2 Kings 9:18

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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• 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.”

Context of 2 Kings 9:18

16So Jehu got on his chariot and drove to Jezreel because Joram was lying in bed there. (King Ahaziah of Judah had come to see Joram.) 17The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some troops.” So Joram said, “Take a chariot driver, send him to meet them, and ask, ‘Is everything alright?’ ” So a chariot driver rode off, met Jehu, and said, “The king asks, ‘Is everything alright?’ ” Jehu replied, “Why should that matter to you? Follow me.” So the watchman announced, “The messenger you sent has reached them, but he isn’t coming back.” 19Then Joram sent out a second driver. When he came to them, he said, “The king asks, ‘Is everything alright?’ ” Jehu replied, “Why should that matter to you? Follow me.” 20So the watchman announced, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back. The troop’s leader is driving like a lunatic, like Jehu, grandson of Nimshi.”

2 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 Joram sent out a second driver. When he came to them, he said, “The king asks, ‘Is everything alright?’ ” Jehu replied, “Why should that matter to you? Follow me.”
• Isaiah 48:22“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.
• Isaiah 59:8They don’t know the way of peace. There’s no justice on their highways. They’ve made their paths crooked. Whoever walks on them will never know peace.
• Jeremiah 16:5“This is what the Lord says: Don’t go into a house where people are grieving. Don’t go to mourn or to grieve for them. I’m taking my peace, love, and compassion away from these people,” declares the Lord.
• Romans 3:17They have not learned to live in peace.

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

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

In the dictionaries

• Jehu
• Jehoram
• Jezebel
• Jezreel
• Messenger
• Perish
• Sink
• Tire
• Watches
• Chronology of the Old Testament

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