2 Kings 3:14-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 3:6-19

Jehoram has no sooner got the sceptre into his hand than he takes the sword into his hand, to reduce Moab. Crowns bring great cares and perils to the heads that wear them; no sooner in honour than in war. Now here we have, I. The concerting of this expedition between Jehoram king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Jehoram levied an army (2 Kgs. 3:6), and such an opinion he had of the godly king of Judah that, 1. He courted him to be his confederate: Wilt thou go with me against Moab? And... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 3:20-27

I. We have here the divine gift of both those things which God had promised by Elisha?water and victory, and the former not only a pledge of the latter, but a means of it. God, who created, and commands, all the waters, both above and beneath the firmament, sent them an abundance of water on a sudden, which did them double service. 1. It relieved their armies, which were ready to perish, 2 Kgs. 3:20. And, which was very observable, this relief came just at the time of the offering of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:14

Elisha said, as the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand ,.... Whose minster and prophet he was, to whom he prayed, and whose service he was ready to perform: surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah ; revere him not only as a king, but as a pious prince, and a worshipper of the true God: I would not look toward thee, nor see thee ; give him no countenance at all, pay no regard to his request, not so much as to look at him in a civil way;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:15

But now bring me a minstrel ,.... A piper, a man that knows how to play upon the harp, as the Targum; according to Procopius Gazaeus, this was one of the Levites he ordered to be fetched, who was used to the spiritual melody of David, and could play on musical instruments as he directed. This he did to allay his passion, and compose his spirits, ruffled at the sight of Jehoram, and to fit him to receive prophetic inspiration, which sometimes came upon the Lord's prophets when thus employed,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:16

And he said, thus saith the Lord, make this valley full of ditches. In which the allied army lay encamped, that they might be ready to receive large quantities of water, sufficient for the whole army and cattle, when it came. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:17

For thus saith the Lord, ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see the rain ,.... Neither perceive the south wind blow, which usually brings rain, nor clouds gathering in the heavens, as portending it, nor any filling from thence: yet that valley shall be filled with water ; and all the ditches dug in it: that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and all your beasts ; there would be such a quantity as would be enough for them all, the soldiers, the horses they rode on, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:18

And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord ,.... To give them such a plenty of water in such an extraordinary manner: he would do for them what was greater, not only save them from falling into the hand of Moab, which they feared, but he wilt deliver the Moabites into your hands ; which was more than was asked for, or expected. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:19

And ye shall smite every fenced city and every choice city ,.... That is, the inhabitants of them with the sword, and demolish them also, 2 Kings 3:25 , and shall fell every good tree; which seems contrary to the law in Deuteronomy 20:19 , but that may respect trees belonging to a city when besieged only, or only to Canaanitish cities; or the law was now dispensed with, and that for this time only, to make the punishment of Moab the greater, for their rebellion and other sins: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:20

And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered ,.... At Jerusalem; which always went along with the daily burnt offering of the lamb, which might not indeed be offered before break of day, yet quickly after; for no sacrifice could be offered before that; see Gill on Exodus 29:39 , that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom ; not from the heavens, but it may be out of some rock, rolling along on the earth from the hills and mountains, down into the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:21

And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them ,.... The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom: they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward ; that were of an age capable of that, and all who were more grown; or "girt on a girdle" F12 חגר חגרה "eingente cingulo", Montanus. , a military one, with which the sword was girt, who were at age to wear and knew how to wield a sword: and stood in the border; of their land, between Edom and... read more

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