2 Kings3
New American Standard
1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned for twelve years.
2He did evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and his mother; for he removed the memorial stone of Baal which his father had made.
3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel; he did not abandon them.
4Now Mesha the king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he used to make tribute payments to the king of Israel of a hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
5However, when King Ahab died, the king of Moab broke with the king of Israel.
6So King Jehoram left Samaria for battle at that time and mustered all Israel.
7Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has broken away from me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up. Consider me yours, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey. But there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.
10Then the king of Israel said, “It is hopeless! For the Lord has called these three kings to hand them over to Moab!”
11But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What business do you have with me? Go to your father’s prophets and your mother’s prophets.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.”
14Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, if I did not respect Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.
15But now bring me a musician.” And it came about, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
16And he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
17For the Lord says this: ‘You will not see wind, nor will you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you will drink, you, your livestock, and your other animals.
18And this is an insignificant thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.
19Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all the springs of water, and spoil every good plot of land with stones.’”
20And it happened in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came from the direction of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
21Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. And all who were able to put on armor and older were summoned and they took their positions on the border.
22Then they got up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
23So they said, “This is blood; the kings must have fought each other, and they have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoils!”
24But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled from them; and the Israelites invaded the land, killing the Moabites.
25So they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every plot of good land and filled it. So they stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree, until in Kir-hareseth only they left its stones; however, the rock slingers surrounded it and struck it.
26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
27Then the king of Moab took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great anger came upon Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jehoram, king of Israel. (1–5). War with Moab, The intercession of Elisha. (6–19). Water supplied, Moab overcome. (20–27).
vv1-5
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.
vv6-19
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.
vv20-27
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.
Key Words
שְׁמֹנֶה: a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
יְהוֹשָׁפָט: Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
יְהוֹרָם: Jehoram, the name of a Syrian and of three Israelites
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אַחְאָב: Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
2 Kings 3Jehoshaphat repeats his exact same alliance formula to Jehoram that he previously spoke to Ahab.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats the note of Moab's rebellion following Ahab's death, resuming the historical narrative.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jehoshaphat's identical inquiry for a true prophet of Yahweh during a crisis with an Israelite king.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details the state-sanctioned calf worship of Jeroboam which Jehoram stubbornly maintained.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jehoram blames the Lord for the alliance's distress, illustrating man's folly fretting against Providence.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Digging ditches in the dry valley to receive water mimics making the Valley of Baca a well.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Elisha pouring water on Elijah's hands reflects his original calling as Elijah's personal servant.
Supported by JFB
Elisha's sarcastic rebuff to Jehoram mimics God sending Israel to the false gods they chose.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elisha adopts Elijah's exact oath highlighting the living God before whom he stands.
Supported by JFB
Contrast's Elisha's command to fell good trees with Deuteronomy's prohibition during siege warfare.
Supported by JFB
Miraculous relief arrives precisely at the time of the morning meat offering, like Elijah's altar fire.
Supported by JFB
Explains the presence of Edom's king, who was a deputy or vice-roy under Jehoshaphat.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Use of music/harpists to prepare the prophet's mind or soothe spirits, as with David.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the extreme heathen practice of sacrificing the firstborn son for sin or safety.
Supported by Matthew Henry