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.
So a horseman rode out to meet him and said, 'The king asks: Do you come in peace?' But Jehu replied, 'What business is peace to you? Get behind me and follow.' The watchman reported back, saying, 'The messenger reached them, but he's not coming back.'
This verse shows Jehu taking control of King Joram's messenger, forcing him to join his cause rather than return with an answer about his peaceful intentions.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Jehu's divinely-appointed mission to destroy the house of Ahab and become Israel's new king. King Joram had sent messengers from Jezreel to determine if Jehu was approaching as friend or enemy. Jehu's refusal to let the messenger return was a clear signal that he was coming to overthrow the current regime, not negotiate peace.
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