1Joram pak syn Achabův počal kralovati nad Izraelem v Samaří léta osmnáctého Jozafata krále Judského, a kraloval dvanácte let. 2A činil to, což jest zlého před očima Hospodinovýma, ač ne tak jako otec jeho a jako matka jeho; nebo odjal modly Bál, kterýchž byl nadělal otec jeho. 3A však v hříších Jeroboáma syna Nebatova, kterýž k hřešení přivodil Izraele, vždy vězel, a neodstoupil od nich. 4Mésa pak král Moábský měl hojnost dobytka, a dával králi Izraelskému sto tisíc beranů, a sto tisíc skopců i s vlnou. 5I stalo se, když umřel Achab, že se zprotivil král Moábský králi Izraelskému. 6Tedy vytáhl v ten čas král Joram z Samaří, a sečtl všecken Izrael. 7A když táhl, poslal k Jozafatovi králi Judskému, aby mu řekli: Král Moábský zprotivil mi se. Potáhneš-li se mnou proti Moábovi na vojnu? Odpověděl: Potáhnu. Jako jsem já, tak jsi ty, jako lid můj, tak lid tvůj, jakž koni moji, tak koni tvoji. 8Zatím řekl: Kterouž pak cestou potáhneme? Odpověděl: Cestou pouště Idumejské. 9A tak vytáhl král Izraelský a král Judský i král Idumejský. A když objížděli cestou za sedm dní, nedostávalo se vody vojsku a hovadům jejich, kteráž měli s sebou. 10I řekl král Izraelský: Ach, běda! Nebo povolal Hospodin tří králů těchto, aby je vydal v ruku Moábovu. 11Ale Jozafat řekl: Není-liž zde proroka Hospodinova, abychom se otázali Hospodina skrze něho? Odpovídaje pak jeden z služebníků krále Izraelského, řekl: Jestiť zde Elizeus syn Safatův, kterýž líval vodu na ruce Eliášovy. 12Tedy řekl Jozafat: U tohoť jest slovo Hospodinovo. I šli k němu, král Izraelský a Jozafat, i král Idumejský. 13I řekl Elizeus králi Izraelskému: Co mně do tebe? Jdi k prorokům otce svého a k prorokům matky své. Řekl jemu král Izraelský: Nikoli, nebo povolal Hospodin tří králů těchto, aby je vydal v ruku Moábovu. 14K tomu řekl Elizeus: Živť jest Hospodin zástupů, před jehož oblíčejem stojím, bychť sobě nevážil Jozafata krále Judského, nepohleděl bych na tě, ani popatřil. 15Ale nyní přiveďte mi toho, kterýž by uměl hráti na harfu. A když on hral, byla nad ním ruka Hospodinova. 16I řekl: Takto praví Hospodin: Nadělej v tomto potoku množství dolů. 17Nebo toto dí Hospodin: Neuzříte větru, aniž uzříte přívalu, však potok tento naplněn bude vodou, tak že píti budete i vy i množství vaše, i hovada vaše. 18A i to málo jest před oblíčejem Hospodinovým, nebo i Moábské dá v ruku vaši. 19A zkazíte všeliké město hrazené, i všeliké město výborné, též všecko stromoví dobré zporážíte, a všecky studnice vod zasypete, a všeliké pole dobré kamením přiházíte. 20I stalo se ráno, když obětována bývá obět suchá, a aj, vody přicházely cestou od strany Idumejské, a naplněna jest země vodami. 21Všecken pak Moáb uslyšev, že by vytáhli králové, aby bojovali proti nim, svolali se všickni, od toho, kterýž se pasem opásati může, a výše, a postavili se na pomezí. 22Potom ráno vstavše, když slunce vzešlo nad těmi vodami, uzřeli Moábští naproti ty vody rdějící se jako krev. 23A řekli: Krev jest. Jistě žeť jsou se pohubili ti králové, a zabil jeden každý bližního svého; protož nyní k loupežem, ó Moábští! A přišli až k ležení Izraelskému. 24Tedy povstavše Izraelští, porazili Moábské, kteříž utíkali před nimi, a oni porazili je porážkou velikou, také i v jejich krajině. 25Nebo města jejich zbořili, a na všeliké pole výborné házejíce jeden každý kamením svým, naplnili je, i všecky studnice vod zasypali, a všecko stromoví dobré zporáželi, tak že toliko nechali u Kirchareset zdi jeho. Protož shlukše se prakovníci, dobývali ho. 26A vida král Moábský, že jsou mu silní bojovníci ti, vzal s sebou sedm set mužů bojovných, chtě se probiti skrze vojska krále Idumejského. Ale nemohli. 27Pročež jav syna jeho prvorozeného, kterýž měl kralovati místo něho, obětoval jej v obět zápalnou na zdi. I stalo se rozhněvání veliké proti Izraelovi; protož odtrhše od něho, navrátili se do země své.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 JEHORAM'S EVIL REIGN OVER ISRAEL. (
2Kgs 3:1-3)
Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat--(compare
1Kgs 22:51). To reconcile the statements in the two passages, we must suppose that Ahaziah, having reigned during the seventeenth and the greater part of the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, was succeeded by his brother Joram or Jehoram, in the end of that eighteenth year, or else that Ahaziah, having reigned two years in conjunction with his father, died at the end of that period when Jehoram ascended the throne. His policy was as hostile as that of his predecessors to the true religion; but he made some changes. Whatever was his motive for this alteration--whether dread of the many alarming judgments the patronage of idolatry had brought upon his father; or whether it was made as a small concession to the feelings of Jehoshaphat, his ally, he abolished idolatry in its gross form and restored the symbolic worship of God, which the kings of Israel, from the time of Jeroboam, had set up as a partition wall between their subjects and those of Judah.
4 MESHA, KING OF MOAB, REBELS. (
2Kgs 3:4-5)
Mesha king of Moab, &c.--As his dominions embraced an extensive pasture country, he paid, as annual tribute, the wool of a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams. It is still common in the East to pay custom and taxes in the fruits or natural produce of the land.
5 king of Moab rebelled--This is a repetition of
2Kgs 1:1, in order to introduce an account of the confederate expedition for crushing this revolt, which had been allowed to continue unchecked during the short reign of Ahaziah.
6 ELISHA PROMISES WATER AND VICTORY OVER MOAB. (2Ki. 3:6-24)
King Jehoram . . . numbered Israel--made a levy from his own subjects, and at the same time sought an alliance with Jehoshaphat, which, as on the former occasion with Ahab, was readily promised (
1Kgs 22:4).
8 Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom--This was a long and circuitous route, by the southern bend of the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat however preferred it, partly because the part of the Moabite territory at which they would arrive, was the most defenseless; and partly because he would thereby enlist, in the expedition, the forces of the king of Edom. But, in penetrating the deep, rocky valley of Ahsy, which forms the boundary between Edom and Moab, the confederate army was reduced, both man and beast, to the greatest extremities for want of water. They were disappointed by finding the wady of this valley, the brook Zered (
Deut 2:13-
Deut 2:18) [ROBINSON], dry. Jehoram was in despair. But the pious mind of Jehoshaphat inquired for a prophet of the Lord; and, on being informed that Elisha was at hand, the three kings "went down to him"; that is, to his tent, which was either in the camp, or close by it. He had been directed thither by the Spirit of God for this special purpose. They went to him, not only as a mark of respect, but to supplicate for his assistance.
11 which poured water on the hands of Elijah--that is, was his servant--this being one of the common offices of a servant. The phrase is used here as synonymous with "a true and eminent prophet," who will reveal God's will to us.
13 What have I to do with thee? &c.--Wishing to produce a deep spirit of humility and contrition, Elisha gave a stern repulse to the king of Israel, accompanied by a sarcastic sneer, in bidding him go and consult Baal and his soothsayers. But the distressed condition, especially the imploring language, of the royal suppliants, who acknowledged the hand of the Lord in this distress, drew from the prophet the solemn assurance, that solely out of respect to Jehoshaphat, the Lord's true servant, did he take any interest in Jehoram.
15 bring me a minstrel--The effect of music in soothing the mind is much regarded in the East; and it appears that the ancient prophets, before entering their work, commonly resorted to it, as a preparative, by praise and prayer, to their receiving the prophetic afflatus.
the hand of the Lord--a phrase significantly implying that the gift of prophecy was not a natural or inherent gift, but conferred by the power and grace of God.
16 Make this valley full of ditches--capable of holding water.
17 Ye shall not see wind--It is common in the East to speak of seeing wind, from the clouds of straw, dust, or sand, that are often whirled into the air, after a long drought.
20 when the meat offering was offered--that is, at the time of the morning sacrifice, accompanied, doubtless, with solemn prayers; and these led, it may be, by Elisha on this occasion, as on a similar one by Elijah (
1Kgs 18:36).
behold, there came water by the way of Edom--Far from the Israelitish camp, in the eastern mountains of Edom, a great fall of rain, a kind of cloudburst, took place, by which the wady was at once filled, but they saw neither the wind nor the rains. The divine interposition was shown by introducing the laws of nature to the determined end in the predetermined way [KEIL]. It brought not only aid to the Israelitish army in their distress, by a plentiful supply of water, but destruction on the Moabites, who, perceiving the water, under the refulgent rays of the morning sun, red like blood, concluded the confederate kings had quarrelled and deluged the field with their mutual slaughter; so that, rushing to their camp in full expectation of great spoil, they were met by the Israelites, who, prepared for battle, fought and pursued them. Their country was laid waste in the way, which has always been considered the greatest desolation in the East (
2Kgs 3:24).
25 Kir-haraseth--(now Kerak)--Castle of Moab--then, probably, the only fortress in the land.
27 took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering, &c.--By this deed of horror, to which the allied army drove the king of Moab, a divine judgment came upon Israel; that is, the besiegers feared the anger of God, which they had incurred by giving occasion to the human sacrifice forbidden in the law (
Lev 18:21;
Lev 20:3), and hastily raised the siege.