Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
Jehu and the other commanders of Israel’s army were testing each others’ reactions. Jehu alone knew that the prophet (holy man) had appointed him to be Israel’s next king. The other commanders seemed to suspect that this had happened – but they could not prove it.
Jehu needed to be sure that they would agree to be completely loyal to him. Until then, he did not dare to tell them what had happened. If they chose to remain loyal to the present king, they would kill Jehu. They could not allow anyone else to claim to be king.
However, Jehu also knew that, to become king, he needed their support as the leaders of the army. So, in the end, he agreed to tell them what the prophet had said. Jehu would not say whether he believed the prophet’s message to be true. They had described the prophet as a ‘mad man’. So, Jehu would repeat to them the prophet’s words. Then, they could test for themselves whether he was just a mad man, or a true prophet of God.
At last, Jehu declared what the other commanders seemed already to suspect. In the name of Israel’s God – that is, on behalf of the true God – the prophet had appointed Jehu to be Israel’s king.
At once, the other commanders all realised how serious and important this matter was. Their lives, their government and the whole nation depended upon it.
Next part: The public declaration that Jehu is king (2 Kings 9:13)
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