2 Kings 3:14

14 And Elisha said, ¹“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.

2 Kings 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:14

Elisha said, as the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand,
&c.] Whose minster and prophet he was, to whom he prayed, and whose service he was ready to perform:

surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king
of Judah;
revere him not only as a king, but as a pious prince, and a worshipper of the true God:

I would not look toward thee, nor see thee;
give him no countenance at all, pay no regard to his request, not so much as to look at him in a civil way; but turn away his face from him with contempt and disdain, as unworthy to be conversed with by a prophet of the Lord.

2 Kings 3:14 In-Context

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, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother. ” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab. ”

14 And Elisha said, “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 bring me a musician. ” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him.

16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools. ’

Cross References

• 1. 3:14 ch. 5:16; 1 Kgs. 17:1