captive out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3. And she said unto her mistress, "Would God my lord were with "the prophet that is in Samaria: for "he would recover him of his leprosy." 4. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, "Thus and thus saith the maid "that is of the land of Israel.” 5. And the king of Syria said, "Go to, go, " and I will send a letter unto the king "of Israel." And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6. And he brought the letter to the king (n) of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter is come "unto thee, behold, I have therewith "sent Naaman my servant to thee, that "thou mayest recover him of his le"prosy." 7. And it came to pass when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, "Am "I God, to kill and to make alive, that "this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? where"fore consider, I pray you, and see "how he seeketh a quarrel against me." 8. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Wherefore hast "thou rent thy clothes? let him come "now to me, and he shall know that "there is a prophet in Israel." 9. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, "Go and wash in Jordan "times, and thy flesh shall come ས again unto thee, and thou shalt be "clean." 11. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, "Behold, Í "thought, He will surely come out to "me, and stand, and call on the name "of the LORD his God, and strike his "hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12. Are not Abana and Phar seven (n) v. 6. " King of Israel, i. e. "Jeho"ram, the son of Ahab." (o) v. 17. "Burnt-offering nor sacrifice." 66 66 "par, rivers of Damascus, better than "all the waters of Israel? may I not "wash in them and be clean?" So he turned, and went away in a rage. 13. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, "My father, "If the prophet had bid thee do some 66 great thing, wouldest thou not have "done it? how much rather then, "when he saith to thee, "Wash and "be clean ?" 14. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, "Behold, now I know that there is "no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant." 16. But he said," As the LORD liveth, before "whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17. And Naaman said, "Shall "there not then, I pray thee, be given 66 to thy servant two mules burden of "earth? for thy servant will henceforth "offer neither burnt-offering (0) nor "sacrifice unto other gods, but unto "the LORD. 18. In this thing the "LORD pardon thy servant, that when 66 my master goeth into the house of "Rimmon to worship there, and he "leaneth on my hand, and I bow my"self in the house of Rimmon: when I "bow down myself in the house of "Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy ser"vant in this thing." 19. And he said unto him, "Go, in peace." So he departed from him a little way. 20. But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master "hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in "not receiving at his hands that which "he brought: but as the LORD liveth, "I will run after him, and take some"what of him." 21. So Gehazi followed So that burnt-offerings and sacrifices were in use amongst the Syrians. See ante, 506. note on Gen. iii. 21. "after Naaman: and when Naaman "saw him running after him, he lighted "down from his chariot to meet him, "and said, "Is all well?" 22. And he said, "All is well: my master hath "sent me, saying, "Behold, even now "there be come to me from mount 66 Ephraim two young men of the sons "of the prophets: give them, I pray "thee, a talent of silver, and two "changes of garments." 23. And Naaman said, "Be content, take two "talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants, and they bare them before him. 24. And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed. 25. But he went in, and stood before his master; and Elisha said unto him, "Whence "comest thou, Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went no whither." 26. And he said unto him, "Went not "mine heart with thee, when the man "turned again from his chariot to meet "thee? is it a time to receive money, "and to receive garments, and olive"yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and 66 oxen, and men servants, and maid "servants? 27. The leprosy therefore "of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, "and unto thy seed for ever." And he went out (p) from his presence a leper as white as snow. CHAP. IX. AND Elisha the prophet called (q) one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, "Gird up thy loins, "and take this box of oil in thine "hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. "2. And when thou comest thither, "look out there (r) Jehu the son of (p) v. 27. "Went out, &c." An instance of speedy vengeance; the punishment following immediately upon the offence! (q) v. 1. "Called." Before Christ, 884. (r) v. 2. "Jehu." In 1 Kings xix. 16. ante, 588. Elijah was ordered to anoint him king. "Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and 66 go in, and make him arise up from 66 among his brethren, and carry him 66 to an inner chamber. 3. Then take "the box of oil, and pour it on his "head, and say, "Thus saith the "LORD, "I have anointed thee king "over Israel: then open the door and "flee, and tarry not." 4. So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5. And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, "I have "an errand to thee, O captain:" And Jehu said, "Unto which of all us?" and he said, "To thee, O captain." 6. And he arose, and went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, "Thus saith the LORD God "of Israel, I have anointed thee king 66 66 over the people of the LORD, een over Israel. 7. And thou shalt smite "the house (s) of Ahab thy master, "that I may avenge the blood of my "servants the prophets, and the blood "of all the servants of the LORD, "the hand of Jezebel. 8. For (1) the "whole house of Ahab shall perish, " and I will cut off from Ahab him "that pisseth against the wall, and him "that is shut up and left in Israel "9. And I will make the house of Ahab ❝ like the house of Jeroboam the son of "Nebat, and like the house of Baasha "the son of Ahijah. 10. And the dogs "shall eat Jezebel (u) in the portion of "Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury "her." And he opened the door, and fled. 11. Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord, and one said unto him," Is all well? wherefore 66 came this mad fellow to thee?" And he said unto them, "Ye know the man, "and his communication." 12. And they said, "It is false, tell us now. And he said, "Thus and thus spake "he to me, saying, "Thus saith the "LORD, "I have anointed thee king " over Israel." 13. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, "Jehu is king." 14. So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram: (now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria: 15. But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel, of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, "If it be your minds, "then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jez"reel." 16. So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel, (for Joram lay there.) And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram. 17. And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a 66 company." "And Joram said, "Take "an horseman, and send to meet them, "and let him say, "Is it peace?" 18. So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, "Thus saith the "king, "Is it peace?" And Jehu said, "What hast thou to do with peace? "turn thee behind me." And the watchman told, saying, "The messen 66 66 ger came to them, but he cometh not again." 19. Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, "Thus saith the king, "Is it peace?" And Jehu answered, "What hast thou to do with peace? "turn thee behind me." 20. And the watchman told, saying, "He came 66 even unto them, and cometh not "again; and the driving is like the 66 driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi: "for he driveth furiously." 21. And (x) v. 25. "This burthen," i. e. what is mentioned in verse 26. And see 1 Kings xxi. 19. "Thou shalt speak unto him (Ahab), saying, "Thus saith the Lord, "In the place where dogs licked the blood "of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood, "even thine." So that this was verified as to Joram, as well as Ahab. 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. 22. And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu ?" And he an swered, "What peace, so long as the "whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel "and her witchcrafts are so many 23. And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah." 24. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 25. Then said Jehu to Bidkah his captain, "Take "up and cast him in the portion of the "field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for "remember how that, when I and thou "rode together after Ahab his father, "the LORD laid this burden (x) upon "him. 26. "Surely I have seen yes"terday the blood of Naboth, and the "blood of his sons, saith the LORD; "and I will requite thee in this plat, "saith the LORD." Now therefore take "and cast him into the plat of ground, "according to the word of the LORD." 27. But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house: And Jehu followed after him, and said, "Smite him also in the chariot." And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. 28. And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. 29. And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah (y) to reign over Judah. 30. And when Jehu was come to Jez (y) v. 29. "Ahaziah." He walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as did the house of Ahab: for he was Ahab's son-inlaw. His mother was Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 2 Kings viii, 18. 26, 27. 2 2 3 66 3. Look even reel, Jezebel heard of it, and she also, and armour: "out the best and meetest of your 66 66 upon the face of the field in the por❝tion of Jezreel; so that they shall not "This is Jezebel." 66 say, (z) v. 31. "Zimri." He conspired against Baasha, and slew him and all his house but he reigned only seven days in Tirzah, for all Israel made Omri king. Omri took Tirzah; and then Zimri "went "into the palace of the king's house, and "burnt the king's house over him with "fire, and died. 1 Kings xvi. 9 to 11. "and 15 to 28." (a) v. 34. "A king's daughter." The daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonjans. 1 Kings xvi. 31. 66 men your master's sons, and come "to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this "time:" (now the king's sons being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.) 7. And it came to pass when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel. 8. And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, 66 They have brought the heads of the "king's sons." And he said, "Lay ye "them in two heaps at the entering in "of the gate, until the morning." 9. And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "Ye be righteous: "behold, I conspired against my mas"ter, and slew him: but who slew all "these? 10. Know now, that there "shall fall unto the earth nothing of "the word (d) of the LORD, which the 66 (b) v. 1. “ Jezreel," or " Samaria. Sept." (c) v. 4. "Two kings," viz. "Joram, "king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of "Judah." (d) v. 10. 17." The word (or saying) of "the Lord." See ante, 590. 1 Kings xxi. 21. and 596. 2 Kings ix. 8. "I will bring "evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity;" and "the whole house of "Ahab shall perish," "LORD spake concerning the house "of Ahab: for the LORD hath done "that which he spake by his servant "Elijah." 11. So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left none remaining. 12. And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house in the way, 13. Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are ye?" And they answered, "We are the brethren of Ahaziah, and 66 66 we go down to salute the children of "the king (e) and the children of the queen." 14. And he said, "Take "them alive." And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them. 15. And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him, and he saluted him, and said to him, "Is thine heart right, as "my heart is with thine heart?" And "Jehonadab answered, "It is." "If it "be, give me thine hand:" and he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16. And he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for "the LORD:" so they made him ride -in his chariot. 17. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah. 18. And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, "Ahab "served Baal a little: but Jehu shall "serve him much. 19. Now therefore "call unto me all the prophets of Baal, "all his servants and all his priests, "let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whoso 66 ever shall be wanting, he shall not "live." But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20. And Jehu 66 said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal." And they proclaimed it. 21. And Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not: and they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. 22. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring "forth vestments for all the worshippers "of Baal." And he brought them forth vestments. 23. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, "Search, and look "that there be here with you none of "the servants of the LORD, but the "worshippers of Baal only." 24. And when they went in to offer sacrifices, and burnt-offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, "If "any of the men whom I have brought ❝into your hands escape, he that letteth "him go, his life shall be for the life of " him.' 25. And it came to pass as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in, "and slay them, let none come forth." And they smote them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burnt them. 27. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto (g) this day. 28. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden (h) calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30. And the LORD said unto Jehu, "Because thou "hast done well in executing that which "is right in mine eyes, and hast done "unto the house of Ahab according to (h) v. 29. "Golden calves," as objects of worship. See 1 Kings xii. 27 to 29. and ante, 582. note (s) on 1 Kings xiii. 1. 224 |