2 Kings 3
DortJoram reigneth, and followeth the sin of Jerobeam, vers.1 &c. goeth to battle against the Moabites, with Josaphat, and with the King of Edom, 4. they living in want of water, God is enquired by the Prophet Elisa, 10. God promiseth water and victory over the Enemies, 16. and performeth his promise, 20.
1. Now Joram the son of Achab became King over Israel at Samaria, in the eighteenth year of Josaphat the of Juda, [Which was the twelfth year of Ahazia’s reign. Compare herewith above chap.1.17. and the annotat.] and he reigned twelve years.
2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not like his father, and like his mother: For he put away the reared image of Baal, which his Father had made. [Understand the reared image of the idol of the Zidonians, reared up at Samaria by Achab. See 1 Kings 16:32.]
3. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jerobeam the son of Nebat, [For he served the golden calves, which Jerobeam had caused to be made, 1 Kings 12:28, 29, etc.] that made Israel to sin, he departed not from the same.
4. Now Mesa the King of the Moabites was a dealer in cattle, and delivered up to the King of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams with the wool. [That is, he had great trading and riches in cattle, of which he was to pay tribute from that time that David had brought him under his subjection, 2 Sa.8.12. Now after the separation of the ten tribes from the house of Juda, the Kings of Israel took this jurisdiction over the Moabites to themselves, as the Kings of Juda on the contrary kept to themselves the command over the Edomites, who revolted under Joram the son of Josaphat, below chap.8.20. as the Moabites revolted from Israel under Joram the so of Achab, in the following verse, and above chap.1.1.]
5. But it came to pass, when Achab was dead, that the King of the Moabites revolted from the King of Israel. [Heb. transgressed against the King Israel: so in the sequel. This revolt was made in the reign of his brother Ahaza; after the death of his Fathers Achab, above chap.1.1.]
6. So King Joram went out of Samaria the same time, and mustered all Israel.
7. And he went, and sent Josaphat the King of Juda, saying; The King of the Moabites is revolted from me, [That am the lawful successor in my fathers Kingdom, and therefore must take such revolt to heart, although it hath been committed herefore. See above chap.1.1.] wilt thou go to war with me against the Moabites? and he said, I will come up, I will be so, as thou art, my people so as thy people, my horses so as thy horses. [compare 1 Kings 22:4. and see the annotat.]
8. And he said; which way shall we go up? [He; namely, Josaphat, asked this, because he would take the King of Edom along with him. It may be also meant of Joram, as willing to advise with Josaphat] then he said; by the way of the wilderness of Edom. [viz. to surprise on the Moabites behind.]
9. So the King of Israel went, and the King of Juda, and the King of Edom: [Who was still as this time the deputy of the King of Juda, 1 Kings 22:48. Compare herewith the annotat. above on vers.4. He is called a King in this place, because he kept the room of a King, as this word is also used elsewhere for a governor, or ruler. See Judg.17.on v.6.] and when they had fetch a compass of seven days journey, the camp and the cattle that followed them, [Hebr. that was in, or at their feet See Judg.4.on v.10.] had no water.
10. Then said the King of Israel; Ah! that the LORD hath called these three Kings (together) to deliver them into hands of the Moabites.
11. And Josaphat said; is (there) not here a Prophet of the LORD, that we might enquire of the LORD by him? [see 1 Kings 22:4.] then answered one of the servants of the Kings of Israel, and said; here is Elisa the son of Sephat, who poured water on Elia’s hands. [i.e. who ministered unto Elia: for this is one of the services, which the servants and ministers were wont to perform to their Lords and master.]
12. And Josaphat said; the word of the LORD is with him: [Intimating that he was a Prophet of the true God, and consequently was able to give them good counsel from God] so the King of Israel and Josaphat, and the King of Edom went down to him. [viz. to Elisa, who is conceived to have followed the camp by Gods instinct, and to have been not far off without the camp at that time.]
13. But Elisa said unto the King of Israel; what have I to do with thee: [Heb. what me, and thee? So 2 Sa.16.10. Mark 1:24. Luke 4:34. John 2:4.] go thy ways to the Prophets of thy Father, and to the Prophets of Baal, of the idolatrous groves, and of the calves of Jerobeam. Of such, see 1 Kings 18:19.] but the King of Israel said unto him; Nay. [i.e. meddle not with those things, or speak not of them] for the LORD hath called hands of the Moabites. [he implyeth that the reason for which they desired his advice, was of great moment, in regard that by the present distress, not only his life, but likewise that of the two other Kings were in great danger.]
14. And Elisa said; (as true as) the LORD of hosts liveth, before whose face I stand, [i.e. whom I serve. See Deut.10.on v.8.] if I did not accept the face of Josaphat the King of Juda, [i.e. if I did not with affection, regard his person for his piety and virtue sake] I would not look toward thee, nor regard thee. [Heb. if I would look toward thee, or if I would see thee.]
15. Now then bring me [Heb. take me. See above chap.2.20.] a minstrel: [the Hebrew word signifieth properly one that playeth upon musical instruments, as Harps, Citren, Lute.etc. Such kind of player the Prophets seemeth to have called for, partly to quiet his heart about the discontentedness which he bare toward the King Joram, partly to stir up unto God by songs of praise and players, which were played, and so to sit himself for the receiving of that, which God should reveal unto him, in a well prepared heart. Compare 1 Sam.10.5.] and it came to pass when the player played on the stringed instrument, that the hand of the LORD came [Heb. was, or waxed] upon him. [by the hand of the Lord, is here to be meant the power of prophesying, to give counsel and advice to these Kings, and to foretell what should come to pass. Such abilities the Prophets had not at all times, but when it pleased God to give the same unto them. See below chap.4.27. and Ezek.1.on v.3. Although they were to sit and prepared themselves by fasting, singing, praying, and reading the Holy Scripture, for the receiving of them, Dan.2.17,18.]
16. And he said; Thus saith the LORD; Make many ditches [Heb. Ditches, ditches; that is, many ditches here and there. See of this doubling of a word, Gen.14.on v.10.] in this valley.
17. For thus saith the LORD: Ye shall see no wind, neither shall ye see any rain, yet this valley shall be filled with water, so that ye shall drink, ye, and your cattle and your beasts. [see Gen.36.on v.6.]
18. Moreover, that is slight, [Heb. Light] in the eyes of the LORD: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. [i.e. Besides the mercy which ye have asked, to wit, abundance of water, the Lord will give you yet the thing which ye have not asked, to wit, Victory over your enemies.]
19. And ye shall smite all fenced Cities, and all choice Cities, and shall fell all good trees, [This is a particular and special command, excepted from the general and common rule, Deut.20.19. Or, this rule is to be understood onely of the long-continuing siege of a particular City, and not of the speedy desolation of a Country] and shall stop all Fountains of water, and ye shall mar [Heb. cause to grieve, or, lament] all good pieces of land with stones. [i.e. make them barren and unuseful, by casting stones upon them; so that it shall be therewith by means of this devastation, or laying waste, as it is with a man, that being endammage and forsake by all, mourneth and lamenteth. That which is related in this verse, is not onely a bare command of what they were to do, but also a promise of what they should do with it for their own benefit and advantage, and annoying of the enemy.]
20. And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat-offering was offered, [See 1 Kings 18.on ver.29.] that behold there came water by the way of Edom; and the land was filled with water.
21. Now when all the Moabites heard, that the Kings were marched up to fight against them, then they were called together, from all those that girt on the girdle, [To wit, warlike girdle with the weapons or arms belonging to it, and that for their first time; that is, who were now first found fit to bear arms, and to go to wars] and upward, and stood at the border. [Meaning of their Land, to wit, to keep their enemies out.]
22. And when they gat them up early in the morning, and the Sun rose upon that water; the Moabites saw that water on the other side red as blood. [This redness was caused by the Sun-beams, which now first began to appear on the earth.]
23. And they said; This is blood: the Kings have surely spoiled themselves [Heb. Spoiling spoiled themselves; that is, surely, or utterly marred, undone, or, destroyed. The Hebrew word signifieth properly to lay waste, from whence the word sowed, with the Hebrews, hath its denomination, because it causeth desolation, or wasting. The meaning then is, that they have destroyed themselves by mutual murdering and killing of one another, as in the following words is declared, and so have made the camp desolate, and laid it waste] with the sword, and have smitten one another: Now then to the prey, ye Moabites:
24. But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites gat them up, and smote the Moabites, and they fled from their face: yea they [To wit, the Israelites] came (into the land), smitting also the Moabites. [Heb. into their, &c. understanding the land of the Moabites, out of which these intended to turn out the Israelites above ver.21. Otherwise, these words may be thus translated: and they smote them in their (land) smitten also (the land) of the Moabites. The meaning is one and the same. The Israelites following their victory, chased the Moabites in their own Country, and smote them also there, and quelled them.]
25. Now they brake down the cities, and every man did cast his stone upon all good pieces of land, and filled them up, and stopped all fountains of water, and felled all good trees, until they onely left in Kir-Hareseth [One of the chiefest, and strong cities of the Moabites, having a wall of stone, whereof it seemeth to have gotten its name so of this city likewise, Jer.16.7.] the stone thereof: [understand the stone-wall of the fore-named City which the Israelites left undermolished, after they had broker down all their cities, over-run and laid waste all the Champion Country] and the slingers compassed it about, and smote it. [i.e. they acted such violence with their slingers, and other instruments of war, that the Citizens were not able to defend their City walls, and many of them were slain]
26. But when the King of the Moabites saw, that the battle was too strong for him, he took unto him seven hundred men that drew the sword, [See the signification of this phrase, Judg.8. on ver.10.] to break thorough against the King of Edom, [or, unto, or, thorough the Kings Camp] but they could not.
27. Then he [To wit, the King of Moab] took his firstborn son, that should be King in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall: [This King of the Moabites, to obtain the aid and assistance of his Idol Chamos in this distress of his, offered up his eldest son for a burnt-offering upon the wall of the City; in the view of the besiegers: for by such kind of sacrifice Idolters thought they performed the greatest service and honour that could be, unto their Idols; vainly persuading themselves that they were herein followers of Abraham. Others conceive that he did not offer up his own son, but the King of Edoms son, whom (as they say) he took prisoner in the sally, when he assayed with seven hundred men to break thorough the King Edoms camp, in the former verse. For proof of this opinion is alleged Amos.2.1. See examples of those that have offered up their children unto Idols, Psal.106.37. Ezek.20 31. which God had forbidden upon pain of death, Lev.20.2.] thence (there) was very great wrath in Israel: To wit, because by this hard siege, and implacable ware they had brought the King of the Moabites to this desperate and cruel act. Oth. against Israel, understanding by this wrath or indignation to be meant especially the wrath or indignation of the King of Edom, and his Camp, because of the abominable murder of his son] therefore they departed from him, and returned to (their own) land.