2 Kings 3

3:2 Ahab apparently erected the sacred pillar (or stela) of Baal when instituting Baal worship (see 1 Kgs 16:32-33). Similar stones were also erected to pagan deities in Judah (1 Kgs 14:23); such pillars were later purged by Jehu (2 Kgs 10:26-27) and Josiah (23:13-15).

3:4-27 The joint war of Israel and Judah against Moab was the setting for one of Elisha’s miracles.3:4-5 The Moabite rebellion (see 1:1) began with the withholding of the annual tribute. The Moabite Stone (Mesha Stela) records details of Israel’s domination of northern Moab in the days of Omri and Ahab, a subservience that continued into the reigns of Ahaziah and Joram.

3:6-7 Jehoshaphat’s ready compliance with Joram’s appeal was typical of his participation in the undertakings of the northern kings (1 Kgs 22:4; 2 Chr 20:35-37). The marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah (2 Chr 18:1; 21:6) heightened Jehoshaphat’s entanglement with Israel.

3:8-9 The king of Edom . . . joined them: Edom was apparently a vassal kingdom to Judah at this time. Later, in the days of Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, Edom successfully rebelled against Judah (8:20-22). The southern route through Edom avoided strong Moabite fortifications, but it was dangerous because water was scarce.

3:11-12 Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? Diviners or prophets often traveled with armies to perceive the divine will. Jehoshaphat again desired an oracle from a true prophet to learn the Lord’s intentions for the battle (cp. 1 Kgs 22:7). However, this time he waited until the campaign had begun before inquiring of the Lord.

3:13-14 Elisha participated because of Jehoshaphat’s presence, despite his entanglement with the pagan Joram.

3:15 bring me someone who can play the harp: Music stimulated the prophetic spirit (cp. Ps 49:4).

3:18-20 The supply of water—a simple thing for the Lord—was a harbinger of God’s enabling the allies to defeat the army of Moab.

3:24-25 The army of Israel . . . destroyed the towns. Elisha’s prophecy was fulfilled, although Kir-hareseth escaped total destruction.

3:26 The reason for the Moabite king’s attempt to break through the enemy lines might have been to avenge himself against the Edomite king or to escape through a perceived weakness in the allied lines.

3:27 So there was great anger against Israel: The Hebrew phrase translated great anger occurs elsewhere to describe the Lord’s fury against Israel for covenant violations (Jer 21:5; 32:37; Zech 7:12).