2Ki 3 | TNotes

3:2 ^a Ahab apparently erected the sacred pillar (or stela) of Baal when instituting Baal worship (see 1 Kgs 16:32-33 ^b). Similar stones were also erected to pagan deities in Judah (1 Kgs 14:23 ^c); such pillars were later purged by Jehu (2 Kgs 10:26-27 ^d) and Josiah (23:13-15 ^e).
Summary for 2Kgs 3:4-27: 3:4-27 ^f The joint war of Israel and Judah against Moab was the setting for one of Elisha’s miracles.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:4-5: 3:4-5 ^g The Moabite rebellion (see 1:1 ^h) 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.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:6-7: 3:6-7 ⁱ Jehoshaphat’s ready compliance with Joram’s appeal was typical of his participation in the undertakings of the northern kings (1 Kgs 22:4 ^j; 2 Chr 20:35-37 ^k). The marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah (2 Chr 18:1 ^l; 21:6 ^m) heightened Jehoshaphat’s entanglement with Israel.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:8-9: 3:8-9 ⁿ 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 ^o). The southern route through Edom avoided strong Moabite fortifications, but it was dangerous because water was scarce.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:11-12: 3:11-12 ^p 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 ^q). However, this time he waited until the campaign had begun before inquiring of the Lord.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:13-14: 3:13-14 ^r Elisha participated because of Jehoshaphat’s presence, despite his entanglement with the pagan Joram.
3:15 ^s bring me someone who can play the harp: Music stimulated the prophetic spirit (cp. Ps 49:4 ^t).
Summary for 2Kgs 3:18-20: 3:18-20 ^u 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.
Summary for 2Kgs 3:24-25: 3:24-25 ^v The army of Israel ... destroyed the towns. Elisha’s prophecy was fulfilled, although Kir-hareseth escaped total destruction.
3:26 ^w 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 ^x 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 ^y; 32:37 ^z; Zech 7:12 ^aa).