2 Kings 3

Chap. III. Ver. 1—27. The reign of Jehoram, and his attack on Moab.—The first verse of this book briefly informs us, that Moab rebelled against Israel, and this chapter explains the cause. The king was, it seems, like Abraham, of ancient times, a great sheep-master, and being tributary to Israel, had, at different periods probably, rendered to Israel the quantity of lambs and rams here mentioned. At Ahab’s death, however, thinking himself sufficiently strong to resist, he declined paying them any farther tribute. Upon this, Jehoram sent to Jehoshaphat, (who was much too fond of war,) to ask him to join with him. The king of Judah replied in the same terms as he had done to his father Ahab, that Israel and Judah being all one nation, he was willing to make a common cause with him.

Jehoram farther proposed, in order to insure the aid of the king of Edom, that they should go through his country, and take him with them. When they got, however, into the wilderness of Edom, they were nigh to perish with drought, having no water either for themselves or cattle. In this extremity, Jehoshaphat inquires, (as he ought to have done sooner,) if there were no prophet of Jehovah in that neighbourhood, and is directed to Elisha, lately the servant of Elijah, and whom he recognises as his successor in the prophetic office. The three kings therefore go down to him; but the prophet no sooner sees the king of Israel, than he exclaims, ‘What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father and mother?’ Not that Jehoram was the gross idolater that they were, who worshipped Baal and Ashtaroth; but he served the golden calves of Jeroboam.

The king of Israel reproaches the Lord with having “called these three kings together, to give them into the hands of the king of Moab.” Elisha’s temper is now greatly ruffled, and he declares, that if it were not for the presence of Jehoshaphat, who was a worshipper of Jehovah, he would not even look at them. He calls, however, for a skilful minstrel, one of the sons of the prophets no doubt, and his temper becoming calmed, the prophetic spirit comes on him, and he predicts, not only a supply of water, but a decisive victory over Moab, which immediately followed. According to the barbarous custom of those times, the land was terribly destroyed; but the circumstance which excites the most horror, is the human sacrifice mentioned in the last verse.

The king of Moab, it seems, finding the war so severe against him, offered his own son and heir as a burnt-offering upon the wall, in sight of all the armies; in hope, not only to appease the titular deity of the place, but also to show his desperation, and determination not to submit. The shocking scene had its effect: “There was great indignation against Israel.” The Moabites were desperately exasperated; the people of Judah were disgusted and shocked, as were probably the Israelites; and above all, the Lord himself was wroth both with Moab and with Israel. The siege of Kir-haraseth was therefore immediately given up, and the invading armies returned to their respective countries.