And when Jehu understood that the secret message was to him, he went
into a private room.
So the young prophet did as Elisha bade him, and anointed Jehu king of
Israel, telling him that God had appointed him to execute His judgments
against the house of Ahab, and that the dogs should eat Jezebel in
Jezreel, as the Prophet Elijah had told Ahab years before.
Then the young man opened the door and fled.
So Jehu came back amongst the other captains, and they inquired: "Why
did this mad fellow come to you?"
So Jehu said he expected that they knew the errand. But they assured
him they did not, and asked what the news was.
Then Jehu told them the young man's solemn message, and that he ended
by saying: "Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel."
Then the soldiers and those around him spread their garments for him
to step on, in token that they accepted him as king, and they blew a
special blast of the trumpets, saying "Jehu is King!"
So Jehu charged the soldiers that no news should be carried to Jezreel,
where King Joram was lying to be healed of his wounds received in
battle against Hazael, King of Syria.
[Illustration: Then the soldiers spread their garments for him to step
on.]
Then Jehu rode in a chariot, and hastened to Jezreel, and there he
found Ahaziah, King of Judah, who had come to visit the wounded king.
Now on the Tower of Jezreel there stood a watchman who told Joram: and
as Jehu came fast in his chariot, Joram sent a messenger to meet him
with these words: "Is it peace?"
But the watchman said: "The messenger has not returned; he came to them
but has not come again. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the
son of Nimshi, for he driveth furiously."
Then Joram got into his chariot, and Ahaziah got into his, and they
started to meet Jehu. But they only got as far as the vineyard of
Naboth when they met Jehu face to face.