2 Kings 3:11-19 NLT,NIV,ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:4-27

THE WAR WITH MOAB . The historian goes back to the origin of the war. He had already, in 2 Kings 1:1 , mentioned the revolt of Moab at the death of Ahab; but he now recalls his readers' attention to the fact, and to some extent explains it and accounts for it. Moab had been treated oppressively—had been forced to pay an extraordinarily heavy tribute—and was in a certain sense driven into rebellion ( 2 Kings 1:4 , 2 Kings 1:5 ). Jehoram, when he came to the kingdom, determined to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:6-12

Faith and unfaith tested by danger and difficulty. Jehoshaphat and Jehoram are associates, allies, brothers-in-arms. They are united in one cause, have one object, one aim. And they fall into one and the same danger and difficulty. A failure of water at the spot where they had fully expected to find it brings them and their armies into peril of almost instant destruction. But how differently are they affected under the same circumstances! Jehoram at once despairs, sees no way out of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:6-12

Worldly rulers-men in trial seeking help from a godly man. "And King Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel," etc. I. Here we have WORLDLY RULERS IN GREAT TRIAL . "And King Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the King of Judah, saying, The King of Moab hath rebelled against me." The revolt of Moab threatened the ruin of Jehoram and his empire, and he, smitten with alarm, numbers,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:9-20

Man's extremity is God's opportunity. This expedition, begun without consulting God, soon landed the allies in dire straits. I. THE STRAITS OF THE ARMY . 1. The failure of water . The host must have been a large one, and they had much cattle with them for sustenance. For some reason, the journey occupied seven days, and the desert was waterless. They were in the same distress that the Israelites were in centuries before under Moses ( Exodus 17:1-3 ; Numbers 20:1-5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:11

But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? The Israelite monarch despairs at once; the Jewish monarch retains faith and hope. Undoubtedly he ought to have had inquiry made of the Lord before he consented to accompany Jehoram on the expedition. But one neglect of duty does not justify persistence in neglect. This he sees, and therefore suggests that even now, at the eleventh hour, the right course shall be taken. It may not even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:12

And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him ; that is, "he is a true prophet; he can tell us the will of God." It is impossible to say how Jehoshaphat had acquired this conviction. Elijah's selection of Elisha to be his special attendant ( 1 Kings 19:19-21 ) was no doubt generally known, and may have raised expectations that Elisha would be the next great prophet. Jehoshaphat may have heard of the miracles recorded in 2 Kings 2:1-25 . At any rate, he appears to have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13

And Elisha said unto the King of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. Despite Jehoram's self-humiliation, Elisha regards it as incumbent on him to rebuke the monarch, who, though he had "put away the image of Baal which his father had made," still "wrought evil in the sight of the Lord," and "cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat" ( 2 Kings 2:2 , 2 Kings 2:3 ). Jehoram must not be allowed to suppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-15

Elisha and the minstrel. When the kings come down to see him, at first Elisha is filled with just indignation. He rebukes the King of Israel for his godlessness, and says, "What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother." And then, when Jehoram repeats his profanity of throwing the blame upon God, Elisha protests that, but for the presence of Jehoshaphat King of Judah, he would have nothing more to do with him. But he has God's people... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-19

The servant of God in the presence of the great of the earth. Three lessons may be learnt from the conduct of Elisha before the confederate kings. I. A LESSON OF ZEAL FOR GOD . Elisha does not allow himself to be abashed by the earthly grandeur and dignity of his visitors, or to be rendered yielding and complaisant by the compliment which they have paid him in seeking him out, instead of summoning him to their presence. As the servant and minister of God, he is always in a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-27

Aspects of a godly man. "And Elisha said unto the King of Israel, What have I to do with thee?' etc. Elisha was confessedly a godly man of a high type, and these verses reveal him to us in three aspects. I. AS RISING SUPERIOR TO KINGS . When these three kings—Jehoshaphat the King of Judah, Jehoram the King of Israel, and the King of Edom—approached Elisha, was he overawed by their splendor? or was he elated by their visit? No. He was no flunkey ; no true man ever is. Here... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:4-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:6-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:6-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:9-20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13-27

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