A. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM, KING OF ISRAEL, COMMENCES (2 KINGS 3:1). The introduction to the reign of Jehoram, king of Israel, follows the usual format, with the exception that he was an improvement religionwise on his father in that he removed the ‘pillar of Baal' which his father had made. Possibly... [ Continue Reading ]
1). THE REIGN OF JEHORAM KING OF ISRAEL C. 852-841 BC: WAR WITH MOAB (2 KINGS 3:1). The interlude of Elisha's succession to Elijah having taken place in preparation for the future, the narrative now returns to the reigns of the kings of Israel. This interlude, deliberately excluded from the continu... [ Continue Reading ]
B. MESHA OF MOAB SEEKS TO FREE MOAB FROM BEING TRIBUTARY TO ISRAEL (2 KINGS 3:4). We know from the Moabite Stone that Moab had been tributary to Israel from the time of Omri, but that Mesha was growing in power as Israel declined, and had already begun attempts to throw off Israel's yoke, and impos... [ Continue Reading ]
C. THE INVASION PLAN GOES WRONG AND THE INVADERS FIND THEMSELVES IN JEOPARDY THROUGH LACK OF WATER WITH THE RESULT THAT JEHOSHAPHAT DESIRES THE ADVICE OF A PROPHET OF YHWH (2 KINGS 3:8). The alliance decided that they would invade Moab by going round the bottom of the Deed Sea and approaching Moab f... [ Continue Reading ]
D. YHWH'S PROVISION FOR THE ALLIANCE FORCES AND THE SUBJUGATION OF MOAB WHICH HAS HOWEVER AN UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE IN MESHA'S CHILD-SACRIFICE (2 KINGS 3:15). YHWH's reply indicated that they had to dig trenches throughout the valley in a kind of irrigation system as though there was a likelihood o... [ Continue Reading ]