Bible Commentary

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. 20. when the meat offering was offered ] R.V. about the time of offering the oblation. The term meat offering has become misleading to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:20”

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. 19. and shall fell every good tree ] Some persons have seen in Elisha’s language here a contradiction to Deu 20:19, where in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:19”

And this is [but] a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 18. And this is but a light thing ] For the expression cf. below ch. 2Ki 20:10. What God gives, He gives to the full. He will not only guide the forces of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:18”

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. 17. For thus saith the Lord ] Both the order to dig trenches, and the promise of water are prefaced … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:17”

And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 16. Make this valley full of ditches ] R.V. trenches. The valley was a torrent bed which in the time of rain would become suddenly flooded with the water from the steep sides, and from the watershed above. This would soon run … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:16”

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 15. But now bring me a minstrel ] Of the power of music over the mind we have examples in the history of Saul (1Sa 16:23) and also of the use … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:15”

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. 14. As the Lord of hosts liveth ] Probably the use of this expression is due to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:14”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:13”

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. 12. is with him ] This expression seems to imply a more than ordinary participation of the divine Spirit. The more usual phrase is ‘The word of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:12”

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. 11. Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:11”