Nimshi

Nimshi enters the narrative only through his descendant Jehu. The name appears at the moment Elisha sends a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel and again as the watchman on Jezreel's wall recognizes Jehu by his driving.

Jehu's Lineage

When the unnamed prophet is dispatched to Ramoth-gilead, Jehu is identified by a two-step genealogy: "look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber" (2Ki 9:2). The chain places Nimshi as Jehu's grandfather.

"Son of Nimshi"

Later in the same chapter the genealogy contracts to its memorable short form. The watchman cannot yet see the rider's face, but the manner of the chariot betrays him: "the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously" (2Ki 9:20). The patronymic "son of Nimshi" travels with Jehu as his identifying tag.