2 Kings · chapter 3 of 25
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2 Kings 3 tells how Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom march against rebellious Moab and run out of water in the desert. Elisha, consulted at Jehoshaphat's urging, announces that the Lord will fill the valley with water without wind or rain and give them victory. At dawn the water comes, Moab is fooled by its color and defeated, until King Mesha sacrifices his eldest son and the siege is lifted.
After Ahaziah's death his brother Jehoram reigns in Israel, and chapter 3 picks up the rebellion of Moab mentioned in 2 Kings 1. It is the first episode of Elisha's ministry after receiving Elijah's cloak. The story contrasts a king of Israel who does evil with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who seeks the word of the Lord, and it shows that God answers in mercy those who trust him.
Jehoram, son of Ahab, reigns in Israel. He does evil in the sight of the Lord, though he removes the pillar of Baal his father had made, and he clings to the sins of Jeroboam. Mesha, king of Moab, a sheep breeder, had paid Israel a large tribute of lambs and wool, but after Ahab's death he rebels. Jehoram gathers his army and asks Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, for help; Jehoshaphat agrees, and the king of Edom joins them.
The three kings circle through the wilderness of Edom for seven days, and there is no water for the army or its animals. Jehoram fears that the Lord has called them out to hand them over to Moab. Jehoshaphat asks whether there is no prophet of the Lord, and they say Elisha is there, who used to serve Elijah. The kings go down to him. Elisha tells Jehoram that were it not for Jehoshaphat he would not even look at him, and asks for a musician. While the musician plays, the hand of the Lord comes on Elisha, and he announces that the valley will be filled with ditches of water, with no wind or rain, and that the Lord will give Moab into their hands. He also prophesies that they will cut down trees and stop up springs.
At dawn, at the time of the offering, water comes from the direction of Edom and fills the land. The Moabites see the water red in the sun and think it is blood, that the kings have killed one another, and they rush in to plunder. Israel attacks and defeats them, destroys their cities, covers their fields with stones and stops up the springs. Mesha, trapped in Kir-hareseth, takes his eldest son, the heir, and offers him as a burnt offering on the wall. Great wrath comes upon Israel, and they withdraw to their own land.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Jehoshaphat asks whether there is no prophet of the Lord through whom they can inquire of God. His question shows that in the middle of the crisis the king of Judah thinks first of God's word, not of military strategy.
Elisha tells Jehoram that, out of regard for Jehoshaphat, he would not even look at him. The Lord shows kindness to a group of kings in trouble because of one faithful man, a reminder that God's mercy cannot be earned yet can reach others through the righteous.
Elisha announces that the valley will fill with water without wind or rain, and that this is a light thing for the Lord, who will also give them Moab. God provides in unexpected and generous ways, far beyond the immediate need.
The desperate king of Moab offers his eldest son as a sacrifice on the wall, and great wrath comes upon Israel. The text does not explain the effect in detail, but it shows the horror of pagan idolatry that offers what is most precious to a false god.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Because King Mesha, who had paid tribute to Israel, rebelled after Ahab's death. — 2 Kings 3:4-7
Answer: There was no water for the army or the animals. — 2 Kings 3:9
Answer: Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. — 2 Kings 3:11
Answer: He asked for a musician to be brought. — 2 Kings 3:15
Answer: With no wind or rain, it came from the direction of Edom at the time of the morning offering and filled the land. — 2 Kings 3:17-20
Answer: That it was blood, because it looked red, and that the kings had killed one another. — 2 Kings 3:22-23
The three kings reached the end of their resources before asking about God's will. Sometimes we too reserve prayer for when there is no other way out. Jehoshaphat teaches us to ask first, even when the situation seems lost, and to surround ourselves with people who know the word of God.
The chapter also shows that God gives more than we ask: not only water but victory. In a small group you might talk about a need you are bringing to the Lord and how to recognize his provision when it comes in a way you did not expect.
2 Kings 3 ends with Israel withdrawing from Moab after the victory and King Mesha's last desperate act. From chapter 4 on, Elisha no longer appears before kings but helping ordinary people: an indebted widow, a woman of Shunem, and others who need the care of God.
The text only says that while the musician played, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha. The music seems to have helped calm the prophet, who was upset by the presence of King Jehoram, and to prepare him to receive the word of the Lord. It is not a formula for producing prophecy but a means God used on that occasion.
The text does not say whose wrath it was. Some understand it as the Israelites' revulsion at the horror of the sacrifice, others as divine anger or the fury of Moab turned against them. In any case Israel withdraws, and the passage warns about the cruelty of idolatry.
He was a sheep breeder and king of Moab who paid tribute to Israel. An ancient inscription found at Dibon, known as the Mesha Stele, speaks of this king and his revolt against Israel, confirming that the Bible's story is set in real history.