2 Kings 3:9-24 NIV

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 3:9

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah ,.... The way of the wilderness of Edom, proposed by the latter: and the king of Edom ; whom they took with them in their way, who was not properly a king, but a viceroy or deputy, see 1 Kings 22:47 . and they fetched a compass of seven days journey ; they went round the Dead Sea, and through the wilderness of Edom, and so to the borders of Moab: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:10

And the king of Israel said, alas! .... Lamenting their sad case, as being desperate; and the rather he was the more concerned, as he was the principal who had drawn the other kings into this affair, though he throws it upon the Lord and his providence: that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hands of Moab ; into whose hands they must inevitably fall, if they could have no water to refresh them; since they would be so weak as not to be able to stand... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 ?.... This the good king should have done before be set out, but had neglected it; however, it was not too late: and one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said ; who might be one that feared the Lord, and was intimate with Elisha, or however had knowledge of him, as appears by what follows: here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah ; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:12

And Jehoshaphat said, the word of the Lord is with him ,.... To give them an answer, which he concluded from his being a servant and disciple of Elijah, whom he succeeded in his office, and of whom he had, doubtless, heard; and from his following the camp, and being in it, which he easily imagined was not to fight, but to assist by his advice and counsel, and by his prophecies, as there might be occasion for them: so the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13

And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, what have I to do with thee ?.... An idolater; I can hold no discourse nor have any conversation with thee, nor give thee any advice or assistance: get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother ; the prophets of Baal, and of the groves: and the king of Israel said unto him, nay ; meaning, he would not apply to them, who he was sensible could give him no relief, only to the Lord God, from whom this affliction was,... 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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 3:13

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

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

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

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