2 Kings 3:20

20 Therefore it was done early, when (the) sacrifice is wont to be offered, and, lo! waters came by the way of Edom, and the land was filled with waters.

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.

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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 And this is (but a) little thing in the sight of the Lord. Furthermore also he shall betake Moab into your hands (And furthermore he shall deliver the Moabites into your hands);

19 and ye shall smite each strengthened city, and each chosen city, and ye shall cut down each tree bearing fruit, and ye shall stop all the wells of waters, and ye shall cover with stones each noble field. (and ye shall strike down each fortified city, and each chosen city, and ye shall cut down each fruit-bearing tree, and ye shall stop, or close up, all the water wells, or all the springs, and ye shall cover each fertile field with stones.)

20 Therefore it was done early, when (the) sacrifice is wont to be offered, and, lo! waters came by the way of Edom, and the land was filled with waters.

21 Soothly all the men of Moab heard, that these kings had gone up to fight against them; and they called together all men, that were gird with a knight's girdle above, and they stood in the terms. (And all the Moabites heard, that these kings had gone up to fight against them; and they called together all the men who were girded with a horseman's girdle, and who were stationed at the border.)

22 And men of Moab rose full early, and when the sun was risen then even against the waters, they saw the waters (as) red as blood even against them. (And the men of Moab rose up very early, and when the sun rose up over the water, they saw that the water before them was as red as blood/was red like blood.)