2 Kings 3 Geneva Study Bible

◄ 2 Kings 3 ►

Geneva Study Bible

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.

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

(a) Read the annotation in 2Ki 1:17.

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.

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.

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

(b) He sacrificed to the golden calves that Jeroboam had made.

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.

And {c} 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.

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 3:6

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

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.

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: {d} I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.

(d) Read 1Ki 22:4.

2 Kings 3:8

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

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.

So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the {e} 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.

(e) Meaning the viceroy, or lieutenant of the king of Judah, 1Ki 22:47.

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!

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.

But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire 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 {f} poured water on the hands of Elijah.

(f) That is, who was his servant.

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.

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

(g) He is able to instruct us what God's will is in this point.

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.

And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, {h} 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, {i} Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

(h) He knew that this wicked king would have but used his counsel to serve his turn, and therefore, he disdained to answer him.

(i) The wicked do not esteem the servants of God unless they are driven by every necessity and fear of the present danger.

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.

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 {k} not look toward thee, nor see thee.

(k) God suffers his word to be declared to the wicked because of the godly that are among them.

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.

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

(l) He sang songs to God's glory, and so stirred up the prophets heart to prophecy.

2 Kings 3:16

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

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.

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

(m) He will not only miraculously give you waters, but your enemies also into your hand.

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

(n) Though God bestows his benefits for a time on the enemies, yet he has his seasons, when he will take them away to the intent they might see his vengeance which is prepared for them.

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.

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.

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 armor, and upward, and stood in the border.

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:

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.

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

(o) The sudden joy of the wicked is but a preparation for their destruction, which is at hand.

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.

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 {p} went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

(p) Meaning, they followed them into the towns.

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.

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 {q} Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

(q) Which was one of the principle cities of the Moabites, in which they left nothing but the walls.

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.

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.

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.

Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and {r} 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.

(r) Some refer it to the king of Edom's son, whom they say he had taken in that skirmish: but rather it seemed to be his own son, whom he offered to his gods to pacify them: which barbarous cruelty moved the Israelites hearts of pity to depart.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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