2 Kings 3: Jehoram, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom against Moab
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What happens?
Jehoram the son of Ahab reigns twelve years over Israel; he does evil, though not like his father and mother, for he removes the pillar of Baal. When Mesha king of Moab rebels, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat king of Judah and the king of Edom march by the way of the wilderness of Edom and run out of water. For Jehoshaphat's sake Elisha calls for a musician and gives Yahweh's word that the valley will be filled with water and that Moab will be handed over to them; in the morning water comes from the direction of Edom, the Moabites see it red as blood, think the kings have struck each other down, and are struck and flee. When the battle is too strong for him, the king of Moab offers his firstborn son as a burnt offering on the wall; there is great wrath against Israel, and they go back to their own land.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Jehoram sends word to Jehoshaphat in verse 7, and Jehoshaphat answers. In verse 8 one king asks which way to go up and the other answers; this Bible names Jehoram as the one who answers. The king of Israel speaks in verses 10 and 13, Jehoshaphat in verses 11 and 12, and one of the king of Israel's servants in verse 11. Elisha speaks to the king of Israel in verses 13 to 15; his oath by Yahweh in verse 14 is his own words. In verses 16 to 19 Elisha says "Yahweh says" and gives Yahweh's message; Elisha speaks those words, so they are not in gold. The Moabites speak in verse 23. Verse 15, that Yahweh's hand came on Elisha, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
In plain English: Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers; see the note on .
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2He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, but not like his father and like his mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes, but not like his father and his mother, for he removed the pillar (or: standing stone) of Baal that his father had made.
The Hebrew word: "Pillar" is matstsevah, which the dictionary gives as "something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol". says that later "they broke down the pillar of Baal". The text does not say whether it is the same pillar.
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3Nevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from them.
In plain English: Even so, he held on to (literally: clung to) the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel commit. He did not turn away from them.
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4Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he supplied the king of Israel with one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
In plain English: Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder (see the note). He paid (literally: brought back) to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
The Hebrew word: "Sheep breeder" is noqed, which the dictionary gives as "a spotter (of sheep or cattle), i.e. the owner or tender (who thus marks them)". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and , where Amos "was among the herdsmen of Tekoa".
Good to know: Verse 5 tells the same as : after Ahab died, Moab rebelled.
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5But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
In plain English: But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
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6King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.
In plain English: At that time (literally: on that day) King Jehoram went out of Samaria and mustered all Israel.
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7He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?” He said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
In plain English: He went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" He said, "I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
Good to know: Jehoshaphat gave Ahab the same answer in : "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
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8Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoram answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
In plain English: Then he said, "Which way shall we go up?" He answered (this Bible: Jehoram answered; the Hebrew says only "he said"), "By the way of the wilderness of Edom."
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9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched for seven days along a circuitous route. There was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them.
In plain English: So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They went around on a seven days' journey (this Bible: a circuitous route), and there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them (literally: that were at their feet).
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10The king of Israel said, “Alas! For Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
In plain English: The king of Israel said, "Alas! Yahweh has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab (literally: to give them into the hand of Moab)."
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11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.”
In plain English: But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a prophet of Yahweh here, so that we may ask Yahweh through him?" One of the king of Israel's servants answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on Elijah's hands."
Good to know: The servant names Elisha by what he did for Elijah: he poured water on his hands. says that Elisha "went after Elijah, and served him".
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12Jehoshaphat said, “Yahweh’s word is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
In plain English: Jehoshaphat said, "Yahweh's word is with him." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
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13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
In plain English: Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you (literally: what is there to me and to you)? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother." The king of Israel said to him, "No (literally: do not), for Yahweh has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab."
Good to know: Jehoram's father is Ahab (verse 1), and in Jehu speaks to him of "your mother Jezebel". speaks of the prophets of Baal and of the Asherah "who eat at Jezebel's table", and of the "about four hundred" prophets the king of Israel gathered. The text here does not say which prophets Elisha means.
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14Elisha said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I respect the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.
In plain English: Elisha said, "As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand (or: whom I serve), if I did not respect (literally: lift up the face of) Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you or see you.
Good to know: "Before whom I stand" are Elijah's words in and ; see the note on 1 Kings 17:1 for both readings.
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15But now bring me a musician.” When the musician played, Yahweh’s hand came on him.
In plain English: But now bring me a musician." While the musician played, Yahweh's hand came on him.
The Hebrew word: "Musician" is from nagan, playing a stringed instrument with the fingers; the dictionary also gives it as "(generally), to make music". "Yahweh's hand came on him" is the narrator's words. The text says the same kind of thing of Elijah in : "Yahweh's hand was on Elijah".
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16He said, “Yahweh says, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
In plain English: He said, "Yahweh says this: 'Make this valley full of trenches (or: pools; literally: trenches, trenches; see the note).'
The Hebrew word: "Trenches" is gev, which the dictionary gives as "a log (as cut out); also well or cistern (as dug)". The Hebrew says the word twice: "trenches, trenches".
What changes: Read as "trenches", the kings are to make the valley full of ditches. Read with the dictionary's "well or cistern", they are to make it full of pools to hold water. Either way, verse 20 says the land was filled with water.
Good to know: Elisha speaks Yahweh's message in verses 16 to 19 ("Yahweh says"), so it is not in gold.
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17For Yahweh says, ‘You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, both you and your livestock and your other animals.
In plain English: For Yahweh says this: 'You will not see wind, and you will not see rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, you, your livestock and your other animals.
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18This is an easy thing in Yahweh’s sight. He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
In plain English: This is an easy (literally: a light) thing in Yahweh's eyes. He will also hand Moab over to you (literally: give Moab into your hand).
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19You shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”
In plain English: You will strike every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs of water, and ruin (this Bible: mar) every good piece of land with stones.'"
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20In the morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
In plain English: In the morning, at the time the offering is offered (literally: when the offering goes up), suddenly (this Bible: behold) water came from the direction of Edom, and the land was filled with water.
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21Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, young and old, and stood on the border.
In plain English: All Moab had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So everyone old enough to put on a belt (this Bible: armor), and older, was called out, and they stood at the border.
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22They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.
In plain English: They got up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water. The Moabites saw the water across from them, red as blood.
Good to know: "Red" is adom, which the dictionary gives as "rosy". The name Edom sounds like it, and uses the same word for the stew that gave Esau his name: "that red stew ... Therefore his name was called Edom." The water had come "by the way of Edom" (verse 20). The text here does not point out the likeness.
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23They said, “This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder!”
In plain English: They said, "This is blood! The kings have surely fought one another (this Bible: are surely destroyed), and they have struck each other down. So now, Moab, to the plunder!"
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24When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land attacking the Moabites.
In plain English: When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, and they fled before them. The Israelites went on into the land, striking the Moabites.
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25They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land each man cast his stone, and filled it. They also stopped all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth all they left was its stones; however the men armed with slings went around it and attacked it.
In plain English: They tore down the cities. On every good piece of land each man threw his stone, until they filled it. They stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree, until in Kir Hareseth only its stones were left (or: until only the stones of Kir Hareseth were left). But the slingers surrounded it and struck it.
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26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
In plain English: When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew the sword, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not.
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27Then he took his oldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
In plain English: Then he took his firstborn (this Bible: oldest) son, who would have become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath (or: anger) against Israel (or: on Israel; see the note). They left him and went back to their own land.
Good to know: The text says it plainly: he took his firstborn son, who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. The verse does not name the king or his son; "he" goes back to the king of Moab in verse 26. "Burnt offering" is olah, the word explained in the note on .
The Hebrew word: "Wrath" is qetseph, which the dictionary gives as "a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively, rage or strife". This Bible says "wrath" or a longer form in 25 of the 29 verses that use it, and "indignation" in 5.
What changes: Read as wrath "against Israel", great anger came against the army of Israel. Read as anger "on Israel", the Israelites themselves were filled with great anger. The text does not say whose anger it was, and either way it says only that they left him and went back to their own land.
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