2 Kings 3:20

20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.

2 Kings 3:20 in Other Translations

KJV
20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
ESV
20 The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water.
NLT
20 The next day at about the time when the morning sacrifice was offered, water suddenly appeared! It was flowing from the direction of Edom, and soon there was water everywhere.
MSG
20 In the morning - it was at the hour of morning sacrifice - the water had arrived, water pouring in from the west, from Edom, a flash-flood filling the valley with water.
CSB
20 About the time for the grain offering the [next] morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

2 Kings 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:20

And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was
offered
At Jerusalem; which always went along with the daily burnt offering of the lamb, which might not indeed be offered before break of day, yet quickly after; for no sacrifice could be offered before that, (See Gill on Exodus 29:39),

that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom;
not from the heavens, but it may be out of some rock, rolling along on the earth from the hills and mountains, down into the valleys, where the armies were:

and the country was filled with water;
all round about them. Who has not heard of the "thundering" legion, as it was called by the Emperor M. Aurelius, who, when the army under him was about to engage with the Germans and Sarmatians, and sadly distressed with thirst, fell down on their knees and prayed, upon which a large shower of rain came down to the refreshment of the army, and thunder bolts, which annoyed and put the enemy to flight F9? at the battle of the Romans with Jugurtha, a sudden and unexpected shower of rain fell, to the refreshment of the Romans, in intolerable thirst F11.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Euseb. Hist. Eccl. l. 5. c. 5. Orosii Hist. l. 7. c. 15. p. 120.
F11 Orosii Hist. l. 5. c. 15. p. 77.

2 Kings 3:20 In-Context

18 This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.
19 You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.”
20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.
21 Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border.
22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Exodus 29:41; Exodus 29:39-40
  • 2. S Exodus 17:6
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