2 Kings 9:17

15 but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”

16 Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.

Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”

18 So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.”

19 So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”
KJV
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 company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
WEB
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” Joram said, “Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”
ASV
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
DARBY
And the watchman stood on the tower in Jizreel, and saw Jehu's company as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
BLB
And the watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu in his coming, and said, “A company I see.” And Jehoram said, “Take a rider and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is [it] peace?’”
ÅB
Vekteren som sto på tårnet i Jisre'el, ropte da han så Jehu komme med sin flokk: Jeg ser en flokk som kommer. Da sa Joram: Ta og send en rytter for å møte dem og spørre: Kommer dere med fred?
OTB
Nå sto vakten på tårnet i Jisre'el og så Jehus følge komme, og han sa, “Jeg ser et følge.” Og Joram sa, “Ta en rytter og send ham for å møte dem, og la ham si, ‘Er det fred?’”
B1930
Vekteren som stod på tårnet i Jisre'el, ropte da han så Jehu komme med sin flokk: Jeg ser en flokk som kommer. Da sa Joram: Ta og send en rytter for å møte dem og spørre: Kommer I med fred?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 16:4

    So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 2:15

    “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 33:2–9

    “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:26–31

    Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 17:22

    Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 7:14

    Then the scouts took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 21:6–9

    For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

    Read in context
  • Luke 10:5–6

    Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’

    Read in context