2 Kings3
New International Version
1Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
2He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made.
3Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
4Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
5But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel.
7He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go with you,” he replied. “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8“By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered.
9So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them.
10“What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?”
11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
12Jehoshaphat 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.
13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.”
14Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you.
15But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha
16and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.
17For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.
18This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.
19You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.”
20The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.
21Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border.
22When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood.
23“That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!”
24But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites.
25They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it.
26When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed.
27Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew 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