3 Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 'Thus says Yahweh, "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door, flee, and don't wait."
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Flee, and tarry not - The probable object of these directions was at once to prevent questioning, and to render the whole thing more striking.
Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head,.... When in the chamber together alone:
and say, thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel; which was done, not with the anointing oil in the temple, which could not be come by; and with which, as Kimchi from their Rabbins says, only the kings of the house of David were anointed, and they only when there was a division, or the crown was translated to another family, as was the case now; but with common oil, or the oil of balsam, such as the prophet had in his house:
then open the door and flee, and tarry not; lest he should be examined by the captains, and come into danger; though before he went out he was to say what is recorded in 2-Kings 9:7.
I have anointed thee king over Israel--This was only a part of the message; the full announcement of which is given (2-Kings 9:7-10).
flee, and tarry not--for fear of being surprised and overtaken by the spies or servants of the court.
*More commentary available at chapter level.