In 2 Kings 9:11, Jehu briefly downplays the prophet’s actions before revealing his anointing, paving the way for God’s judgment on Ahab’s lineage.
“Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?’ And he said to them, ‘You know very well the man and his talk.’” (2 Kings 9:11)
In this verse, Jehu has just been privately anointed as king of Israel by one of Elisha’s young prophets. Jehu steps outside to meet the other military officers at Ramoth-gilead (a fortified Israelite city in Gilead, east of the Jordan River), who notice the prophet’s quick departure and wonder what just happened. Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master explains that Jehu was still under the command of King Joram (Ahab’s son). This detail places Jehu in a subordinate role at the time. As soon as Jehu emerges, one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?’ Here, the officers refer to the prophet as a “mad fellow,” possibly regarding him as unstable or eccentric, because prophets sometimes behaved unconventionally (2 Kings 9:11). Meanwhile, Jehu doesn’t immediately reveal he has been secretly anointed, but responds by telling them, in essence, ‘You know very well the man and his talk.’ He implies that they are already aware of what prophets declare—namely that God is up to something. Indeed, Jehu is about to enact God’s judgment against the wicked house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7-10).
Jehu fits into the biblical timeline around 841 BC. The prophet Elijah received instructions from the LORD at an earlier time to anoint Jehu as king of Israel (1 Kings 19:16), because the LORD had determined to judge Ahab’s family for their idolatry and for Jezebel’s violent deeds (1 Kings 21:17-26). Elisha, following Elijah’s departure, sent a young prophet to carry out that instruction (2 Kings 9:1-3). Consequently, Jehu would soon embark on his God-given mission to eliminate King Joram (Ahab’s son) and Queen Jezebel, thereby bringing an end to Ahab’s dynasty (2 Kings 9:14-37). Ramoth-gilead, where this incident took place, was a city of strategic and military importance on the eastern edge of Israel’s territory near the border of Syria.
Spiritually, this verse highlights that God often accomplishes His plans through unexpected means and people. Jehu is an officer who suddenly receives a divine commission. It also underscores that some may ridicule a true message from God or treat His prophets as “mad fellows” because divine revelation can upend existing power structures (Hosea 9:7 mentions that the “prophet is a fool” from the perspective of a rebellious people). In the New Testament, Jesus was likewise dismissed as being out of His mind by some (Mark 3:21), associating this pattern of scorn with God’s work.
This moment in 2 Kings 9:11 foreshadows the sweeping judgment that Jehu is about to carry out. His colleagues are at first puzzled, but soon they will proclaim Jehu as king (2 Kings 9:13) and stand behind him in carrying out God’s word.
Jehu’s brief response also shows that he is wisely withholding information until the right moment. He will confirm the prophet’s message to them in the next verses so that they may follow him in God’s mission of overthrowing the evil regime. A lesson that emerges is how often God’s messages and messengers encounter ridicule before others fully realize the gravity of His plans.
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2 Kings 9:11 meaning
“Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?’ And he said to them, ‘You know very well the man and his talk.’” (2 Kings 9:11)
In this verse, Jehu has just been privately anointed as king of Israel by one of Elisha’s young prophets. Jehu steps outside to meet the other military officers at Ramoth-gilead (a fortified Israelite city in Gilead, east of the Jordan River), who notice the prophet’s quick departure and wonder what just happened. Now Jehu came out to the servants of his master explains that Jehu was still under the command of King Joram (Ahab’s son). This detail places Jehu in a subordinate role at the time. As soon as Jehu emerges, one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?’ Here, the officers refer to the prophet as a “mad fellow,” possibly regarding him as unstable or eccentric, because prophets sometimes behaved unconventionally (2 Kings 9:11). Meanwhile, Jehu doesn’t immediately reveal he has been secretly anointed, but responds by telling them, in essence, ‘You know very well the man and his talk.’ He implies that they are already aware of what prophets declare—namely that God is up to something. Indeed, Jehu is about to enact God’s judgment against the wicked house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7-10).
Jehu fits into the biblical timeline around 841 BC. The prophet Elijah received instructions from the LORD at an earlier time to anoint Jehu as king of Israel (1 Kings 19:16), because the LORD had determined to judge Ahab’s family for their idolatry and for Jezebel’s violent deeds (1 Kings 21:17-26). Elisha, following Elijah’s departure, sent a young prophet to carry out that instruction (2 Kings 9:1-3). Consequently, Jehu would soon embark on his God-given mission to eliminate King Joram (Ahab’s son) and Queen Jezebel, thereby bringing an end to Ahab’s dynasty (2 Kings 9:14-37). Ramoth-gilead, where this incident took place, was a city of strategic and military importance on the eastern edge of Israel’s territory near the border of Syria.
Spiritually, this verse highlights that God often accomplishes His plans through unexpected means and people. Jehu is an officer who suddenly receives a divine commission. It also underscores that some may ridicule a true message from God or treat His prophets as “mad fellows” because divine revelation can upend existing power structures (Hosea 9:7 mentions that the “prophet is a fool” from the perspective of a rebellious people). In the New Testament, Jesus was likewise dismissed as being out of His mind by some (Mark 3:21), associating this pattern of scorn with God’s work.
This moment in 2 Kings 9:11 foreshadows the sweeping judgment that Jehu is about to carry out. His colleagues are at first puzzled, but soon they will proclaim Jehu as king (2 Kings 9:13) and stand behind him in carrying out God’s word.
Jehu’s brief response also shows that he is wisely withholding information until the right moment. He will confirm the prophet’s message to them in the next verses so that they may follow him in God’s mission of overthrowing the evil regime. A lesson that emerges is how often God’s messages and messengers encounter ridicule before others fully realize the gravity of His plans.