2 Kings Chapter 3
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, but not like his father, and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
3 Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn't depart from them.
4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he supplied the king of Israel with the wool of one hundred thousand lambs, and of one hundred thousand rams.
5 But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.
7 He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?" He said, "I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
8 He said, "Which way shall we go up?" He answered, "The way of the wilderness of Edom."
9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched for seven days along a circuitous route. There was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.
10 The king of Israel said, "Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab."
11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Isn't there a prophet of the LORD here, that we may enquire of the LORD by him?" One of the king of Israel's servants answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here."
12 Jehoshaphat said, "The LORD's word is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother." The king of Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab."
14 Elisha said, "As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look towards you, nor see you.
15 But now bring me a musician." When the musician played, the LORD's hand came on him.
16 He said, "The LORD says, 'Make this valley full of trenches.'
17 For the LORD says, 'You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals.
18 This is an easy thing in the LORD's sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
19 You shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.' "
20 In the morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
21 Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armour, young and old, and stood on the border.
22 They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
23 They said, "This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder!"
24 When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land attacking the Moabites.
25 They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land each man cast his stone, and filled it. They also stopped all the springs of water, and cut down all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth all they left was its stones; however the men armed with slings went around it, and attacked it.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
27 Then he took his oldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
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2 Kings Chapter 3 Guide
At this point the history goes back and describes the beginning of the war with Moab, to which reference was made at the opening of the book. It was a combined movement of Israel and Judah and Edom against Moab.
Elisha's capacity for sternness was manifested in the refusal to deal with the king of Israel. The armies lacked water, and appealed to him. His answer immediately called into prominence the fact of the divine government, that God is still able, in supernatural ways, to make provision for the needs of His people if they will but trust Him. Their faith was called into activity in digging the trenches. The coming of the water was by the act and will of God. Thus the prophet stood for the righteousness of God in his refusal to deal with the king of Israel, and for the beneficent purpose of God in providing water for the armies. He thus stood before them as a veritable prophet, and called them back, if they would but hear it, into true relationship to their one King, Jehovah.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Kings Chapter 3 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Jehoram, king of Israel. -- (1-5)
- War with Moab, The intercession of Elisha. -- (6-19)
- Water supplied, Moab overcome. -- (20-27)
Verses 1-5
Jehoram took warning by God's judgment, and put away the image of Baal, yet he maintained the worship of the calves. Those do not truly repent or reform, who only part with the sins they lose by, but continue to love the sins that they think to gain by.
Verses 6-19
The king of Israel laments their distress, and the danger they were in. He called these kings together, yet he charges it upon Providence. Thus the foolishness of man perverteth his way, and then his heart fretteth against the Lord, Pr 19:3. It was well that Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord now, but it had been much better if he had done it before he engaged in this war. Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and affliction drive them to it. Wicked people often fare the better for the friendship and society of the godly. To try their faith and obedience, Elisha bids them make the valley full of pits to receive water. Those who expect God's blessings, must dig pools for the rain to fill, as in the valley of Baca, and thus make even that a well, Ps 84:6. We need not inquire whence the water came. God is not tied to second causes. They that sincerely seek for the dew of God's grace, shall have it, and by it be made more than conquerors.
Verses 20-27
It is a blessing to be favoured with the company of those who have power with God, and can prevail by their prayers. A kingdom may be upheld and prosper, in consequence of the fervent prayers of those who are dear to God. May we place our highest regard upon such as are most precious in his account. When sinners are saying Peace, peace, destruction comes upon them: despair will follow their mad presumption. In Satan's service and at his suggestion, such horrid deeds have been done, as cause the natural feelings of the heart to shudder; like the king of Moab's sacrificing his son. It is well not to urge the worst of men to extremities; we should rather leave them to the judgment of God.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.