The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 148

aioned, end carrying ont his commission, to neglected to do so, or rather had devolved transfer the kingdom of Israel from the the task upon his successor. Meantime unworthy dynRBty of Omri, which on ac- Jehn served aB a soldier under Ahazinh nnd count of its persistent idolatry be.s fallen Jehoram, Ahab's sons, and attained such distinction that ho became one of the under Divine condemnation, to a new captains of the host (infra, ver. 5), accord- dynasty, that of Jehu, which will, et any ing to Josephus (l. a. a.) the chief oapt&in. rate, check the worst e1:oesses of the preva- Jehu was commonly known as "the son of lent idol&trous system, and maintain the Nimshi" (l Kings xix. 16: oh. ix. 20), Jehovah-worship as the religion of the either because, his father having died young, he was brought up by his grandfather, or state. The position recalls that of Saul and perhap~ simply "because Nimshi was a David at the original institution of the person of more importance than Jehosha- monarohy, but bas many special points phat." And go in-i.e. seek his presence, which diffeNntinte it from tlmt conjuncture. go into his quarters, wherever they may be, The circumstances called on Jehu for prompt havo d;rect speech with him-and make him action ; there was no such immediate oall arise up from among his brethren (comp. vers. 5 and 6). Jehu's "brethren" are his upon Ds'rid. Jebu's public proclamation brother-officers, among whom Elisha knows Wl 1,.-ing laid him open to a cbe.rge of high that he will be found sitting. And carry treason; Da'rid's secret anointing placed him to an inner chamber. Persuade him, him in no such danger. History never re- i.e., to quit the place where thou wilt find him sitting with the other generals, and to peats itself e=ctly, and its events have go with thee into a private apartment for severally to be judged by a consideration of secret conference. Secrecy was of extreme nll their circumstances, without much refer- importance, lest Joram should get know- ence to any former quaai-parallel historical ledge of what was happening, and prepare passage. himself for resistance. Had he not been taken by surprise, the result might have Vera. 1-10.-The anointing of Jehu. been a long and bloody civil war. Ver. 1.-A.nd Elisha the prophet ca.Iled Ver. 3.-Then take-rather, and take- one of the children ot the prophet& ; i.e. one the bolt ot oil-rather, the flaek of oil-and of the students in one of the prophetical pour it on hill head, Compare the consecra• schools which he superintended.. There is tion of Aaron to the high-priestly (Lev. viii. no indication that the individual chosen for 12), and of Saul (1 Sam. x. 1) and David the mission stood to Elisha in any peculiar (1 Sam. xvi 12) to the kingly office. The relation. A rabbinical fancy, scarcely to oil used was the holy anointing oil of the be called a tradition, makes him "Jonah, sanctuary (Exod. xxx. 25)-'1'~ ll-y1011 l11.aw11, the son of Amittei." And ■aid Ull.to him, as Josephus says. And say, Thus Mith the Gird up thy loin■, a.nd take this bolt ot oil; Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. rather, thu fauk of oil Oil and ointments This is an abbreviated form of the actual were commonly kept in open-mouthed jars, message, which is given in its entirety in re.see, or bottles, made of stone, gle.sa, or vera. 7-10. The writer of Kings avoida ,le.baster, as appears from the remains found all needless repetitions. Then open the in E:,rypt and Asayria. Many of the bottles door-the conference was to be with closed are earlier than the time of Elisha. In thine doors, that no one might either hear or see hand, and go to Ramoth-Gilead.. Ramoth- what took place-and flee, and tarry not. Gilead lay across the Jordan, in the proper The Divine message delivered, oil would territory of Gad.. It had been seized and ha'l""e been done that needed to be done. occupied by the Syrians in the reign of There would be nothing to wait for. So Ahab; and the possession had been main- the young man was to depart with the same tained till recently. Joram, however, had haste with which he had come. recovered it (Josephus, 'Ant. Jud..,' ix. 6. Ver. 4. -So the young man, even the § l, "H~71 "Yii.P IWT1/P '/1P11•m .'"ml 1<pcfros), and young me.n the prophet-the repetition of had left a strong garrison m the place when han-na' ar is doubtful, since it is not found be retin,d to J ezreel. either in the Syriac or i;:,. the Septuagint- Ver. 2.-And when thou comest thither, went to Bamoth-Gilea.d. _ look ont there Jehn the Bon ot Jehoeh.&phat Ver. 5.-And when he came, behold, the the Bon of Nimshi Jehu had been in a captains ot the host were sitting--either high position under Ahab (ver. 25), and "sitting in council,'' or, at any rote, collected ho.d been pointed out to Elija.h, by Divine together in one place, not engaged in any r;,velation, as the future King of Israel active work, but seated-and he Hid, I have (l Kings xix. 16). Elijah had been bidden an errand-literally, a word-to thee, 0 lo anoillt him ki..ng, bnt r.pparentl7 had captain. Probably he knew Jehu by 11igh~ OF!. IX. 1-37.) THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 189