:27, Zimri against Elah in 1 Kgs 16:9, Shallum against Zechariah in 2 Kgs 15:10). The use of this term here highlights the radical, disruptive, and unlawful nature of Jehu's seizure of power from a human political perspective, even as it was divinely commissioned. It signifies a covert, concerted plan, not an open declaration.
• against Joram: Refers to Joram (יְהוֹרָם, Yehoram), King of Israel, son of Ahab. His name means "Yahweh is exalted," which is tragically ironic given his family's persistent promotion of Baal worship and the very divine judgment now brought upon them through Jehu. Joram represented the continuation of the idolatrous policies of his father.
• Now Joram and all Israel were on guard: The conjunction "Now" (וְיוֹרָם, veYoram, literally "And Joram") provides background information critical to understanding why the conspiracy could happen and succeed. "All Israel" (כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol Yisra’el) signifies the unified military force representing the kingdom, indicating a substantial national commitment to the battle. "On guard" (שֹׁמְרִים, shomerim) indicates a defensive posture, a state of military vigilance or active engagement, implying that they were busy, distracted, and their king was away.
• at Ramoth-gilead: רָמֹת גִּלְעָד (Ramoth Gil'ad), meaning "heights of Gilead." A strategic fortress city east of the Jordan River. It was a contested site between Israel and Aram (Syria) for generations (cf. 1 Kgs 22). Its strategic importance and constant contention made it a natural hub for military action. This location placed Joram away from the capital, vulnerable, and his loyal forces at the frontlines under commanders like Jehu.
• because of Hazael king of Syria: Acknowledges the ongoing external threat that ironically facilitated the internal overthrow. Hazael (חֲזָאֵל, Hazael), whose name means "God has seen," was himself an instrument of divine judgment (1 Kgs 19:15-17; 2 Kgs 8:12-13) against Israel's idolatry. His aggression kept the bulk of Israel's military away from the political centers, creating a crucial opportunity for Jehu's action. "Syria" is אֲרָם (Aram), a consistent adversary to Israel in the Divided Monarchy period.

2 Kings 9 14 Bonus section

The seemingly coincidental war with Aram, the injury of Joram, and his subsequent return to Jezreel for recovery are not just background details; they are critical elements that align to create the optimal conditions for Jehu's mission. Had Joram been in the capital or leading his army uninjured, the execution of the divine command would have been significantly more difficult. This demonstrates God's orchestrating hand in historical events, even in political intrigue and warfare, to accomplish His ultimate purpose. The entire narrative surrounding Jehu serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting Yahweh and pursuing idolatry, and that divine judgment, though often deferred, will inevitably come.

2 Kings 9 14 Commentary

2 Kings 9:14 is a pivot point, initiating the dramatic, bloody purge of the Omride dynasty in Israel. The verse's strength lies in its concise layering of divinely commanded action with a historically opportune political landscape. Jehu's "conspiracy" is framed not merely as an ambition for power, but as the direct execution of a divine oracle against Ahab's wicked house, prophesied through Elijah and enacted through Elisha's messenger. The term "conspired" highlights the radical break with normal succession and the clandestine, revolutionary nature of his undertaking, but it simultaneously underscores the sovereignty of God, who can use even a human plot as His instrument of judgment.

The vulnerability of Joram and "all Israel" at Ramoth-gilead, engrossed in defending their border against Hazael of Syria, creates the perfect stage. Joram's absence from his capital, Jezreel, weakened his immediate control and provided Jehu, surrounded by sympathetic military officers at the front, with the window he needed to gather support and strike. This highlights God's strategic timing and ability to orchestrate geopolitical circumstances (the war with Syria) to facilitate His prophetic purposes (the destruction of the Omrides for their deep apostasy and shedding of innocent blood). It emphasizes that no human power, no matter how entrenched or engaged in conflict, can ultimately thwart God's decreed judgment.