2 Kings 3:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-5

Jehoram, the son of Ahab, and brother of Ahaziah, is here upon the throne of Israel; and, though he was but a bad man, yet two commendable things are here recorded of him:? I. That he removed his father's idols. He did evil in many things, but not like his father Ahab or his mother Jezebel, 2 Kgs. 3:2. Bad he was, but not so bad, so overmuch wicked, as Solomon speaks, Eccl. 7:17. Perhaps Jehoshaphat, though by his alliance with the house of Ahab he made his own family worse, did something... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah ,.... So that the two years of the reign of his brother Ahaziah were not complete, only part of the seventeenth and part of the eighteenth of Jehoshaphat, since he began to reign in his seventeenth year, at the beginning of that, and died towards the close of the eighteenth, when Jehoram succeeded him, see 1 Kings 22:51 , and reigned twelve years. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat King of Judah. This note of time is not quite in accordance with the chronology of 1 Kings, which gives Jehoshaphat a reign of twenty-five years ( 1 Kings 22:42 ), Ahab one of twenty-two years ( 1 Kings 16:29 ), and Ahaziah one of two years ( 1 Kings 22:51 ), and makes Jehoshaphat's first year run parallel with Ahab's fourth ( 1 Kings 22:41 ), since thus Ahab's death-year would be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-3

Half-repentances not accepted by God. Jehoram was better than his father and his mother, very considerably better than his brother (l Kings 22:52, 53). He "put away the image of Baal that his father had made ," lowered the Baal-worship from the position of the state religion to that of (at the most) a tolerated cult, and professed himself a worshipper of Jehovah. But his heart was not whole with God. He "cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat; and departed not therefrom." At... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-3

The continuity of evil. How hard it is to get rid of the power of evil! Ahaziah had sought after strange gods. He had served Baal with all his corruptions. Jehoram his brother, who succeeds him, is a little better. " He put away the image of Baal which his father had made." Perhaps he was frightened by Ahaziah's fate as the consequence of his sin, and by the fire from heaven which had consumed the two captains and their fifties for their defiance of the Most High. But still " he cleaved... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-3

Jehoram; or, qualified evil. The successor of Ahaziah was Jehoram, another son of Ahab and Jezebel. It is said, however, concerning him, that, though he did evil, it was not like his father and mother, for he removed from its place the image of Baal which they had impiously set up. Nevertheless, he upheld the worship of the calves—the distinguishing sin of the northern kingdom. I. THERE ARE DEGREES IN SIN . Some go greater lengths in transgression than others. It is fight and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-5

Evil-the same in principle, though not in form. "Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel," etc. Two subjects are here illustrated. I. THAT WHILST THE FORMS OF EVIL MAY CHANGE , THE PRINCIPLE MAY CONTINUE RAMPANT . "And he [that is, Jehoram] wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother." His father and mother worshipped Baal, but the very "image" of the idol "that his father had made he put away." But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:1-27

THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF JEHORAM 'S REIGN OVER ISRAEL ; HIS WAR WITH MOAB . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 3:1

In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat - This date agrees exactly with the statements that Jehoshaphat began to reign in the fourth year of Ahab 1 Kings 22:41, and Ahaziah in the 17th year of Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 22:51. 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

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