New King James Version
2 Kings 9:17
17Now 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?’ ”
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 Living Translation (NLT)The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered.
Context of 2 Kings 9:17
15But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, “If you are so minded, let no one leave or escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.” 16So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram. 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?’ ” 18So 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.” 19Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow 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 13:34Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.
- 2 Samuel 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.
- Isaiah 21:6For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.”
- Isaiah 56:10His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Isaiah 62:6I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
- Ezekiel 33:2“Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,
- Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
- 2 Kings 7:14Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”
- 2 Kings 9:19Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.”
- 1 Samuel 16:4So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”
- 1 Samuel 17:22And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.
- 1 Kings 2:15Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord.
- Luke 10:5But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries