2 Kings 9:3 - Exposition

Then take —rather, and take— the box of oil —rather, the flask of oil— and pour it on his head. Compare the consecration of Aaron to the high-priestly (Le 2 Kings 8:12 ), and of Saul ( 1 Samuel 10:1 ) and David ( 1 Samuel 16:12 ) to the kingly office. The oil used was the holy anointing oil of the sanctuary ( Exodus 30:25 )— τὸ ἅγιον ἔλαιον , as Josephus says. And say, Thus faith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. This is an abbreviated form of the actual message, which is given in its entirety in 2 Kings 9:7-10 . The writer of Kings avoids all needless repetitions. Then open the door— the conference was to be with closed doors, that no one might either hear or see what took place— and flee, and tarry not. The Divine message delivered, all would have been done that needed to be done. There would be nothing to wait for. So the young man was to depart with the same haste with which he had come.