2 Kings 3:9-19

9 So 1the king of Israel went with 2the king of Judah and 3the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days' journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.
10 Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."
11 But Jehoshaphat said, "4Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?" And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "5Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, 6who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah."
12 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 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What do I have to do with you? 7Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother." And the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab."
14 Elisha said, "8As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.
15 "But now 9bring me a minstrel." And it came about, when the minstrel played, that 10the hand of the LORD came upon him.
16 He said, "Thus says the LORD, 'Make this valley full of trenches.'
17 "For thus says the LORD, 'You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley 11shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.
18 'This is but a 12slight thing in the sight of the LORD; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.
19 '13Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.' "

2 Kings 3:9-19 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. 2 Kings 3:1
  • 2. 2 Kings 3:7
  • 3. 1 Kings 22:47
  • 4. 1 Kings 22:7
  • 5. 2 Kings 2:25
  • 6. 1 Kings 19:21; John 13:4, 5, 13, 14
  • 7. 1 Kings 18:19; 1 Kings 22:6-11, 22-25
  • 8. 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 5:16
  • 9. 1 Samuel 16:23; 1 Chronicles 25:1
  • 10. 1 Kings 18:46; Ezekiel 1:3
  • 11. Psalms 107:35
  • 12. Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37
  • 13. 2 Kings 3:25
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