2 Kings 3:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 3:4

2 Kings 3:4. Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep-master The riches, not only of private men, but also of kings, in ancient times, consisted much in sheep and cattle. And this king of Moab had abundance of them, which imboldened and enabled him to rebel against his sovereign. And rendered to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, &c. This was a prodigious number, and as they were rendered unshorn, they were the more valuable. But we are to consider that these countries abounded... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-27

Elisha helps in the defeat of Moab (3:1-27)Joram (or Jehoram) succeeded his brother Ahaziah in Israel. He was not as bad as his father Ahab, and at least showed some displeasure with Baal worship by removing a sacred pillar that his father had built (3:1-3).After Ahab’s death, Moab had revolted against Israelite rule and refused to pay tribute, but Ahaziah did nothing about it (see 1:1). Joram tried to recover this valuable source of income by a military attack in which he had the support of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 3:4

Meslia. See App-54 on "the Moabite stone". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Kings 3:4

ISRAEL; JUDAH; AND EDOM GO TO WAR AGAINST MOAB"Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered unto the king of Israel the wool of a hundred thousand lambs, and of a hundred thousand rams. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me; wilt thou go with... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 3:4

2 Kings 3:4. An hundred thousand lambs, &c.— Though this is a very large number, we are to consider that these countries abounded with sheep, insomuch that Solomon offered a hundred and twenty thousand at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:5 and the Reubenites drove from the Hagarites two hundred and fifty thousand, 1Ch 5:21 for, as Bochart observes, their sheep frequently brought forth two at a time, and sometimes twice a year; and he remarks further, that in ancient times, when the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 3:4

4-6. Mesha king of Moab, &c.—As his dominions embraced an extensive pasture country, he paid, as annual tribute, the wool of a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams. It is still common in the East to pay custom and taxes in the fruits or natural produce of the land. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 3:1-27

God’s victory over the Moabites ch. 3Even though Jehoram was better spiritually than Ahab (2 Kings 3:2), he was still so much of an idolater that Elisha had no use for him (2 Kings 3:13-14).Mesha had rebelled against Israel earlier (2 Kings 3:3), but he continued to do so. This uprising led to the alliance and battle the writer described in this chapter. Jehoram evidently sought an alliance with Jehoshaphat because he wanted to cross Judean territory to get to Moab. [Note: Stigers, p. 343.] The... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 3:1-27

Jehoram and Elisha. Victory over Moab1. The eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat] according to 2 Kings 1:17, ’in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat.’2. The image of Baal] RV ’the pillar of Baal.’ No mention is made of this in the account of Ahab’s reign; but it is stated that Ahab erected an altar for Baal (1 Kings 16:32), beside which the pillar here alluded to was doubtless raised. For the significance of such pillars see on 1 Kings 7:15. That Jehoram’s religious reformation was not very... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 3:4

(4) The revolt of Moab, continued from 2 Kings 1:1. Ahaziah did not reign two full years, and his accident seems to have prevented any attempt on his part to reduce the Moabites.Mesha.—The name means “deliverance, salvation,” and occurs on the monument set up by this king, describing his victories and buildings. (See Note on 2 Kings 1:1.)A sheep-master.—Heb., nôqçd (Amos 1:1). In Arabic, naqad means a kind of sheep of superior wool; naqqâd, the owner or shepherd of such sheep. The land of Moab... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-27

THE INVASION OF MOAB2 Kings 3:4-27"What reinforcement we may gain from hope, If not, what resolution from despair."-MILTON, "Paradise Lost, " 1:190AHAZIAH, as Elijah had warned him, never recovered from the injuries received in his fall through the lattice, and after his brief and luckless reign died without a child. He was succeeded by his brother Jehoram ("Jehovah is exalted"), who reigned for twelve years.Jehoram began well. Though it is said that he did that which was evil in the sight of... read more

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