English Standard Version
2 Kings 9:18
18So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."
2 Kings 9:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
- New International Version (NIV)The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” “What do you have to do with peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” The lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them, but he isn’t coming back.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not coming back.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if you are coming in peace.” Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman called out to the king, “The messenger has met them, but he’s not returning.”
Context of 2 Kings 9:18
16Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram. 17Now 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?'" So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back." 19Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "Thus the king has said, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me." 20Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
Read all of 2 Kings 92 Kings 9:18 word by word
וַיֵּלֶךְ֩ רֹכֵ֨ב הַסּ֜וּס לִקְרָאת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֲשָׁל֔וֹם וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יֵה֛וּא מַה־לְּךָ֥ וּלְשָׁל֖וֹם סֹ֣ב אֶֽל־אַחֲרָ֑י וַיַּגֵּ֤ד הַצֹּפֶה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ עַד־הֵ֖ם וְלֹֽא־שָֽׁב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- So there wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- one on horsebackסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
- one on horsebackרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392
- to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- him, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
- And Jehuיֵהוּאyêhû' · JehuH3058
- turnסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
- thee behindאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- me. And the watchmanצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
- toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- The messengerמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
- cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to them, but he cometh not againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
Cross-references for 2 Kings 9:18
- 2 Kings 9:19Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "Thus the king has said, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me."
- Isaiah 48:22"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked."
- Isaiah 59:8The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.
- Jeremiah 16:5"For thus says the Lord: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy, declares the Lord.
- Romans 3:17and the way of peace they have not known."
Commentaries on 2 Kings 9:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18What hast thou to do with peace? - "What is it to thee whether there be peace or war? Join my company, and fall into the rear."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18What hast thou to do with peace? - i. e., “What does it matter to thee whether my errand is one of peace or not?”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 9:18
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries