2 Kings 9 23

2 Kings 9:23 kjv

And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.

2 Kings 9:23 nkjv

Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"

2 Kings 9:23 niv

Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"

2 Kings 9:23 esv

Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, "Treachery, O Ahaziah!"

2 Kings 9:23 nlt

Then King Joram turned the horses around and fled, shouting to King Ahaziah, "Treason, Ahaziah!"

2 Kings 9 verses

2 Kings 9 23 Meaning

This verse captures the pivotal moment when King Joram of Israel realizes the hostile intent of Jehu, whom he had mistakenly taken for a loyal general. As Jehu approaches, Joram perceives Jehu's mission is not one of peace but of violent overthrow, shouting a warning of "Treachery!" to his ally, King Ahaziah of Judah, before attempting to flee. It marks the abrupt end of Joram's false sense of security and the swift commencement of divine judgment on the house of Ahab, facilitated by Jehu's anointing as executioner.

2 Kings 9 23 Context

2 Kings 9:23 is situated at the dramatic climax of Jehu's anointing as king of Israel by a prophet from the sons of the prophets, with the specific divine mandate to annihilate the entire house of Ahab (2 Ki 9:1-10) as retribution for their profound wickedness and shedding of innocent blood, particularly that of Naboth (1 Ki 21:1-29). Jehu's fellow military commanders immediately acclaimed him king. Jehu then set off furiously from Ramoth-gilead towards Jezreel, where King Joram of Israel was recovering from wounds sustained in battle against the Arameans (2 Ki 8:28). King Ahaziah of Judah had come to visit Joram. As Jehu approached, first messengers were sent to inquire about his purpose, then Joram and Ahaziah themselves rode out to meet him (2 Ki 9:17-21). In the immediate preceding verse (2 Ki 9:22), Joram asks Jehu, "Is it peace, Jehu?" to which Jehu defiantly replies by indicting Joram's mother, Jezebel, and her extensive idolatry and witchcraft, signaling that there could be no peace. This sets the stage for Joram's realization and subsequent flight in verse 23. This scene illustrates the swift and decisive nature of divine judgment enacted against the idolatrous and tyrannical lineage of Ahab.

2 Kings 9 23 Word analysis

• "Joram turned" (וַיַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ יְהוֹרָ֤ם - vayyahaphokh Yehoram): The Hebrew verb haphakh (הפך) means to "turn," "overturn," or "change." Here, it signifies a rapid change of direction, a physical turning away from Jehu, motivated by the immediate comprehension of mortal danger. It conveys a sense of shock and urgent flight, symbolizing the abrupt reversal of his royal fortune and Jehu's usurpation. Joram's posture immediately shifts from inquiry to escape, revealing his fear and the collapse of any lingering hope for a peaceful encounter.
• "and fled" (וַיָּנֹס֙ - vayyanos): The verb nus (נוס) means "to flee" or "to escape." This word powerfully depicts the King of Israel in desperate flight, acknowledging the overwhelming threat posed by Jehu. This act of flight itself is a surrender of his authority and a direct contrast to Jehu's forceful approach. It underscores the terror inspired by Jehu's unambiguous declaration of hostility.
• "and said" (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ - vayyomer): A simple statement verb, yet critical. It conveys the verbal communication, uttered amidst panic and flight.
• "to Ahaziah" (אֶל־אֲחַזְיָ֔הוּ - el Achazyahu): Indicates the direct recipient of Joram's desperate warning. Ahaziah, as King of Judah and kin to the house of Ahab through his mother Athaliah, shared a connection with Joram, making the warning a natural and desperate act of joint survival, though futile.
• "Treachery!" (בֶּ֤גֶד - beged): This is a powerful, concise declaration. The Hebrew word beged primarily means "garment" or "clothing," but in a figurative and crucial sense, it signifies "treachery," "betrayal," or "faithlessness." Its use here points to a complete breach of loyalty and an unexpected hostile action by someone assumed to be a subordinate or ally. Joram had likely seen Jehu as one of his generals; this exclamation confirms Jehu's intention is not of peace or service, but a full-scale coup, fulfilling the divine judgment that the prophets had spoken against the house of Ahab (e.g., 1 Ki 21:20-24). It also points to the ultimate treachery of the house of Ahab against YHWH, which brought about this divine judgment.
• "O Ahaziah!" (אֲחַזְיָה֙ - Achazyah): The vocative (direct address) underscores the urgency and desperation of Joram's cry. It's a last, frantic plea to his ally to recognize the peril and join in escape.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Joram turned and fled": This phrase encapsulates Joram's immediate and instinctual reaction to Jehu's menacing response. It is a moment of stark realization and self-preservation, signifying the collapse of his kingship and the advent of God's appointed agent of judgment. His turning implies not just physical motion but a spiritual turning point where he fully comprehends Jehu's destructive mission.
• "and said to Ahaziah, Treachery, O Ahaziah!": This segment highlights the shared peril and the desperate attempt to warn an ally. Joram's concise cry of "Treachery!" acts as a stark, urgent summation of the situation. It means not just "Jehu has betrayed me," but fundamentally "This is a pre-meditated hostile act of a coup, intended for destruction," drawing on the prophetic mandate given to Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab for their betrayals against God and man (1 Ki 21; 2 Ki 9:7-10). It emphasizes that Jehu is not acting on a personal whim but as an instrument of divine judgment, which, from Joram's perspective, manifests as betrayal of his reign. The urgency in Joram's address to Ahaziah suggests he recognizes the grave danger not only to himself but also to Ahaziah who is an extended member of Ahab's family.

2 Kings 9 23 Bonus section

• The exclamation "Treachery!" is a profound indicator that Joram now understands Jehu's arrival as not just a rebellion but a divinely ordained, inescapable judgment, stemming from the long-standing prophecy against Ahab's house for their systemic idolatry and shedding of innocent blood (cf. 1 Ki 21). The 'peace' they sought from Jehu was antithetical to the "peace" that YHWH requires, which involves true worship and justice.
• Joram's flight parallels the swift demise often portrayed for the wicked in the Psalms and Proverbs (e.g., Ps 37:35-36), who are removed suddenly. Despite his royal power, Joram is utterly helpless before Jehu, God's chosen agent.
• Ahaziah's presence beside Joram highlights the interconnectedness of their houses through marriage (Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, marrying Joram of Judah). This alliance, ironically, pulls Ahaziah into the orbit of Jehu's judgment, as Jehu's purge was divinely sanctioned against all who aligned with the evil of Ahab's lineage, effectively judging not only Israel but also Judah through its current ruler's complicity in idol worship.

2 Kings 9 23 Commentary

2 Kings 9:23 is the immediate, desperate reaction of King Joram as he fully grasps Jehu's deadly intention. Jehu's cryptic and indicting response in the previous verse left no room for doubt: his coming was not for peace but for utter destruction, specifically of Ahab's wicked dynasty. Joram's cry of "Treachery!" encapsulates his sudden realization of a betrayal not merely by a subordinate general, but by God's designated instrument of justice. This exclamation highlights the surprise and the immediate threat, contrasting sharply with the supposed "peace" they had been hoping to establish with Jehu. It signifies the irreversible turning point where the protracted period of Ahab's sin and its consequence culminates in this decisive moment of divine retribution. Joram's desperate attempt to flee and warn Ahaziah, his kinsman, underscores the speed and severity of Jehu's actions as a divine executioner, ensuring no one allied with the house of Ahab escapes judgment. This entire sequence demonstrates God's sovereignty and faithfulness in bringing to pass His spoken judgments against wickedness.