Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 9:17
17Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s mob approaching and shouted, “I see a mob!” Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do 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 that the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought against Aram’s King Hazael. Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.” 16Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel since Joram was laid up there and King Ahaziah of Judah had gone down to visit Joram. Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s mob approaching and shouted, “I see a mob!” Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’” 18So a horseman went to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace? ’” Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them but hasn’t started back.” 19So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace? ’” Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? 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
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 13:34Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.
- 2 Samuel 18:24David was sitting between the city gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the city gate and over to the wall. The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone.
- Isaiah 21:6For the Lord has said to me, “Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees.
- Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep.
- Isaiah 62:6Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen on your walls; they will never be silent, day or night. There is no rest for you, who remind the Lord.
- 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 select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman.
- Acts 20:26Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,
- 2 Kings 7:14The messengers took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”
- 2 Kings 9:19So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Do you come in peace? ’” Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:4Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
- 1 Samuel 17:22David 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.
- 1 Kings 2:15“You know the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother, for the Lord gave it to him.
- Luke 10:5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
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
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