2nd Kings Chapter 9 verse 13 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 13. - Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs. Kings were honored by the spreading of garments in their way, that their feet might not touch the dusty ground (Matthew 20:8). The captains of the host, without hesitation, acclaimed Jehu king on the strength of the prophetical announcement, made his cause their own, and joined in his rebellion. It is reasonably conjectured (Bahr) that "a deep dissatisfaction with Joram must have prevailed in the army," though whether the dissatisfaction arose from the idolatry of the house of Ahab, or from Joram's withdrawal from the war, may be doubted, Jehu, on the ether hand, was evidently highly esteemed. The captains threw themselves with ardor into his cause, and extemporized a sort of enthronement. As often in an Oriental house, an external staircase led from the court to the upper story or to the roof. This they carpeted with their begeds, or outer cloaks, and, seating him on the top stair, saluted him as actual king. The expression, el-gerem ham-ma'aloth, is not literally, "on the top of the stairs," but rather "on the stairs themselves." Naturally, however, the captains would emplace him upon the topmost stair. And blew with trumpets. This was a recognized part of the ceremonial of a coronation (see 2 Samuel 15:10; 1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 11:14). Saying, Jehu is king.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) Then (and) they hasted.--LXX., "and they heard, and hasted." This is probably original, the sense being that the moment they heard it, they hastily took up their outer garments, and laid them as a carpet for Jehu to walk upon. (Comp. Luke 19:36.) The instantaneous action of the generals shows that there must have existed a strong feeling against Joram in the army and an enthusiasm for Jehu which only required a word from him to precipitate a revolution.Put it under him on the top of the stairs.--So Kimchi, "at the uppermost step." The words are much discussed by commentators. The LXX. has, "and put it underneath him on the garem of the steps" (retaining the Hebrew word gerem); the Syriac, "and put it under him on a seat of steps;" the Targum, "at the steps of the hours," i.e., a flight of steps which served as a sundial (comp. 2Kings 20:11); the Vulg., "and each one, taking his cloak, put it under his feet in similitudinem tribunalis," i.e., in the fashion of a rostrum, or elevated platform; the Arabic, "on the steps of the rise" (or "elevation").The word gerem, rendered "top," can hardly have that meaning. In Hebrew it rarely occurs (Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 25:15), and means bone, for which in Aramaic it is the usual term (Daniel 6:25). In Arabic the word means "body," and it is usually so explained in one passage of the Bible (Genesis 49:14), "Issachar is a strong ass;" literally, an ass of body. As the Aramaic garma is used in the sense of "self," some would render the present phrase, "on the stairs themselves." But perhaps we may better translate on the analogy of the Arabic word, "They put (their cloaks) under him, on to ('el) the body of the stairs." The stairway on the outside of the house, leading to the roof, served as an extemporised throne, or rather platform, for the king. (Comp. 2Kings 11:14.) Some Hebrew MSS. have "upon" for "on to." (Comp. 2Samuel 21:10, "on the rock.") . . .