2 Kings 9:17

2 Kings 9:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
• New International Version (NIV)When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, he called out, “I see some troops coming.” “Get a horseman,” Joram ordered. “Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company of men.” And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ”

Context of 2 Kings 9:17

15but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to heal from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, “If this is your intent, let no one survive and leave the city (Ramoth-gilead) to go and tell of the plan in Jezreel [the capital].” 16So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram. Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the crowd with Jehu as he approached, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Send a horseman to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” 18So the horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger approached them, but he has not returned.” 19Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who approached them and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” Jehu replied, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.”

2 Kings 9:17 word by word

וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־שִׁפְעַ֤ת יֵהוּא֙ בְּבֹא֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁפְעַ֖ת אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹרָ֗ם קַ֥ח רַכָּ֛ב וּֽשְׁלַ֥ח לִקְרָאתָ֖ם וְיֹאמַ֥ר הֲשָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• a watchmanצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
• on the towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
• in Jezreelיִזְרְעֶאלyizre‛ê'l · JezreelH3157
• and he spiedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the companyשִׁפְעָהshiph‛âh · abundanceH8229
• of Jehuיֵהוּאyêhû' · JehuH3058
• as he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• And Joramיְהוֹרָםyehôrâm · JoramH3088
• Takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• an horsemanרַכָּבrakkâb · charioteerH7395
• and sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965

Cross-references for 2 Kings 9:17

• 2 Samuel 13:34Now Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch looked up, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.
• 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the lookout went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he raised his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
• Isaiah 21:6This is what the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.
• Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; Panting, lying down, they love to slumber.
• Isaiah 62:6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed and stationed watchmen (prophets), Who will never keep silent day or night; You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves,
• Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to the sons of your people [who are exiled in Babylon] and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword on a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,
• Acts 20:26For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.
• 2 Kings 7:14So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”
• 2 Kings 9:19Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who approached them and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” Jehu replied, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.”
• 1 Samuel 16:4So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
• 1 Samuel 17:22Then David left his provisions in the care of the supply keeper, and ran to the ranks and came and greeted his brothers.
• 1 Kings 2:15So he said, “You know that the kingdom belonged to me [as the eldest living son] and all Israel looked to me and expected me to be king. However, the kingdom has passed [from me] and became my brother’s, for it was his from the Lord.
• Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God] to this house.’

Commentaries on 2 Kings 9:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17A watchman on the tower - These watchmen, fixed on elevated places and generally within hearing of each other, served as a kind of telegraphs, to communicate intelligence through the whole country. But, in some cases, it appears that the intelligence was conveyed by a horseman to the next stage, as in the case before us. At this time, when the armies were at Ramoth-gilead, they were, no doubt, doubly watchful to observe the state of the country, and to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-29Verses 16-29 Jehu was a man of eager spirit. The wisdom of God is seen in the choice of those employed in his work. But it is not for any man's reputation to be known by his fury. He that has rule over his own spirit, is better than the mighty. Joram met Jehu in the portion of Naboth. The circumstances of events are sometimes ordered by Divine Providence to make the punishment answer to the sin, as face answers to face in a glass. The way of sin can never…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-37The writer summarizes Jehu's takeover, which started Israel's fourth dynasty, in four steps: Elisha sent a prophet to the army camp at Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu as Israel's next king (2 Kings 9:1–10). Jehu's soldiers learned about the prophet's visit and declared Jehu king (2 Kings 9:11–15). Both Joram and King Ahaziah of Judah were killed (2 Kings 9:16–29). Jezebel was killed (2 Kings 9:30–37).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2417-24. there stood a watchman on the tower of Jezreel--The Hebrew palaces, besides being situated on hills had usually towers attached to them, not only for the pleasure of a fine prospect, but as posts of useful observation. The ancient watchtower of Jezreel must have commanded a view of the whole region eastward, nearly down to the Jordan. Beth-shan stands on a rising ground about six or seven miles below it, in a narrow part of the plain; and when Jehu…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 9:17

• Ahaziah
• Church and State
• Conspiracy
• Decision
• Jehu
• Jezreel
• Joram
• Tower
• Usurpation
• Watchman

In the dictionaries

• Jehu
• Jezreel
• Joram
• Jehoram; Joram
• Jezreel, Jezreelite
• Jehoram
• Jezebel
• Jezreel, Tower of
• Perish
• Sink

Commentaries on 2 Kings 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings