Berean Standard Bible
2 Kings 9:17
17Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!”
“Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”
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 recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.” 16Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him. Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’” 18So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”
Read all of 2 Kings 92 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
- Now the watchmanצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
- standingעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- onעַל‛al · uponH5921
- the towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
- in Jezreelיִזְרְעֶאלyizre‛ê'l · JezreelH3157
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- Jehu’sיֵהוּאyêhû' · JehuH3058
- troopsשִׁפְעָהshiph‛âh · abundanceH8229
- approachingבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and he called outאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Iאֲנִי'ănîy · IH589
- Chooseלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- a riderרַכָּבrakkâb · charioteerH7395
- Joramיְהוֹרָםyehôrâm · JoramH3088
- Send him outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- to meet themקָרָאqârâ' · to encounter: meetH7122
- Have you come in peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
Cross-references for 2 Kings 9:17
- 2 Samuel 13:34Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”
- 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
- Isaiah 21:6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
- Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- Isaiah 62:6On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves,
- Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
- Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- 2 Kings 7:14Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”
- 2 Kings 9:19So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:4So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
- 1 Samuel 17:22Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing.
- 1 Kings 2:15“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.
- Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace 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
In the dictionaries
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
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries