2 Kings 3:10-20

10 Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! 1The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."
11 2And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?" Then one of the king of Israel's servants answered, 3"Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, 4who poured water on the hands of Elijah."
12 And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, 5"What have I to do with you? Go to 6the prophets of your father and to 7the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No; it is 8the LORD who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."
14 And Elisha said, 9"As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you.
15 But now 10bring me a musician." And when the musician played, 11the hand of the LORD came upon him.
16 And he said, "Thus says the LORD, 'I will make this dry streambed full of pools.'
17 For thus says the LORD, 'You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.'
18 This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will also give the Moabites into your hand,
19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water 12and ruin every good piece of land with stones."
20 The next morning, about the time of 13offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.

2 Kings 3:10-20 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.

Cross References 13

  • 1. [Joshua 7:7]
  • 2. 1 Kings 22:7
  • 3. [2 Kings 2:25]
  • 4. [1 Kings 19:21; John 13:4, 5]
  • 5. [Ezekiel 14:3]
  • 6. 1 Kings 22:6
  • 7. 1 Kings 18:19
  • 8. [See ver. 10 above]
  • 9. 2 Kings 5:16; 1 Kings 17:1
  • 10. [1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1]
  • 11. 1 Kings 18:46; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14, 22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 37:1; Ezekiel 40:1
  • 12. [ver. 25; Isaiah 25:2]
  • 13. [Exodus 29:39, 40]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.