2Ki 3: Judah, Israel, and Edom versus Moab. Cp circumstances,
Joel 3:12: the valley of "Jehoshaphat".
2Ki 3:3
THE SINS OF JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT: The worship of the
golden calves: 1Ki 12:28-33.
2Ki 3:7
I AM AS YOU ARE...: Jehoshaphat had not learned his
lesson, even after the disaster with Ahab.
2Ki 3:9
A ROUNDABOUT MARCH: KJV has "fetched a
compass".
2Ki 3:10
HAS THE LORD CALLED US...: He forgets about his idols
(vv 3,13). When in trouble, he blames Yahweh!
2Ki 3:11
TO POUR WATER ON THE HANDS OF...: The custom of washing
hands after meals; a service performed by a servant (LB 128). Performing this
service would be the sign of a constant attendant, one in whom the master might
confide.
2Ki 3:15
BUT BRING ME A HARPIST: To play hymns that he might be
brought into a proper disposition to hear the Lord's word. (Just previously --
vv 13,14 -- Elisha had been very angry.)
2Ki 3:17
"The armies of the three kings were famishing for want of
water: God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the
coming blessing. Here was a case of human helplessness: not a drop of water
could all the valiant men procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth.
Thus often the people of the Lord are at their wits' end; they see the vanity of
the creature, and learn experimentally where their help is to be found. Still
the people were to make a believing preparation for the divine blessing; they
were to dig the trenches in which the precious liquid would be held"
(CHS).
2Ki 3:20
AND THE LAND WAS FILLED WITH WATER: Perhaps a sudden,
heavy storm filled the wadis, leaving pools of water (Baly 63).
2Ki 3:22
THE WATER LOOKED RED -- LIKE BLOOD: (1) The rising sun
shining on the water gave it a reddish hue, (2) The land thereabouts could have
had a reddish tint ("Edom" sig "red"), and this was reflected in the water,
and/or (3) The soil was red, and this was mixed with the water.
2Ki 3:25
KIR HARESETH: A royal, or chief, city of Moab mentioned
along with Ar in Isa 15:1. Located at Kerak, 11 miles east of the southern bay
of the Dead Sea.
2Ki 3:27
Difficult and uncertain: perhaps the king of Moab slew the
prince of Edom, causing Edom (the ally of Israel and Judah) to hate their former
friends. Cp Amo 2:1; Mic 6:7.