2 Kings 9:21

Authorized King James Version

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And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 21
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוֹרָ֣ם And Joram H3088
יְהוֹרָ֣ם And Joram
Strong's: H3088
Word #: 2 of 21
jehoram, the name of a syrian and of three israelites
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר Make ready H631
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר Make ready
Strong's: H631
Word #: 3 of 21
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר Make ready H631
וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר Make ready
Strong's: H631
Word #: 4 of 21
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
בְּרִכְבּ֗וֹ And his chariot H7393
בְּרִכְבּ֗וֹ And his chariot
Strong's: H7393
Word #: 5 of 21
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ and they went out H3318
וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ and they went out
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 6 of 21
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
יְהוֹרָ֣ם And Joram H3088
יְהוֹרָ֣ם And Joram
Strong's: H3088
Word #: 7 of 21
jehoram, the name of a syrian and of three israelites
מֶֽלֶךְ king H4428
מֶֽלֶךְ king
Strong's: H4428
Word #: 8 of 21
a king
יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל of Israel H3478
יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 9 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וַֽאֲחַזְיָ֨הוּ and Ahaziah H274
וַֽאֲחַזְיָ֨הוּ and Ahaziah
Strong's: H274
Word #: 10 of 21
achazjah, the name of a jewish and an israelite king
מֶֽלֶךְ king H4428
מֶֽלֶךְ king
Strong's: H4428
Word #: 11 of 21
a king
יְהוּדָ֜ה of Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֜ה of Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 12 of 21
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
אִ֣ישׁ each H376
אִ֣ישׁ each
Strong's: H376
Word #: 13 of 21
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בְּרִכְבּ֗וֹ And his chariot H7393
בְּרִכְבּ֗וֹ And his chariot
Strong's: H7393
Word #: 14 of 21
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ and they went out H3318
וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ and they went out
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 15 of 21
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לִקְרַ֣את against H7125
לִקְרַ֣את against
Strong's: H7125
Word #: 16 of 21
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
יֵה֔וּא Jehu H3058
יֵה֔וּא Jehu
Strong's: H3058
Word #: 17 of 21
jehu, the name of five israelites
וַיִּמְצָאֻ֔הוּ and met H4672
וַיִּמְצָאֻ֔הוּ and met
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 18 of 21
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
בְּחֶלְקַ֖ת him in the portion H2513
בְּחֶלְקַ֖ת him in the portion
Strong's: H2513
Word #: 19 of 21
properly, smoothness; figuratively, flattery
נָב֥וֹת of Naboth H5022
נָב֥וֹת of Naboth
Strong's: H5022
Word #: 20 of 21
naboth, an israelite
הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ the Jezreelite H3158
הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ the Jezreelite
Strong's: H3158
Word #: 21 of 21
a jizreelite or native of jizreel

Analysis & Commentary

And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 9: Divine judgment executed on Ahab's house. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is subordinate to God's ultimate kingship. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled with persistent idolatry, particularly Baal worship introduced under Ahab and Jezebel.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

Historical Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 9 takes place during Jehu's dynasty and the violent purge of Baal worship, around 841 BCE. The chapter's theme (Jehu's Violent Revolution) reflects the historical reality of violent political revolution motivated by zeal for Yahweh but lacking genuine heart transformation. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

Questions for Reflection

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