11 When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, 'Is everything alright? Why did this madman come to you?' He replied, 'You know the sort of man and his babble.'
12 They said, 'That's not true! Tell us!' So he said, 'This is what he said to me: “This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.”'
13 They quickly took their garments, spread them under him on the bare steps, blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, 'Jehu is king!'
14 So Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-Gilead against Hazael king of Aram.
15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Jehu said, 'If this is your will, let no one escape from the city to report this in Jezreel.'
16 Then Jehu rode to Jezreel, for Joram was resting there, and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17 When the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu's company approaching, he called out, 'I see a company!' Joram said, 'Send a rider to meet them and ask, “Do you come in peace?”'
18 So a horseman went out to meet them and said, 'This is what the king says: Do you come in peace?' Jehu replied, 'What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.' And the watchman reported, 'The messenger reached them but has not returned.'
19 The king sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, 'This is what the king says: Do you come in peace?' Jehu answered, 'What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.'
20 The watchman reported, 'He has reached them, but he has not returned. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives furiously!'
21 Joram ordered, 'Hitch up my chariot.' When it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They found him on the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.