2 Kings 3 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter describes how King Jehoram of Israel led an attack to reconquer Moab, a former vassal state that had rebelled against him, with the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Why did Jehoshaphat want to attack Moab through Edom?

In 3:8, Jehoram asks Jehoshaphat what route their armies should take to reconquer Moab. Jehoshaphat replies that they should go through Edom. There were two main advantages to this route. First, while the northern route across the Jordan River was shorter, it led to a border of Moab that was heavily fortified. While the southern route through the desert was longer and more difficult and dangerous, it led to a border of Moab that was less defended. That made it a strategic route for a surprise attack that caught the Moabites unprepared. Second, this route led through Edom, allowing the two kings to pick up the king of Edom and his army as a further ally along the way, since Edom was a vassal state under Judah’s influence. This strengthened their army and ensured Edom’s loyalty during the campaign.

Why was Elisha traveling with the armies?

King Jehoram of Israel probably did not ask Elisha to accompany his army. Their relationship was strained and marked by mutual distrust. Jehoram was an idolatrous king who continued in the sinful ways of his father, Ahab. Elisha openly rebuked him for following false gods. However, Elisha, as Yahweh’s prophet, did not need to have the king’s approval or invitation to accompany the army. His authority came from Yahweh, and so he came and acted as a spiritual guide to the Israelite soldiers. In the end, his presence was necessary to bring Yahweh’s help to the campaign, including the miraculous provision of water in the desert. As a prophet, Elisha’s authority and purpose enabled him to join the military expedition and represent Yahweh.

Why did Elisha ask for a harpist?

In 3:15, when the kings ask him for direction from Yahweh, Elisha tells them to bring him a harpist. He probably wanted to listen to soft, beautiful music to help prepare his mind and spirit to receive Yahweh’s word clearly. This may have been especially helpful on this occasion, since Elisha had just sternly rebuked King Jehoram (3:13). Elisha may have become agitated, and he may have needed to still his thoughts and calm his emotions in order to hear a prophetic message from Yahweh.

Why did the Moabite king try to break through to where the Edomite king was?

In 3:26, the author says that as a final desperate tactic to escape the siege in Kir Hareseth, the king of Moab led 700 swordsmen to try to break through the enemy lines surrounding the city. The author says that he was specifically trying to reach the place where the Edomite army was. He may have done this because he believed the Edomite contingent was the weakest or most vulnerable part of the allied army that was attacking him. He may also have hoped that he could turn the Edomites against the Judeans and Israelites, since Edom was a vassal state of Judah that had rebelled against it in the past, just as he had now rebelled against Israel. However, his attempt was not successful.

What does “great wrath was against Israel” mean?

In 3:27, the author says that after the Moabite king sacrificed his firstborn son publicly on the city wall, “great wrath was against Israel,” and the invading army abandoned its siege of Kir Haraseth and left Moab. Interpreters have suggested many different understandings of what this might mean. The following are some of the possibilities. However, since the meaning is so uncertain, we recommend that you leave this as a general statement in your translation. The UST models one way to do that.- The statement could mean that the Moabite king’s sacrifice of his firstborn son made the Moabite soldiers so angry with the Israelites that they fought very hard against them.- It could mean that the Judean and Edomite kings and their soldiers became angry with the Israelite king for starting a war against Moab that had led to such an outrage, so they refused to keep helping him.- It could mean that this sacrifice unleashed the evil forces that lie behind idol worship (as the Bible explains in places such as [1 Corinthians 10:20–21](../1co/10/20.md)) and, because the war against Moab had been instigated by Jehoram, who worshiped Baal, Yahweh would not help him and his allies overcome those forces (compare what Elisha says in [3:14](../03/14.md)).