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2 Kings 3 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge vs Calvin John vs Coke Thomas

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2 Kings 3

2 Kings 3:1

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

Jehoram

2 Kings 1:17 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken…

2 Kings 8:16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat …

Joram

1 Kings 22:51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the …

2 Kings 3:2

And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.

wrought

2 Kings 6:31,32 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha …

2 Kings 21:6,20 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and …

1 Samuel 15:19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but did fly on the …

1 Kings 16:19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, …

but not

1 Kings 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God …

1 Kings 21:20,25 And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, …

and like

2 Kings 9:22,34 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, …

1 Kings 21:5-15,25 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, Why is your spirit …

image [heb] statue
Baal

2 Kings 10:18,26-28 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, Ahab …

1 Kings 16:31,32 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk …

2 Kings 3:3

Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

he cleaved

2 Kings 10:20-31 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it…

1 Kings 12:28-33 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and …

which made

1 Kings 14:16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who …

1 Kings 15:26,34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of …

1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk …

he departed

2 Kings 13:2,6,11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed …

2 Kings 14:24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed …

2 Kings 15:9,18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers …

2 Kings 17:22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which …

1 Kings 12:26-28 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the …

1 Kings 13:33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made …

1 Corinthians 1:19,20 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will …

2 Kings 3:4

And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.

a sheepmaster

Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 26:13,14 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became …

2 Chronicles 26:10 Also he built towers in the desert, and dig many wells: for he had …

Job 1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, …

Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: …

rendered

2 Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down …

1 Chronicles 18:2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

Psalm 60:8 Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, …

Psalm 108:9,10 Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia …

lambs

Isaiah 16:1 Send you the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, …

2 Kings 3:5

But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

2 Kings 1:1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 Kings 8:20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made …

2 Chronicles 21:8-10 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, …

2 Kings 3:6

And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.

A.M.

1 Samuel 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three …

1 Samuel 15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, …

2 Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he …

1 Kings 20:27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and …

2 Kings 3:7

And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.

wilt thou go

1 Kings 22:4,32,33 And he said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? …

2 Chronicles 18:3,29-32 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you …

2 Chronicles 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said …

2 Chronicles 21:4-7 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened …

2 Chronicles 22:3,4,10-12 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was …

2 Kings 3:8

And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.

the wilderness of Edom. The wilderness of Edom was probably the same as that of {Zin} or {Kadesh}, through which the children of Israel passed; extending southward from the Dead Sea, to the eastern branch of the Red Sea. See note on

Numbers 13:21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin …

Numbers 13:21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin …

Numbers 21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass …

Malachi 1:2,3 I have loved you, said the LORD. Yet you say, Wherein have you loved …

2 Kings 3:9

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.

Edom

1 Kings 22:27 And say, Thus said the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed …

no water

Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into …

Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from …

Numbers 20:2,4 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves …

Numbers 21:5 And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you …

Numbers 33:14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was …

that followed them [heb] at their feet

Exodus 11:8 And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves …

Judges 4:10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with …

2 Kings 3:10

And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

the Lord

2 Kings 6:33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down …

Genesis 4:13 And Cain said to the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Psalm 78:34-36 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired …

Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets against the LORD.

Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it …

Isaiah 51:20 Your sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, …

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? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

Is there not here

1 Kings 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, …

Psalm 74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there …

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to …

that we may

2 Kings 3:1,3 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria …

Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the …

Judges 20:8-11 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us …

Judges 18:23,26-28 And they cried to the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, …

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the …

1 Chronicles 14:10,14 And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? …

1 Chronicles 15:13 For because you did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a …

poured water That is, was his constant and confidential servant. Mr. Hanway, speaking of a Persian supper, says, `Supper being now brought in, a servant presented a basin of water, and a napkin hung over his shoulders; he went to every one in the company, and {poured water} on their hands to wash.'

Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and …

Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, …

1 Kings 19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew …

Luke 22:26,27 But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him …

John 13:4,5,13,14 He rises from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, …

1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, …

Philippians 2:22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he …

2 Kings 3:12

And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

The word

2 Kings 2:14,15,21,24 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the …

1 Samuel 3:19-21 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his …

Israel

2 Kings 2:25 And he went from there to mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 5:8,9,15 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king …

Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing …

Isaiah 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted you shall come bending to you…

Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they …

2 Kings 3:13

And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

What

Ezekiel 14:3-5 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and …

Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, …

John 2:4 Jesus said to her, Woman, what have I to do with you? my hour is not yet come.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Why from now on know we no man after the flesh: yes, though we have …

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that …

get

Judges 10:14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you …

Ruth 1:15 And she said, Behold, your sister in law is gone back to her people, …

Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call on me, but I will not answer; they shall seek …

Jeremiah 2:27,28 Saying to a stock, You are my father; and to a stone, You have brought …

the prophets

1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, …

1 Kings 22:6,10,11,22-25 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four …

Nay

2 Kings 3:10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD has called these …

Deuteronomy 32:37-39 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted…

Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he has torn, and he will …

2 Kings 3:14

And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

As the Lord

2 Kings 5:16 But he said, As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive …

1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said …

1 Kings 18:15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, …

I regard

2 Chronicles 17:3-9 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first …

2 Chronicles 19:3,4 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have …

Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that …

I would not look

1 Samuel 15:26-31 And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you: for you have …

1 Kings 14:5 And the LORD said to Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to …

1 Kings 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, …

Jeremiah 1:18 For, behold, I have made you this day a defended city, and an iron …

Daniel 5:17-23 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be …

Matthew 22:16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, …

2 Kings 3:15

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

bring me This was evidently intended to soothe and tranquillize the prophet's mind, which had been agitated and discomposed with holy indignation by the presence of the idolatrous king, and the recollection of his abomination. The soothing influence of music is generally acknowledged in every civilized nation.

1 Samuel 10:5 After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison …

1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was on Saul, that …

1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God …

1 Chronicles 25:2,3 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, …

Ephesians 5:18,19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…

the hand

1 Kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, …

Ezekiel 1:3 The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son …

Ezekiel 3:14,22 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, …

Ezekiel 8:1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the …

Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, …

2 Kings 3:16

And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

Make this valley

2 Kings 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, …

Numbers 2:18,16-18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according …

2 Kings 3:17

For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

Ye shall not

1 Kings 18:36-39 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, …

Psalm 84:6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also …

Psalm 107:35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into springs.

Isaiah 41:17,18 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their …

Isaiah 43:19,20 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you …

Isaiah 48:21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused …

that ye may

Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you …

Numbers 20:8-11 Take the rod, and gather you the assembly together, you, and Aaron …

2 Kings 3:18

And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

And this

1 Kings 3:13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, …

Jeremiah 32:17,27 Ah Lord GOD! behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your …

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that …

a light

2 Kings 20:10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down …

1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk …

Isaiah 7:13 And he said, Hear you now, O house of David; Is it a small thing …

Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to …

Ezekiel 8:17 Then he said to me, Have you seen this, O son of man?…

he will

1 Kings 20:13,28 And, behold, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, …

Isaiah 7:1-9 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son …

2 Kings 3:19

And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

And ye

2 Kings 13:17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha …

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there …

Judges 6:16 And the LORD said to him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall …

1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, …

1 Samuel 23:2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite …

fell

Deuteronomy 20:19,20 When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against …

mar [heb] grieve

2 Kings 3:25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast …

2 Kings 3:20

And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

when the meat

Exodus 29:39,40 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you …

1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, …

Daniel 9:21 Yes, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom …

there came water This supply was altogether miraculous; for there was neither wind nor rain, nor any other natural means to furnish it.

filled

Psalm 78:15,16,20 He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out …

Isaiah 35:6,7 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb …

2 Kings 3:21

And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

gathered [heb] were cried together
put on armour [heb] gird himself with a girdle

1 Kings 20:11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that …

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having …

2 Kings 3:22

And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:

This is blood

2 Kings 6:18-20 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, …

2 Kings 7:6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of …

slain [heb] destroyed
now therefore

Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the …

Judges 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man …

2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them…

Isaiah 10:14 And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as …

2 Kings 3:23

And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

This is blood

2 Kings 6:18-20 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, …

2 Kings 7:6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of …

slain [heb] destroyed
now therefore

Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the …

Judges 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man …

2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them…

Isaiah 10:14 And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as …

2 Kings 3:24

And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

smote the

Joshua 8:20-22 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, …

Judges 20:40-46 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar …

1 Thessalonians 5:3,4 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction …

went forward. or, smote in it even

2 Kings 3:25

And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

beat down

2 Kings 3:19 And you shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and …

Judges 9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the …

2 Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down …

Isaiah 37:26,27 Have you not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, …

stopped

Genesis 26:15,18 For all the wells which his father's servants had dig in the days …

2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, …

and felled

Deuteronomy 20:19,20 When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against …

only in, etc. [heb] until he left the stones thereof in Kir-haraseth.

Kir-haraseth Supposed to be the same as {Ar}, or Areopolis, the capital of Moab

Deuteronomy 2:9 And the LORD said to me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend …

Isaiah 16:7,11 Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the …

Jeremiah 48:31,36 Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; …

Kir-heres

2 Kings 3:26

And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.

unto the king of Edom

2 Kings 3:9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of …

Amos 2:1 Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, …

2 Kings 3:27

Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

offered him In cases of great extremity, it was customary in various heathen nations, to offer {human} sacrifices, and even their own {children.} This was frequent among the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Scythians, Gauls, Africans, and others; and was the natural fruit of a religious system which had for the objects of its worship cruel and merciless divinities. The king of Moab, in this case, sacrificed his son to obtain the favour of Chemosh {his god}, who, being a devil, delighted in blood and murder, and the destruction of mankind. The dearer any thing was to them, the more acceptable those idolaters thought the sacrifice, and therefore burnt their children in the fire to their honour.

Genesis 22:2,13 And he said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, …

Deuteronomy 12:31 You shall not do so to the LORD your God: for every abomination to …

Judges 11:31,39 Then it shall be, that whatever comes forth of the doors of my house …

Psalm 106:36,38 And they served their idols: which were a snare to them…

Ezekiel 16:20 Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have …

Micah 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands …

they departed

1 Samuel 14:36-46 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and …

1 Kings 20:13,28,43 And, behold, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, …


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2 Kings 3


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2 Kings 3

2Ki 3:2. He put away the image of Baal, &c.- It is a little strange, that his mother Jezebel, who brought this worship with her from the Sidonians, should suffer him to remove the image of her favourite god. See 1Ki 16:31. But perhaps she might be a little daunted by the many disasters which had befallen her family, and was content with the privilege of having her idolatrous worship in private; nor is it unlikely, that Jehoshaphat might refuse to assist him in his wars against the king of Moab, unless he would consent to renounce his idolatry. See what we have said on 1Ki 12:28 respecting the sins of Jeroboam, 2Ki 3:3.

2Ki 3:4. An hundred thousand lambs, &c.- Though this is a very large number, we are to consider that these countries abounded with sheep, insomuch that Solomon offered a hundred and twenty thousand at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:5 and the Reubenites drove from the Hagarites two hundred and fifty thousand, 1Ch 5:21 for, as Bochart observes, their sheep frequently brought forth two at a time, and sometimes twice a year; and he remarks further, that in ancient times, when the people's riches consisted in cattle, this was the only way of paying tribute. See Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 18: cap. 3. Hence Ludolph is of opinion, that this great number of cattle was not a tribute which the Moabites were obliged to pay to the Israelites every year, but upon some special occasion only; as for instance, upon the accession of a new king, or the like. See Lud. Ethiopic. Hist. lib. 2: cap. 3 and Scheuchzer on the place.

2Ki 3:11. Which poured water on the hands of Elijah- This is a fine eastern expression, signifying to serve or minister to. Houbigant renders it, who gave water to the hands of Elijah.

2Ki 3:15. Bring me a minstrel- See on 1Sa 10:5; 1Sa 16:14 and Joh. Mulleri, Eliseus, ad Musices sonum Propheta.

2Ki 3:17. Ye shall not see wind, &c.- See the note on 1Ki 18:45. It is very common in the eastern countries, and particularly in the deserts of Arabia, to be in want of water, which is so scarce there, that travellers, and the beasts they carry with them, often perish with thirst. Their last resource for preserving their lives is, to cut open their camels, and get from their stomachs what water they contain. We cannot say whether these kings, from a want of precaution, had neglected to provide sufficiently for themselves and their army, or whether they remained upon the road longer than they had foreseen. From the text it is plain, that they wanted water, and that the army found itself so urged by thirst that both men and beasts were in danger of their lives. In this calamity the kings had recourse to Elisha; as in cases of emergency, we see men have recourse to the prayers of wise and pious persons, to whom they paid little regard at another time, but who, in the days of calamity, are resorted to by whole cities and nations. The prophet arrives; he reproves Jehoram for his impiety, and then foretels things superior to reason and the powers of nature, insomuch that the impious acknowledged and adored the assisting hand of the Almighty. He commands what is to be done, in order that so miraculous a succour may be of use to those who were thus pressed by necessity, and that it might not slip them too speedily. Thus saith the Lord, make this valley full of ditches, &c. These circumstances deserve attention, and furnish certain proofs of the miracle: after a long drought it commonly happens, especially in hot climates, that the rains are accompanied or preceded by winds, which collect together clouds, and break against each other the little bubbles of water which float in the air. See 1Ki 18:41. Without rain, rivers never overflow. But here, without rain, without wind, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. It issued somewhere, by the order of God, from the bowels of the earth, and flowed into the camp of the allied princes. Who but God could, at a given period, have produced so marvellous an effect?

2Ki 3:19. And mar every good piece of land with stones- Commentators seem to have been at no pains to account for this part of the punishment of the king of Moab's rebellion; though it does not appear very easy to conceive how the thing was to be done to any purpose; and, indeed, without giving as much trouble, or more, to Israel to gather these stones, and carry them on the lands of the Moabites, as to the latter to gather them up again, and carry them off. I would therefore propose it to the learned to consider, whether we may not understand the passage of Israel's doing that nationally, and as victors, which was done by private persons very frequently in these countries in ancient times, by way of revenge, and which is mentioned in some of the old Roman laws. Egmont and Hayman, who speak of the contentions and vindictive temper of the Arabs, tell us, they were ignorant however, "whether that people still retained the method of revenge formerly common among them, and which is called σκοπελισμος, mentioned in lib. ff. Digest. de extraord. Criminib. which contains the following account: 'In the province of Arabia there is a crime called σκοπελισμος, or fixing of stones; it being a frequent practice among them, to place stones in the grounds of those with whom they were at a variance, as a warning, that any person who dared to till that field should infallibly be slain by the contrivance of those who placed the stones there.' This malicious practice," they add, "is thought to have had its origin in Arabia Petraea." See their Travels through part of Europe, &c. vol. 2: p. 156. If the Israelites as victors, who could prescribe what laws they thought proper to the conquered, placed such stones in the best grounds of the Moabites, as interdicting them from tillage, on pain of their owners being destroyed, they without much trouble effectually marred such fields, as long as their power over Moab lasted, which had before this continued some time, and by the suppression of this rebellion might be supposed to continue long. As it was an ancient practice in these countries, might it not be supposed to be as ancient as the times of Elisha, and that he referred to it? Observations, p. 443.

REFLECTIONS.-War being resolved, Jehoram musters his forces, and, to strengthen himself the more,

1. Solicits and obtains the assistance of Jehoshaphat. At a council held, Jehoshaphat advises to fall upon the Moabites, not by the nearest way over Jordan, but through the wilderness of Edom, in order to surprise them.

2. The advice was followed, but it had nearly proved fatal to their army; and no wonder, when they had not consulted God about their way. The want of water parched them with thirst; and Jehoram, with murmurs against Providence, is ready to despair through fear of being attacked by the king of Moab in this dispirited and weakened situation. Note; (1.) If we keep company with sinners, we shall be in danger of smarting under their rod. (2.) They who will not consult God to direct their way, will yet quarrel at his providence, when involved in difficulties, into which their own imprudence has brought them.

3. Jehoshaphat now reflects on his error, and, to amend it before it be too late, inquires after a prophet. In a camp he was little to be expected; but so God ordered it, who foresaw these difficulties, that Elisha should attend the army; and though the kings knew not of him, a godly Israelite of their servants had been favoured with his company, and could give them information concerning him. Hereupon, the kings immediately wait on him in his tent, to state their deplorable case, and to beg his prayers and direction. Note; (1.) Afflictions drive those to God, who in their prosperity neglected him. (2.) God's mercy towards us is not only beyond our desert, but often foreruns our desires.

4. Elisha, with just indignation at Jehoram's idolatry, sends him to his father's prophets for direction: but these Jehoram knew were unable to help; therefore he humbles himself, and begs him, for the sake at least of the kings his confederates, to intercede for them. Hereunto Elisha consents; yet, testifying his high displeasure against him, and declaring, that but for Jehoshaphat's sake he would not deign to look upon or answer him. A minstrel is called for to soothe his ruffled spirit, provoked with Jehoram's presence, and to prepare his mind for prophetic inspiration; and when with sounds of heavenly melody the sweet musician sung, straight his enraptured spirit felt the present Deity. He bids them dig trenches, and without wind or rain God should fill them with water, and their lives be not only thus preserved, but victory succeed, and Moab be made desolate by them. Note; (1.) The greatest are not too high for rebuke. (2.) The wicked fare the better for their connections with God's people. (3.) God will not leave his people in distress, when they cry to him, though their own follies have brought them into it. (4.) When God gives, he gives like himself, more than we dare ask or think.

2Ki 3:27. Took his eldest son-and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall.- Not only the holy Scriptures, but several heathen writers, assure us, that in cases of great extremity it was customary among various people to sacrifice to their gods whatever was most dear to them. Caesar in his war with the Gauls tells us, that when they were afflicted with grievous diseases, or in time of war or great danger, they either offered men for sacrifices, or vowed that they would offer them; because they imagined that their gods could never be appeased unless one man's life was given for another's. In conformity with this horrid custom, and to appease no doubt, as he thought, the anger of his idol Chemosh, the king of Moab made this costly sacrifice of his eldest son; a deed which, it is plain from the text, was held in the greatest abhorrence by the Israelites.

REFLECTIONS.-The event answers the prediction.

1. The water came in a torrent by the way of Edom, at the time of the morning sacrifice. Probably then Elisha prayed openly, with his face towards the temple, that they might be assured whence this relief was sent. Note; (1.) Every mercy that we receive is owing to the efficacy of the blood of the Lamb which was slain. (2.) Every prayer must proceed on that foundation.

2. The Moabites, beholding the water as the morning-sun arose, and persuaded that there could be no water there, presently conclude that the confederates had quarrelled, and this was the blood of the slain: therefore they march as to certain victory, every man who was able to bear arms having been summoned to oppose the invasion. But how terrible their disappointment, when, tumultuously rushing on the spoil, the confederate army fell upon them with dreadful slaughter, routed them, wasted their country, ruined their cities, and left only the metropolis standing, which was soon besieged, and the breaches ready to be stormed. Note; (1.) Whom God will destroy, he often previously infatuates. (2.) Rebellion must not hope to prosper.

3. In this extremity, the king of Moab attempts, with a select band, to break through the quarters of Edom where he expected least resistance, but is repulsed. When rendered desperate by his danger, he seeks by the inhuman and most precious sacrifice of his eldest son, as his last effort, to appease his idol god Chemosh; or, by such a shocking scene on the walls, he thought to move the compassion of the besiegers; or, perhaps, to intimate his determined resolution to die with all his family, rather than yield. The seeing their king reduced to such distress, roused the indignation of the remainder of the Moabites; and when the Israelites saw them thus made resolute by despair, they raised the siege and retired. Note; (1.) Despair sometimes does more than the most determined courage. (2.) Let us bless God for deliverance from idolatry. Our God delights not in the blood of the slain, but the living sacrifices of the heart devoted to his will.


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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission
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