Jehu Anointed King of Israel
Elisha gives a young prophet precise instructions: find Jehu, take him aside, anoint him king over Israel, and leave at once. The act is urgent, private, and tied directly to the LORD’s word.
N1ow Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room. 3Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!”
The messenger reaches Ramoth-gilead, brings Jehu into a house, anoints him, and speaks the charge attached to the oil. Jehu is named king and appointed to wipe out Ahab’s house, with Jezebel’s end specifically announced.
4So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead, 5and when he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said. 6So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. 7And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. 8The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel. 9I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’”
When Jehu returns, the commanders press him to explain the visit. Once they hear enough, they spread garments beneath him, sound the horn, and publicly hail him as king.
11When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?” 12“That is a lie!” they said. “Tell us now!” 13Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”