2 Kings3
New King James Version
1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.
3Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.
4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and he regularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
5But it happened, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
7Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
8Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”
9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them.
10And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
11But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured 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.
13Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But 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.”
14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.
15But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
16And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
17For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’
18And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
19Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
21And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border.
22Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood.
23And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”
24So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites.
25Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.
26And when 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 he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So 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