2 Kings 9 16

2 Kings 9:16 kjv

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.

2 Kings 9:16 nkjv

So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

2 Kings 9:16 niv

Then he got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel, because Joram was resting there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.

2 Kings 9:16 esv

Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.

2 Kings 9:16 nlt

Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezreel to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziah of Judah was there, too, for he had gone to visit him.

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 16 Meaning

This verse details Jehu's immediate action following his anointing and divine commission to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu promptly traveled in his chariot to Jezreel, the royal city of the Northern Kingdom. The urgency was driven by the presence of both King Joram of Israel, who was recovering there from battle wounds, and King Ahaziah of Judah, who had arrived to visit his injured Israelite counterpart. The convergence of these two kings, both intricately linked to the wicked Omride dynasty, sets the precise stage for the fulfillment of God's severe judgment.

2 Kings 9 16 Context

This verse serves as the critical transition point where Jehu immediately acts on the divine mandate delivered by the young prophet in the preceding verses. The narrative moves swiftly from the prophetic word to its decisive execution. Earlier in 2 Kings, King Joram of Israel, a descendant of the wicked Ahab, had been wounded in battle against Hazael king of Syria (2 Kgs 8:28-29) and had retreated to Jezreel to recover. At the same time, King Ahaziah of Judah, whose mother was Athaliah (Ahab's daughter), had come to Jezreel to visit his injured uncle, King Joram, symbolizing the intermingling and close ties between the two royal houses that God was set to judge. Jezreel was significant as it was where Naboth's vineyard was located and where Elijah had prophesied judgment on Ahab's house and Jezebel specifically (1 Kgs 21). Thus, 2 Kings 9:16 perfectly sets the stage for Jehu's rapid, violent purge against the idolatrous and corrupt Omride dynasty, marking the beginning of the prophecy's swift and terrible fulfillment.

2 Kings 9 16 Word analysis

• So Jehu: This conjunction marks a direct and immediate consequence of the previous event (Jehu's anointing and commission). It highlights Jehu's prompt obedience and readiness to execute the divine command. It signifies the narrative's rapid progression towards judgment.
• rode: This verb emphasizes Jehu's active movement and determination. His journey is purposeful and without delay.
• in a chariot: The Hebrew term is merkabah (מֶרְכָּבָה), meaning "chariot" or "vehicle." In ancient warfare and travel, a chariot represented speed, military power, and often royal or high status. Its use signifies the swiftness of Jehu's approach and his intent to carry out a decisive military action rather than a diplomatic visit. Jehu's association with chariots and furious driving becomes a hallmark (2 Kgs 9:20).
• and went: Reinforces the purposeful direction and action.
• to Jezreel: The Hebrew is Yizre'el (יִזְרְעֶאל), meaning "God will sow." Jezreel was a royal residence for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, notably containing Ahab's palace. Its historical significance, particularly concerning Naboth's vineyard (1 Kgs 21) and the explicit prophecies of judgment against Ahab's house and Jezebel made by Elijah at this very location, underscores its choice as the site for this initial phase of the purge. God was "sowing" judgment there.
• for Joram was laid up there: The phrase "laid up" comes from the root chalah (חָלָה), meaning "to be sick," "to be weak," "to be wounded." This explains Joram's physical vulnerability and his confinement, making him an easy target. He was convalescing from wounds sustained in battle (2 Kgs 8:28-29). His incapacitated state portrays the weakened condition of the Omride dynasty itself, ripe for divine overthrow.
• and Ahaziah king of Judah: The name Ahaziah (אֲחַזְיָהוּ) means "Yahweh has grasped" or "Yahweh sustains." He was king of the southern kingdom of Judah and tragically, through his mother Athaliah, he was the grandson of the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. His presence signifies the broader reach of God's judgment to Judah's monarchy due to its deep entanglement and alliance through marriage with the idolatrous Omride line, as documented in 2 Chronicles 22:3-5.
• had come down to visit Joram: The phrase "come down" is a geographical reference, as Jerusalem (the capital of Judah) was at a higher elevation than Jezreel. This detail emphasizes Ahaziah's supportive but ill-fated visit, which places him directly in the path of Jehu's wrath. His voluntary presence at Jezreel links him irrevocably to the impending judgment upon the Omride dynasty, whose destruction he had implicitly endorsed through alliance.

2 Kings 9 16 Bonus section

The double significance of the name "Jezreel," meaning "God will sow," is a profound biblical concept. While in 2 Kings 9:16 and the subsequent verses, God "sows" judgment and scatters the wicked Omride dynasty, the prophet Hosea later uses "Jezreel" to symbolize restoration and re-gathering (Hos 1:11, Hos 2:22-23). This demonstrates God's sovereignty over both destruction and reconstruction, fulfilling His purposes in different ways at different times. Jehu's furious driving, highlighted as early as this initial journey, is not just a personal trait but symbolic of the irresistible and rapid momentum of God's decreed judgment. The historical accounts and archaeological findings related to Jezreel indicate its strategic military importance, lending further weight to its selection as the theater for Jehu's military coup.

2 Kings 9 16 Commentary

2 Kings 9:16 powerfully demonstrates the swift execution of God's sovereign will and the precise fulfillment of prophecy. Jehu's immediate departure in his chariot underscores his determination and role as an agent of divine judgment, embodying the furious driving for which he becomes known. The strategic destination of Jezreel is deeply significant, not merely a convenient location, but the very place prophesied by Elijah for the downfall of Ahab's house and Jezebel because of their grave sins (especially concerning Naboth's vineyard). The wounded state of King Joram renders him vulnerable and highlights the weakened authority of the condemned dynasty. Critically, King Ahaziah's ill-timed visit places him directly in the orbit of judgment, illustrating that those who align themselves with the wicked ultimately share in their fate. This verse masterfully sets the stage for a dramatic and bloody purge, signifying the urgency and comprehensive nature of God's justice against rampant idolatry and wickedness. It showcases divine timing and precision, using human circumstances—a king's injury, a relative's visit—to perfectly align for prophetic fulfillment.