2 Kings 3

1 In the eighteenth [eight plus ten, a significant period] year of Jehoshaphat’s [Jehoshaphat, meaning Jehovah has judged] reign [to rule, have dominion] over Judah [the tribe of Judah], Jehoram [meaning Jehovah is exalted] son of Ahab [a king of Israel known for his wickedness] became king [to reign, have royal authority] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], and he reigned [to rule, have dominion] in Samaria [the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, a watch mountain] twelve [two times ten, a complete cycle] years. word study 2 And he did evil [wrought evil, did that which was bad] in the sight [eye, presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], but not [except, only not] as his father [paternal figure] and mother [immow, maternal figure] had done. He removed [put away, turned aside] the sacred [idolatrous, memorial] pillar [monument] of Baal [the Phoenician deity, false god] that his father [paternal figure] had made [created, constructed]. word study 3 Nevertheless, he clung [held on tightly, cleaved] to the sins [transgressions, guilt] that Jeroboam [the people will contend] son of Nebat [an Ephraimite] had caused Israel [God’s chosen people] to commit [to sin, to miss the mark]; he did not turn away [depart, remove himself] from them [these sinful actions]. word study 4 Now Mesha [a Moabite king, son of Lot’s descendant] king of Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] was a sheep breeder [or shepherd, one who raises and cares for sheep], and he would render [pay as tribute, give back] to the king of Israel [the ruler of God’s chosen people] a hundred thousand [a vast number, 100,000] lambs [young sheep] and the wool [the soft, white fleece] of a hundred thousand rams [strong, full-grown male sheep]. word study 5 But after the death [passing away, end of life] of Ahab [a king of Israel who lived a long time ago], the king [ruler, monarch] of Moab [a land and descendants of Lot’s son] rebelled [transgressed, broke away] against the king [leader, ruler] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]. word study 6 So at that time [in the same season, the same day] King [royal ruler, monarch] Jehoram [Joram, son of Ahab] set out [went out, came out, to come out] from Samaria [watch mountain, the capital city of Israel] and mobilized [mustered, numbered, to reckon] all [every, the whole] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 7 And he sent [went and dispatched] a message to Jehoshaphat [a king of Judah who walked with God] king of Judah: “The king of Moab [a land and people descended from Lot] has rebelled [transgressed, broken away] against me. Will you go [walk, march] with me to fight [engage in battle, wage war] against Moab [the land of Moab, a place of conflict]?” “I will go [ascend, rise up],” replied Jehoshaphat. “I am [exist, have being] like you, my people [nation, community] are your people, and my horses [chariot horses, instruments of war] are your horses [vehicles of battle].” word study 8 Then he asked [inquired, spoke], “Which way [by what path, in what direction] shall we go up [ascend, rise, to the higher land]?” “By way [the road, the path] of the Desert [wilderness, open field] of Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants],” replied Joram [the king of Israel]. word study 9 So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel, the king [sovereign, leader] of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled [journeyed, marched] a roundabout [circuitous, indirect] route for seven days, they had no water [liquid refreshment, source of life] for their army [host, military force] or for their animals [beasts, livestock]. word study 10 “Alas [oh, woe to us],” said the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people], “for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has summoned [called, gathered] these three [a trio, a group of three] kings to deliver [give, hand over] them into the hand [power, control] of Moab [a neighboring nation, enemy of Israel]!” word study 11 But Jehoshaphat [the Lord has judged] asked, “Is there no prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] here [in this place, present with us]? Let us inquire [seek, ask for guidance] of the LORD [Yehovah, our God] through him [as our mediator].” And one of the servants [attendants, those who serve] of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha [God is salvation, my God is help] son of Shaphat [he has judged, the Lord has judged] is here [present, available]. He used to pour [discharge, serve] water [a spring or watercourse] on the hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of Elijah [my God is the Lord, the Lord is my God].” word study 12 Jehoshaphat [the Lord has judged, a king of Judah] affirmed, “The word [divine message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] is with him [as his prophet, spokesperson].” So the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [the chosen people, Jacob’s descendants] and Jehoshaphat and the king [ruler, sovereign] of Edom [a neighboring nation, Esau’s descendants] went down [descended, journeyed] to him. word study 13 Elisha, however, said to the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel, “What have we to do with each other [what business is there between us]? Go to the prophets [spokespersons, messengers] of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] who has summoned [called, gathered] these three kings to deliver them into the hand [power, control] of Moab [the nation, descendants of Lot].” word study 14 Then Elisha [the prophet of God] said, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] of Hosts [the armies of heaven] lives, before whom I stand [in reverence and obedience], were it not for my regard [deep respect and esteem] for the presence [face, person] of Jehoshaphat [Jehovah has judged] king of Judah [the tribe of praise], I would not look at you [give you attention] or acknowledge you [recognize your authority]. word study 15 But now [at this present time, in this moment], bring me a harpist [minstrel, musician].” And while the harpist [musician, one who plays a stringed instrument] played, the hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] came upon [rested on, was laid on] Elisha word study 16 and he said, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘Dig this valley [brook, stream] full of ditches [cisterns, water-holes, trenches].’ word study 17 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says, ‘You will not see [perceive or experience] wind [a blast of air] or rain [a shower or refreshing downpour], but the valley [a low area of land, a brook or stream] will be filled [made full or complete] with water [a liquid or source of refreshment], and you [as individuals] will drink—you and your cattle [livestock, such as domestic animals] and your animals [beasts, large quadruped mammals].’ word study 18 This [a light thing, trivial] is a simple matter [not difficult, easy] in the sight [before the eyes, in the presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and He will also deliver [give, put] the Moabites [the descendants of Lot, the people of Moab] into your hand [power, strength, direction]. word study 19 And you shall attack every fortified [walled] city and every [choice, select] city of importance [strong, fenced]. You shall cut down every good [fruitful] tree, stop up every spring [fountain], and ruin every good [pleasant] field with stones [rocks].” word study 20 The next morning [at the break of day, when the morning sacrifice was offered], at the time of the morning [daily] sacrifice, water [a source of refreshment] suddenly flowed [came forth, arose] from the direction [way, path] of Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants] and filled [made full, satisfied] the land [the earth, the territory]. word study 21 Now all [the entire nation, every single one] the Moabites [descendants of Lot] had heard [received news, were informed] that the kings [royal rulers, monarchs] had come up [ascended, risen] to fight [engage in battle, wage war] against them [in opposition to, as enemies]. So all [every single one, without exception] who could bear arms [carry weapons, wear armor], young [in their early years] and old [advanced in age], were summoned [called together, gathered] and stationed [placed, positioned] at the border [the boundary, the edge of the land]. word study 22 When they got up [rose early, at the break of day] early in the morning [at the dawn, a time of new beginnings], the sun [the sun; the east or the west] was shining [rising, radiating its rays] on the water [a source of refreshment], and it looked [appeared, was seen] as red [having a deep crimson color] as blood [the liquid that flows through the body] to the Moabites [the people of Moab, descendants of Lot] across the way [before them, in front of them]. word study 23 “This [visible sign, evident token] is blood [the liquid that flows through the body]!” they exclaimed [said with strong emotion, cried out]. “The kings [rulers, monarchs] have clashed swords [engaged in fierce battle, fought intensely] and slaughtered [killed, destroyed] one another [each other, their own comrades]. Now [at this moment, therefore] to the plunder [spoils of war, booty], Moab [the land and people, descendants of Lot]!” word study 24 But when the Moabites [descendants of Lot] came to the camp [army, encampment] of Israel [God’s chosen people], the Israelites rose up [stood firm, took a stand] and attacked [struck, smote] them, and they fled [ran away, escaped] before them. So the Israelites invaded [conquered, overran] their land and struck down [defeated, overthrew] the Moabites [enemies of God’s people]. word study 25 They destroyed [overthrew, broke down] the cities, and each man threw stones [rocks, pebbles] on every good [pleasant, fertile] field until it was covered [filled, filled up]. They stopped up [blocked, closed] every spring [fountain, source of water] and cut down [felled, chopped down] every good [beneficial, useful] tree. Only Kir-haraseth [the capital city, wall of potsherds] was left with stones [rocks] in place, but men with slings [skilled slingers, stone-throwers] surrounded it and attacked [struck, smote] it as well. word study 26 When the king [ruler, monarch] of Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] saw that the battle [war, conflict] was too fierce [severe, intense] for him, he took with him seven hundred [a large number, numerous] swordsmen [men who drew swords, warriors] to break through [to cleave, to force a way] to the king [ruler, monarch] of Edom [the region of Jacob’s twin brother], but they could not [were unable, lacked the power] prevail [to overcome, to succeed]. word study 27 So he took his firstborn [eldest, most prominent] son, who was to succeed [reign, rule] him, and offered him as a burnt offering [a sacrifice, a consecrated gift] on the city wall. And there was great [intense, fervent] fury [wrath, indignation] against the Israelites [God’s chosen people], so they withdrew [departed, turned back] and returned to their own land [country, territory]. word study