2 Kings 3:4

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 3:4

And Mesha king of Moab was a sheep master ,.... With which his country abounded; he kept great numbers of them, and shepherds to take care of them; he traded in them, and got great riches by them; his substance chiefly consisted in them: and rendered unto the king of Israel : either as a present, or as an annual tribute: an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool ; that is, upon them, unshorn, and so the more valuable; and it was usual for tributary... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 3:4

Was a sheepmaster - The original is נקד naked , of which the Septuagint could make nothing, and therefore retained the Hebrew word νωκηδ : but the Chaldee has גיתי מרי marey githey , "a sheepmaster;" Aquila has ποιμνιοτροφος ; and Symmachus, τρεφων βοσκηματα ; all to the same sense. The original signifies one who marks or brands, probably from the marking of sheep. He fed many sheep, etc., and had them all marked in a particular way, in order to ascertain his property. A... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:4-5

Rebellion not to be entered upon with a light heart. We are not sufficiently acquainted with the position of Moab under Israel, or with the extent of the Moabite resources, or with the grounds of just complaint which they may have had, to determine whether this particular rebellion was justifiable or no. But we can clearly see from the narrative that rebellion is a very grave matter, one to be very carefully considered, and only to be adventured upon under a combination of circumstances that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:4-5

King Mesha's rebellion. The general causes of this rebellion are considered on 2 Kings 1:1 . The victories recorded on the Moabite Stone as achieved by the favor of Chemosh belong probably to the earlier stages of the revolt. They can hardly have followed the crushing destruction of verses 24, 25. Prior, also, to the expedition of this chapter, must be placed the attempt to overwhelm Jehoshaphat by the combined forces of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, etc. ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 .),... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 3:4-12

Forgetting God, and its results. We see from these verses how very partial was Jehoram's reformation. He put away the image of Baal, but he experienced no change of heart. Outward observances of religion, outward conformity to God's Law, are of little use, if the heart is not right within. Observe how Jehoram shows his entire forgetfulness or disregard of God. I. BY HIS MUSTERING OF THE PEOPLE . The King of Moab had risen in rebellion against him. What is Jehoram's first act?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 3:4

Moab, the region immediately east of the Dead Sea and of the lower Jordan, though in part suited for agriculture, is in the main a great grazing country. Mesha resembled a modern Arab Sheikh, whose wealth is usually estimated by the number of his flocks and herds. His tribute of the wool of 100, 000 lambs was a tribute in kind, the ordinary tribute at this time in the East.Mesha is the monarch who wrote the inscription on the “Moabite stone” (2 Kings 1:1 note). The points established by the... read more

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