1 Kings 19:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהָיָ֗ה הַנִּמְלָ֛ט מֵחֶ֥רֶב חֲזָאֵ֖ל יָמִ֣ית יֵה֑וּא וְהַנִּמְלָ֛ט מֵחֶ֥רֶב יֵה֖וּא יָמִ֥ית אֱלִישָֽׁע׃

Transliteration

And wəhāyâ the one hannimlāṭ from ḥereḇ Ḥăzāʾēl yāmît Yēhûʾ and the one hannimlāṭ from ḥereḇ Yēhûʾ yāmît ʾĔlîšāʿ.

Grammar Details

• *wəhāyâ*: waw conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - and it shall be
• *hannimlāṭ*: Niphal participle masculine singular + definite article - the one escaping
• *ḥereḇ*: noun feminine singular construct - sword of
• *Ḥăzāʾēl*: proper noun - Hazael
• *yāmît*: Hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he will kill
• *Yēhûʾ*: proper noun - Jehu
• *ʾĔlîšāʿ*: proper noun - Elisha

Word Meanings

• *hannimlāṭ*: the one escaping/the one who flees/whoever escapes
• *yāmît*: will kill/shall put to death

Referenced Verses

• 2 Kgs 8:12 : 12 Hazael asked,“Why are you crying, my master?” He replied,“Because I know the trouble you will cause the Israelites. You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to bits, and rip open their pregnant women.”
• 2 Kgs 13:3 : 3 The LORD was furious with Israel and handed them over to King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael’s son Ben Hadad for many years.
• 2 Kgs 13:22 : 22 Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign.
• 2 Kgs 10:32 : 32 In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border.
• Hos 6:5 : 5 Therefore, I will certainly cut you into pieces at the hands of the prophets; I will certainly kill you in fulfillment of my oracles of judgment; for my judgment will come forth like the light of the dawn.
• Amos 2:14 : 14 Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives.
• Amos 5:19 : 19 Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake.
• Rev 19:21 : 21 The others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
• 2 Kgs 2:23-24 : 23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys came out of the city and made fun of him, saying,“Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!” 24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.
• 2 Kgs 9:14-10:25 : 14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.Jehu the AssassinNow Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army, guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria. 15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Jehu told his supporters,“If you really want me to be king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.” 16 Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating there.(Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.) 17 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?’” 18 So the horseman went to meet him and said,“This is what the king says,‘Is everything all right?’” Jehu replied,“None of your business! Follow me.” The watchman reported,“The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.” 19 So he sent a second horseman out to them and he said,“This is what the king says,‘Is everything all right?’” Jehu replied,“None of your business! Follow me.” 20 The watchman reported,“He reached them, but hasn’t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly.” 21 Jehoram ordered,“Hitch up my chariot.” When his chariot had been hitched up, King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots to meet Jehu. They met up with him in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. 22 When Jehoram saw Jehu, he asked,“Is everything all right, Jehu?” He replied,“How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?” 23 Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off. He said to Ahaziah,“It’s a trap, Ahaziah!” 24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram’s shoulders. The arrow went through his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. 25 Jehu ordered his officer Bidkar,“Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Remember, you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab, when the LORD pronounced this oracle against him, 26 ‘“Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday,” says the LORD,“and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land,” says the LORD.’So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as in the LORD’s message.” 27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered,“Shoot him too.” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants took his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. 29 Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab. 30 Jehu approached Jezreel. When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner, fixed up her hair, and leaned out the window. 31 When Jehu came through the gate, she said,“Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?” 32 He looked up at the window and said,“Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33 He said,“Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground, her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her. 34 He went inside and had a meal. Then he said,“Dispose of this accursed woman’s corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but the skull, feet, and palms of the hands. 36 So they went back and told him. Then he said,“It is the fulfillment of the LORD’s message that he had spoken through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite,‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37 Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel. People will not be able to even recognize her.’” 1 Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Family Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said, 2 “You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives, 3 pick the best and most capable of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and defend your master’s dynasty.” 4 They were absolutely terrified and said,“Look, two kings could not stop him! How can we?” 5 So the palace supervisor, the city commissioner, the leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu,“We are your subjects! Whatever you say, we will do. We will not make anyone king. Do what you consider proper.” 6 He wrote them a second letter, saying,“If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” Now the king had seventy sons, and the prominent men of the city were raising them. 7 When they received the letter, they seized the king’s sons and executed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. 8 The messenger came and told Jehu,“They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” Jehu said,“Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.” 9 In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people,“You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men? 10 Therefore take note that not one of the LORD’s words which he pronounced against Ahab’s dynasty will fail to materialize. The LORD has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.” 11 Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors. 12 Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked,“Who are you?” They replied,“We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We have come down to see how the king’s sons and the queen mother’s sons are doing.” 14 He said,“Capture them alive!” So they captured them alive and then executed all forty-two of them in the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors. 15 When he left there, he met Jehonadab, son of Rekab, who had been looking for him. Jehu greeted him and asked,“Are you as committed to me as I am to you?” Jehonadab answered,“I am!” Jehu replied,“If so, give me your hand.” So he offered his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot. 16 Jehu said,“Come with me and see how zealous I am for the LORD’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot. 17 He went to Samaria and killed each of Ahab’s remaining family members who were in Samaria until he destroyed them, in keeping with the LORD’s message which he had announced to Elijah. 18 Jehu Executes the Prophets and Priests of Baal Jehu assembled all the people and said to them,“Ahab worshiped Baal a little; Jehu will worship him with great devotion. 19 So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests. None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fail to appear will lose their lives.” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the servants of Baal. 20 Then Jehu ordered,“Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it. 21 Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end. 22 Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe,“Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal,“Make sure there are no servants of the LORD here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.” 24 They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside. He had told them,“If any of the men inside get away, you will pay with your lives!” 25 When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard and officers,“Come in and strike them down! Don’t let any escape!” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there. Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal.
• Isa 11:4 : 4 He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.
• Isa 24:17-18 : 17 Terror, pit, and snare are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth! 18 The one who runs away from the sound of the terror will fall into the pit; the one who climbs out of the pit, will be trapped by the snare. For the floodgates of the heavens are opened up and the foundations of the earth shake.
• Jer 1:10 : 10 Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”