2 Kings 3:11

11 But Yehoshafat said, Isn't there here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? One of the king of Yisra'el's servants answered, Elisha the son of Shafat is here, who poured water on the hands of Eliyah.

2 Kings 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:11

But Jehoshaphat said, is there not here a prophet of the Lord,
that we may inquire of the Lord by him?
&c.] This the good king should have done before be set out, but had neglected it; however, it was not too late:

and one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said;
who might be one that feared the Lord, and was intimate with Elisha, or however had knowledge of him, as appears by what follows:

here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of
Elijah;
or ministered to him, as the Targum; was his menial servant, waited on him, and assisted him when he washed his hands F7; some Jewish writers understand it of his pouring water on the hand of Elijah at Carmel, when the altar and trench were filled with it, and when a miracle was wrought, as they fancy, and the fingers of Elijah became as fountains of water.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 See the like phrase of the business of a servant in Homer, Iliad. 3. ver. 270, & Iliad. 9. ver. 174. Odyss. 1. ver. 147. & Odyss. 3. ver. 388. & Odyss. 4. ver. 258, 261. & passim.

2 Kings 3:11 In-Context

9 So the king of Yisra'el went, and the king of Yehudah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the animals that followed them.
10 The king of Yisra'el said, Alas! for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Mo'av.
11 But Yehoshafat said, Isn't there here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? One of the king of Yisra'el's servants answered, Elisha the son of Shafat is here, who poured water on the hands of Eliyah.
12 Yehoshafat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Yisra'el and Yehoshafat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Elisha said to the king of Yisra'el, What have I to do with you? get you to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother. The king of Yisra'el said to him, No; for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Mo'av.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.