2 Kings3
New Living Translation
1Ahab’s son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.
2He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up.
3Nevertheless, he continued in the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed and led the people of Israel to commit.
4King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.
5But after Ahab’s death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria.
7On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”
8Then Jehoshaphat asked, “What route will we take?” “We will attack from the wilderness of Edom,” Joram replied.
9The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals.
10“What should we do?” the king of Israel cried out. “The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us.”
11But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.” One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.”
12Jehoshaphat said, “Yes, the Lord speaks through him.” So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha.
13“Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”
14Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
15Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha,
16and he said, “This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!
17You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals.
18But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!
19You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.”
20The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.
21Meanwhile, when the people of Moab heard about the three armies marching against them, they mobilized every man who was old enough to strap on a sword, and they stationed themselves along their border.
22But when they got up the next morning, the sun was shining across the water, making it appear red to the Moabites—like blood.
23“It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!”
24But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.
25They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.
26When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed.
27Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelites 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