Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
As the two men rode out on their horses, the guard continued to watch carefully. He was at the top of the tallest building in Jezreel. It was not very tall by modern standards, but tall enough to give him a clear view across the region. Whenever he saw anything important, he shouted to the king.
Then, the guard saw something that made Joram afraid. The man who was leading the group was driving a chariot – a military vehicle that horses pulled. The guard could see that he was driving in a particularly fierce manner. Clearly, this was a brave man with great experience, who seemed to be in a desperate hurry. The guard knew only one man who drove like that. He shouted the news urgently to the king: in his opinion, this was Jehu, the commander of Israel’s army.
It was terrible news for Joram that Jehu might have chosen to oppose him. For his whole rule, Jehu had been loyal to Joram – and before that, to his father Ahab. Jehu was a powerful man, and he would be a fierce enemy. However, Joram hoped that there might be some other explanation for his visit. That is probably the reason why he did not try to escape and to save his life.
Instead, Joram got on his chariot and he went out to meet Jehu. Joram’s relative, King Ahaziah of Judah, also got onto a chariot and went with him. When they met him, he had almost arrived at Joram’s palace. They were on the land that formerly belonged to Naboth. It was very near to the palace (1 Kings 21:1-2).
Next part: Jehu accuses Joram (2 Kings 9:22)
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