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20 The watchman reported, “He reached them, but hasn’t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi;[a] he drives recklessly.” 21 Joram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.”[b] When his chariot had been hitched up,[c] King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots[d] to meet Jehu. They met up with him[e] in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.

22 When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?” He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?”[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 9:20 tn Heb “and the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi.”
  2. 2 Kings 9:21 tn The words “my chariot” are added for clarification.
  3. 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “and he hitched up his chariot.”
  4. 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “each in his chariot and they went out.”
  5. 2 Kings 9:21 tn Heb “they found him.”
  6. 2 Kings 9:22 tn Heb “How [can there be] peace as long as the adulterous acts of Jezebel your mother and her acts of sorcery [are] many?” In this instance “adulterous acts” is employed metaphorically for idolatry. As elsewhere in the OT, worshiping other gods is viewed as spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. The phrase “many acts of sorcery” could be taken literally, for Jezebel undoubtedly utilized pagan divination practices, but the phrase may be metaphorical, pointing to her devotion to pagan customs in general.

20 The lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like(A) that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.”

21 “Hitch up my chariot,” Joram ordered. And when it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of ground that had belonged to Naboth(B) the Jezreelite. 22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”

“How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel(C) abound?”

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