2 Kings 3:1-8

Israel's King Joram

1 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah's King Jehoshaphat; he reigned 12 years.[a]
2 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, but not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made.[b]
3 Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.[c] He did not turn away from them.

Moab's Rebellion against Israel

4 King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,[d]
5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel.
7 Then he sent [a message] to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" Jehoshaphat said, "I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
8 Then he asked, "Which route should we take?" Joram replied, "The route of the wilderness of Edom."[e]

2 Kings 3:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 3

This chapter gives the character of Jehoram king of Israel, 2Ki 3:1-3, relates the rebellion of the king of Moab against him, 2Ki 3:4,5, the war that he and his allies entered into on that account, 2Ki 3:6-9 the distress the combined army were in for want of water, their application upon this to Elisha, who promised them water, and they had it in a wonderful manner, 2Ki 3:10-20 and the chapter is concluded with the rout of the Moabites, and the barbarity of their king to his eldest son, 2Ki 3:21-27.

Footnotes 5

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