14. So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, made plans against Joram. At that time Joram and the Israelites had been trying to defend Ramoth Gilead from King Hazael of Aram.
15. King Joram had fought against King Hazael of Aram. But the Arameans wounded King Joram, and he went to Jezreel to get well from those injuries. So Jehu told the officers, “If you agree that I am the new king, don’t let anyone escape from the city to tell the news in Jezreel.”
16. Joram was resting in Jezreel, so Jehu got in his chariot and drove to Jezreel. King Ahaziah of Judah had also come to Jezreel to see Joram.
17. A guard was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s large group coming. He said, “I see a large group of people!” Joram said, “Send someone on a horse to meet them. Tell this messenger to ask if they come in peace.”
18. So the messenger rode on a horse to meet Jehu. The messenger said, “King Joram says, ‘Do you come in peace?’” Jehu said, “You have nothing to do with peace. Come and follow me.” The guard told Joram, “The messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet.”
19. Then Joram sent out a second messenger on a horse. This man came to Jehu’s group and said, “King Joram says, ‘Peace.’” Jehu answered, “You have nothing to do with peace. Come and follow me.”
20. The guard told Joram, “The second messenger went to the group, but he has not come back yet. There is a man driving his chariot like a mad man. He is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi.”