2 Kings 9:17
New International Version
When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, he called out, “I see some troops coming.” “Get a horseman,” Joram ordered. “Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’”

New Living Translation
The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered.

English Standard Version
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw 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?’”

Berean Standard Bible
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?’ ”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company of men.” And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and he said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Is your intention peace?’”

NASB 1995
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

NASB 1977
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

Amplified Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the crowd with Jehu as he approached, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Send a horseman to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’”

Christian Standard Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s mob approaching and shouted, “I see a mob! ” Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace? ’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops approaching and shouted, “I see troops!” Joram responded, “Choose a rider and send him to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?”

American Standard Version
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?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Watchman stood on the tower of Yizreil and saw the chariot of Yehu as he came, and the Watchman said: “I see chariots!” And Yoram said: “Take a chariot and send to meet them, and he will say, ‘Peace!’

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there went up a watchman upon the tower of Jezrael, and saw the dust made by Ju as he approached; and he said, I see dust. And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Peace.

Contemporary English Version
When the guard in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men riding up, he shouted to the king, "I see a large group of men coming this way." Joram ordered, "Send someone out to ask them if this is a friendly visit."

Douay-Rheims Bible
The watchmen therefore, that stood upon the tower of Jezrahel, saw the troop of Jehu coming, and said: I see a troop. And Joram said: Take a chariot, and send to meet them, and let him that goeth say: Is all well?

English Revised Version
Now the watchman stood 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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu's troops coming. He said, "I see some troops." So Joram said, "Take a chariot driver, send him to meet them, and ask, 'Is everything alright?'"

Good News Translation
A guard on duty in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men approaching. "I see some men riding up!" he called out. Joram replied, "Send a rider to find out if they are friends or enemies."

International Standard Version
While the watchman was standing guard in the tower at Jezreel, he watched Jehu's entourage arrive. So he called out, "I see a group arriving." Joram ordered, "Take a horseman, send him out to meet them, and have him ask, 'Have you come in peace?'"

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the watchman stood 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?'

Literal Standard Version
And the watchman is standing on the tower in Jezreel, and sees the company of Jehu in his coming, and says, “I see a company”; and Joram says, “Take a rider and send [him] to meet them, and let him say, Is there peace?”

Majority Standard Bible
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?’”

New American Bible
The watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw the troop of Jehu coming and reported, “I see chariots.” Joram said, “Get a driver and send him to meet them and to ask whether all is well.”

NET Bible
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu's troops approaching. He said, "I see troops!" Jehoram ordered, "Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, 'Is everything all right?'"

New Revised Standard Version
In Jezreel, the sentinel standing on the tower spied the company of Jehu arriving, and said, “I see a company.” Joram said, “Take a horseman; send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’”

New Heart English Bible
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?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
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 a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?

World English Bible
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?’”

Young's Literal Translation
And the watchman is standing on the tower in Jezreel, and seeth the company of Jehu in his coming, and saith, 'A company I see;' and Joram saith, 'Take a rider and send to meet them, and let him say, Is there peace?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
16Then 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. 17Now 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?’” 18So 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.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 18:24
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.

2 Kings 9:11
When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, "Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?" "You know his kind and their babble," he replied.

2 Kings 9:16
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.

2 Kings 9:18
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."

Isaiah 21:6
For this is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.


Treasury of Scripture

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?

a watchman

2 Samuel 13:34
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

2 Samuel 18:24
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

Isaiah 21:6-9,11,12
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth…

Take a horseman

2 Kings 7:14
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

It is peace

2 Kings 9:19
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.

1 Samuel 16:4
And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

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.

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Approaching Company Horseman It Jehu Jehu's Jezreel Jizreel Joram Lookout Meet Ordered Peace Spied Standing Stood Tower Troops Watchman
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2 Kings 9
1. Elisha sends a young prophet with instructions to anoint Jehu at Ramoth Gilead
4. The prophet having done his message, flees
11. Jehu, being made king by the soldiers, kills Joram in the field of Naboth
27. Ahaziah is slain at Gur, and buried at Jerusalem
30. Proud Jezebel is thrown down out of a window, and eaten by dogs.














(17) And there stood a watchman.--Literally, and the watchman was standing. The tower was attached to the palace, and the latter was, perhaps, near the eastern wall of the town.

The company of Jehu.--The word (shiph'?h) literally means overflow, and so a multitude of waters (Job 22:11), of camels (Isaiah 60:6), of horses (Ezekiel 26:10). Jehu was accompanied, therefore, by a considerable force.

Joram said.--Not to the watchman, but to one of his courtiers. The narrative is very concise.

Is it peace?--This hardly represents the force of the original. Joram is not yet apprehensive. His question merely means, "What is the news?" He expects news from the army at Ramoth. Thenius, however, explains "Come ye with friendly or hostile intention?" In that case, would the king have sent a single horseman to ascertain the truth?

Verse 17. - And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel; literally, and the watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel. The watchtower on the southeast, towards Ramoth-Gilead, is intended. There were probably others in other directions; but the writer is not concerned with them. Each watchtower had its one watchman, who gave warning if anything unusual caught his attention. And he spied the company of Jehu as he came. Shiph'ah is generally "abundance," "multitude" (Deuteronomy 33:19; Job 22:11; Isaiah 60:6), but seems here to designate a "baud ' or "company" of moderate size. It is a somewhat rare word. And said, I see a company. The watchman gave notice to those whose business it was to inform the king, that a band or company of men was approaching the city. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? Joram apprehended no danger. If the "company" had been a band of Syrians, or other enemies, coming in hostile fashion, the watchman would have worded his warning differently. The king probably concluded that he was about to receive tidings from the seat of war, and meant to ask, "Is the news good or bad - peaceful or the contrary?" No blame attaches to him for not taking alarm at once.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now the watchman
וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ (wə·haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6822: To lean forward, to peer into the distance, to observe, await

standing
עֹמֵ֨ד (‘ō·mêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

on
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the tower
הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל (ham·miḡ·dāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4026: A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowers

in Jezreel
בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל (bə·yiz·rə·‘el)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3157: Jezreel -- 'God sows', two Israelites, also two cities in Israel, also a valley in Northern Israel

saw
וַיַּ֞רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

Jehu’s
יֵהוּא֙ (yê·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3058: Jehu -- 'the LORD is He', the name of several Israelites

troops
שִׁפְעַ֤ת (šip̄·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8229: Abundance, quantity

approaching,
בְּבֹא֔וֹ (bə·ḇō·’ōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and he called out,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

see
רֹאֶ֑ה (rō·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

a company of [troops]!”
שִׁפְעַ֖ת (šip̄·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8229: Abundance, quantity

“Choose
קַ֥ח (qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a rider,”
רַכָּ֛ב (rak·kāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7395: Charioteer, horseman

Joram
יְהוֹרָ֗ם (yə·hō·w·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3088: Jehoram -- 'the LORD is exalted', the name of several Israelites

commanded.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Send him out
וּֽשְׁלַ֥ח (ū·šə·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to meet them
לִקְרָאתָ֖ם (liq·rā·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

and ask,
וְיֹאמַ֥ר (wə·yō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

�Have you come in peace?’”
הֲשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (hă·šā·lō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace


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OT History: 2 Kings 9:17 Now the watchman was standing (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 9:16
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