2 Kings 3

2 the image. Or obelisk (R.V., “pillar”).

4 sheep-master. There is an extensive grazing district in the highlands of Moab. Mesha is mentioned on the “Moabite Stone” (about 850 B.C.) discovered in 1868; where his conflicts with Israel are described from the days of Omri, forty years.

rendered unto the king of Israel, etc. Most likely the tribute consisted of the wool of 100,000 lambs (see Isa. xvi. 1) and of 100,000 rams: see R.V. In Eastern countries it is still customary for tribute to be paid in kind: ep. Isa. xvi. 1.

8 through the wilderness of Edom. If they had attacked Moab from the north, they would have been exposed to the Syrians in the rear and the Ammonites on the flank. By advancing from the south, through the desert that lay between Mount Seir and the Dead Sea, they would avoid these dangers, and make a junction with the king of Edom.

11 which poured water, etc. That is, who waited on Elijah.

13. Nay. The meaning is, “Speak not so, for the Lord has led not me only, but these other two kings also into this danger, from which He alone can deliver us.”

15 bring me a minstrel. The use of music is mentioned on other occasions in connexion with Divine impulse: see 1 Sam. x. 5, 6, 10, 11.

16. Make this valley full of ditches. While the kings could do nothing to procure the supply of water, they were directed to make trenches for its reception. It was a test of faith. And so God still chooses the most unlikely places and the most unlikely persons for the operations of His grace.

19 fell every good tree. According to the law laid down in Deut. xx. 19, fruit-trees were usually spared; but in the present case no exception of this kind was to be made.

20 when the meat offering, etc. R.V., “about the time of offering the oblation”; i.e., at the hour when the morning offering was presented in the Temple.

25. Kir-haraseth. The same as “Kir of Moab” (Isa. xv. 1), “Kir-haresh” (Isa. xvi. 11), and “Kir-heres” (Jer. xlviii. 31); since called Kerak, a strong mountain fortress celebrated in the wars of the Crusaders.

26 he took with him, etc. The king of Moab had probably at this time retreated, and shut himself up in his capital, whence he made this unsuccessful sally.

27 indignation against Israel. It is not easy to explain this. The phrase is used elsewhere of God’s anger against a people. In this place, however, it seems to signify anger on the part of the armies of Judah and Edom that the expedition into which Israel had drawn them had led to so horrible a deed. Josephus says that these allies of Israel, shocked with the spectacle, and moved with pity, raised the siege immediately, and retired from the country (Antiq. ix. 3).

neither new moon, nor sabbath. This indicates that it had become a custom to resort to the prophets on Sabbaths and other particular days for instruction, or to join in religious worship.