Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. Ver. 1. _In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat._] But in the second year of Jehoram, 2Ki 1:17 whom his father Jehoshaphat had made viceroy; but misliking his... [ Continue Reading ]
And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Ver. 2. _But not like his father, and like his mother._] Not all out so bad; and yet not very much better than they. _Optimi putantur si vel levite... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. Ver. 3. _Nevertheless he cleaved._] This partiality in reformation marreth all. God liketh not that men should plough here, and make a balk there: this is putid hypocrisy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. Ver. 4. _And Mesha king of Moab._] Mesha signifieth Salvation, a fit name for a king. But this man might as ill deserve it, as did Antiochus, surnam... [ Continue Reading ]
But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. Ver. 5. _When Ahab was dead._] _Elephanti mortuo vel mus insultat._ But besides the death of Ahab, Ahaziah his son and successor was weak; and hence this revolt of Moab from him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. Ver. 6. _The same time._] That is, So soon as by the death of his brother he came to the kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, [and] my horses as thy horses. Ver. 7. _And he said, I will go up._] See o... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. Ver. 8. _The way through the wilderness of Edom._] _Imprudens erat hoc responsum et concilium._ Jehoshaphat spoke this impoliticly; and no wonder, since he consulted not time enough with God, by his prop... [ Continue Reading ]
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. Ver. 9. Of seven days' journey.] This was a long while for such an army to be without water; and sh... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! Ver. 10. _Alas! that the Lord hath called._] _Vox est admirantis et desperantis,_ saith Vatablus. He seeketh to lay the blame upon the Lord: though it were himself especia... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire 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. Ver. 11. _Is there not here a prophet of the Lord?_] J... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _So the king of Israel._] By Jehoshaphat's persuasion likely, and the present necessity. Either zeal or need will make a prophet honoured. These three kings... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Moab. Ver. 13. _What have... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand._] As his servant; and therefore may not fear... [ Continue Reading ]
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. Ver. 15. _But now bring me a minstrel,_] Heb., One that striketh with his hand upon a musical instrument. A Levite, likely, he meant, that played and sung some psalm of David. Such a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. Ver. 16. _Make this valley full of ditches,_] Heb., Ditches, ditches, _sc., _ to receive the water which shall fall by a miracle. Thus God for the most part, saith Mr Diodate here, first prepareth the vessels which are to receive h... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _Ye shall not see wind nor rain._] God can relieve his people in the fail of means. Hab 3:17... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is [but] a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. Ver. 18. _And this is but a light thing._] A great thing it was in itself considered - else Lysimachus would never have parted with his kingdom for a cup of water, to save his life; but behol... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 19. _And ye shall smite every fenced city._] _Omnia anathemati devovebitis._ Spoiling Moab shall be utterly spoiled. Isa 33:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 20. _In the morning, when the meat offering was offered._] Which was the hour of public prayer. Act 3:1 The devotions of all true... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. Ver. 21. _They gathered all that were able to put on armour._] In Scotland, they have an ancient custom, in cases of importance,... [ Continue Reading ]
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side [as] red as blood: Ver. 22. And the Moabites saw the water … as red as blood.] So they seemed to be, by reason of the sunbeams, which met with the vapours that arose out of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said, This [is] blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. Ver. 23. _This is blood._] For water they were confident there could be none. _ They have smitten one another._] Here they mused as themselves had used; 2Ch 20:23 for w... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in [their] country. Ver. 24. _And when they came to the camp of Israel._] _Ordinibas non servatis et acie non instructa,_ disranke... [ Continue Reading ]
And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about [it], and smote it. Ver. 25. _Only in Kir... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through [even] unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Ver. 26. _To break through even unto the king of Edom._] Either because that quarter was weakest, or because hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him [for] a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to [their own] land. Ver. 27. _Then he took his eldest son._] The king of Edom's eldest s... [ Continue Reading ]