(2) And when thou comest thither.--Rather, And enter into it--i.e., into the town of Ramoth. This makes it clear that the Israelites had retaken Ramoth from the Syrians (comp. also the mention of "chambers" and "the door" in 2Kings 9:3, and the order, 2Kings 9:15, to "let no man escape out of the city") probably before Joram returned to Jezreel (2Kings 9:14). Josephus expressly asserts this.

Jehu.--Probably left in supreme command of the forces at Jehoram's departure, as being the ablest of the generals (so Josephus).

The son of Jehoshaphat.--It is curious that the father of Jehu who executed the sentence of Jehovah upon the house of Ahab should have borne this name ("Jehovah judgeth"). Nothing is known of Jehu's origin. He is twice mentioned by Shalmaneser II., king of Assyria, as one of his tributaries. In a fragment of his Annals relating to the campaign against Hazael, undertaken in his eighteenth year (see Note on 2Kings 8:15), the Assyrian monarch states that, after besieging Damascus, and ravaging the Hauran, he marched to the mountains of Baal-rosh, the foreland of the sea (Carmel?), and set up his royal image thereon. "In that day the tribute of the land of the Tyrians (and) Sidonians, (and) of Ya'ua (Jehu), son of Omri, I received." On the Black Obelisk there is a representation of Jehu's tribute-bearers, and, perhaps, of Jehu himself, kneeling before Shalmaneser. The superscription is: "Tribute of Ya'ua, son of Humri (Omri)--(ingots of) silver and gold, a bowl of gold, ewers of gold, goblets of gold, buckets of gold, (ingots of) lead, a rod of the hand of the king, spears--I received it."

Go in.--Into Jehu's house.

From among his brethren--i.e., his comrades in arms; his fellow-captains.

Carry him.--Literally, cause him to enter. The object was secrecy.

An inner chamber.--Literally, a chamber in a chamber. A phrase which occurred in 1Kings 20:30; 1Kings 22:25. Thenius thinks this a mark of identity of authorship.

Verse 2. - And when thou comest thither, look out Share Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi. Jehu had been in a high position under Ahab (ver. 25), and had been pointed out to Elijah, by Divine revelation, as the future King of Israel (1 Kings 19:16). Elijah had been bidden to anoint him king, but apparently had neglected to do so, or rather had devolved the task upon his successor. Meantime Jehu served as a soldier under Ahaziah and Jehoram, Ahab's sons, and attained such distinction that he became one of the captains of the host (infra, ver. 5), according to Josephus (l.s.c.) the chief captain. Jehu was commonly known as "the son of Nimshi" (1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:20), either because, his father having died young, he was brought up by his grandfather, or perhaps simply "because Nimshi was a person of more importance than Jehoshaphat." And go in - i.e., seek his presence, go into his quarters, wherever they may be, have direct speech with him - and make him arise up from among his brethren (comp. vers. 5 and 6). Jehu's "brethren" are his brother-officers, among whom Elisha knows that he will be found sitting. And carry him to an inner chamber. Persuade him, i.e., to quit the place where thou wilt find him sitting with the other generals, and to go with thee into a private apartment for secret conference. Secrecy was of extreme importance, lest Joram should get knowledge of what was happening, and prepare himself for resistance. Had he not been taken by surprise, the result might have been a long and bloody civil war.

9:1-10 In these and the like events, we must acknowledge the secret working of God, disposing men to fulfil his purposes respecting them. Jehu was anointed king over Israel, by the Lord's special choice. The Lord still had a remnant of his people, and would yet preserve his worship among them. Of this Jehu was reminded. He was commanded to destroy the house of Ahab, and, as far as he acted in obedience to God, and upon right principles, he needed not to regard reproach or opposition. The murder of God's prophets is strongly noticed. Jezebel persisted in idolatry and enmity to Jehovah and his servants, and her iniquity was now full.And when thou comest thither,.... To Ramothgilead; but from whence he went is uncertain, doubtless where there was a school of the prophets, perhaps that which was erected near Jordan, on the other side of which lay Ramothgilead, 2 Kings 6:1,

look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi; the same that Elijah was ordered to anoint, but it was deferred till now, a reprieve being granted to Ahab upon his humiliation, 1 Kings 19:16,

and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren; the captains of the army:

and carry him into an inner chamber; a chamber within a chamber, as in the original; this he was to do for secrecy, that it might not be seen what he did to Jehu; and lest he should be prevented doing it by the captains, or be exposed to danger for doing it; since that might be deemed treason to do what he was to do, and did, as follows.