2 Kings 9:17

15 But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.

16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.

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?

18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee 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

    And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 2:15

    And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 33:2–9

    Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

    Read in context
  • Acts 20:26–31

    Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 17:22

    And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 7:14

    They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 21:6–9

    For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

    Read in context
  • Luke 10:5–6

    And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

    Read in context