that we can gather from 2Ki 9:14 is, that at that time Ramoth was in the possession of the Israelites, whether it had come into their possession again after the disgraceful rout of the Syrians before Samaria (2 Kings 7), or whether, perhaps, it was not recovered till this war. For ארמּים without the article see Ewald, §277, c.
Verse 29
2Ki 8:29 בּרמה = בּלעד בּרמת, 2Ki 8:28; see at 1Ki 22:4. Anointing of Jehu by Command of Elisha. - While the Israelitish army was at Ramoth, Elisha executed the last of the commissions which Elijah had received at Horeb (1Ki 19:16), by sending a pupil of the prophets into the camp to anoint Jehu the commander-in-chief of the army as king, and to announce to him, in the name of Jehovah, that he would be king over Israel; and to charge him to exterminate the house of Ahab.
Chap. 9
Verses 1-3
2Ki 9:1-3 2Ki 9:1-3 contain the instructions which Elisha gave to the pupil of the prophets. השׁמן פּך as in 1Sa 10:1. יהוּא שׁם ראה, look round there for Jehu. וגו הקמתו, let him (bid him) rise up from the midst of his brethren, i.e., of his comrades in arms. בּחדר חדר: the true meaning is, “into the innermost chamber” (see at 1Ki 20:30). 2Ki 9:3 contains only the leading points of the commission to Jehu, the full particulars are communicated in the account of the fulfilment in 2Ki 9:6. “And flee, and thou shalt not wait.” Elisha gave him this command, not to protect him from danger on the part of the secret adherents of Ahab (Theodoret, Cler.), but to prevent all further discussions, or “that he might not mix himself up with other affairs” (Seb. Schmidt).
Verse 4
2Ki 9:4 “And the young man, the servant of the prophet, went.” The second נער has the article in the construct state, contrary to the rule (vid., Ges. §110, 2, b.).
Verses 5-7
After the communication of the fact that he had a word to Jehu, the latter rose up and went with him into the house, i.e., into the interior of the house, in the court of which the captains were sitting together. There the pupil of the prophets poured oil upon Jehu’s head, and announced to him that Jehovah had anointed him king for Israel, and that he was to smite, i.e., exterminate, the house of Ahab, to avenge upon it the blood of the prophets (vid., 1Ki 18:4; 1Ki 19:10).
Verses 8-10
2Ki 9:8-10 2Ki 9:8-10 are simply a repetition of the
