II Kings 3:1-19
"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. 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. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.” (II Kings 3:1-3)
Ahab had been king over Israel during the first sixteen years of Jehoshaphat’s reign. After his death early in the seventeenth year, his son Ahaziah assumed the throne. Because he so determinedly followed Ahab’s example God only let him remain in power slightly less than two years before dying of an injury late in Jehoshaphat‘s eighteenth year.
Because Ahaziah had no children, the throne was given to his younger brother, Jehoram. While Jehoram was still involved in wickedness and rejection of God, he was not as aggressive as his father Ahab or his mother Jezebel. He stopped worshipping Baal, and trying to kill God’s prophets. Like Jeroboam, he tried to modify the Jewish religion to maintain control of the people however. Because he did not do as wickedly as his parents, he was allowed to reign for twelve years.
“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. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.” (II Kings 3:4-5)
The Moabites had paid Ahab a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand Rams for many years to avoid war. They had rebelled and refused to pay it when Ahaziah became king, but he died without being able to take action.
“And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 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. ” (II Kings 3:6-7)
Like most governments, Jehoram wanted to get as much income as possible. After counting his forces, he decided to ask for Judah’s help to force Moab to pay their tribute. Jehoshaphat had been rebuked for helping Ahab about six years before, but he responded the same way he had when Ahab asked for help. He didn’t bother to ask God before committing himself.
“And he said, Which way shall we go up?
And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
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.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” (II Kings 3:8-10)
After some discussion, it was decided that rather than attack from the north, they would swing south around the Dead sea through the land of Edom and try to catch them by surprise. They enlisted the Edomite army in their effort as well. Unfortunately, the water holes they were counting on were insufficient for the army and the livestock they had taken for food. The entire force was suffering from dehydration. Without an immediate source of water, they would start dying soon.
Though they had not asked God, like most people, Jehoram blamed him when things didn’t go as he expected them to. He accused God of just bringing them out there so the Moabites could wipe them out. It is a very common response.
"But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire 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.
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.” (II Kings 3:11-12)
Rather than blaming God, Jehoshaphat suggested they ask him what they should do. Somebody mentioned that Elisha was nearby, and Jehoshaphat recommended they go ask him what God said. He, Jehoram, adnd the King of Edom all went to see Elisha.
“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.
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. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.” (II Kings 3:13-15)
When he saw Jehoram, Elisha told him they should go ask the ones they had chosen as prophets since they thought they were better than God. Jehoram insisted that they knew it was god who had put them in that position, and they needed to know what he wanted. Elisha told them that the only reason he’d even consider helping them was because of his respect for Jehoshaphat. Since Jehoshaphat was there, he would ask God.
He called for a minstrel to come and play soft relaxing music to settle his emotions so he would be able to hear the still small voice of God. Otherwise, his dislike of Jehoram might well prevent his hearing what God said. Unfortunately, much modern music is designed to stimulate the emotions, and emotional responses drown out God’s voice.
“And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 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.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 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.” (II Kings 3:16-19)
God directed them to dig ditches to trap water all over the valley. They would not see any wind or rain, but a storm elsewhere would cause a flashflood in the valley where they were, and if they had ditches to prevent it running off, would provide enough water for everyone. Furthermore, instead of causing them to lose to the Moabites, God was going to give them a huge victory, defeating and destroying the defenses of every major city.
While they were at it, they were to plug up the wells, cut down all the orchards and vineyards, and scatter rocks in allt eh fields to make them difficult to plow. Moab would be forced to concentrate on rebuilding their infrastructure and would be unable to retaliate as a result.
When Jehoshaphat went with Ahab, it almost resulted in his death because he was mistaken for Ahab. When he agreed to join forces in a trading venture with Ahaziah, his entire fleet was destroyed by a storm. This time his entire army was in danger of death as a result of dehydration. Seems like he ought to catch on after a while doesn’t it? An awful lot of us don't seem to catch on either.
"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. 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. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.” (II Kings 3:1-3)
Ahab had been king over Israel during the first sixteen years of Jehoshaphat’s reign. After his death early in the seventeenth year, his son Ahaziah assumed the throne. Because he so determinedly followed Ahab’s example God only let him remain in power slightly less than two years before dying of an injury late in Jehoshaphat‘s eighteenth year.
Because Ahaziah had no children, the throne was given to his younger brother, Jehoram. While Jehoram was still involved in wickedness and rejection of God, he was not as aggressive as his father Ahab or his mother Jezebel. He stopped worshipping Baal, and trying to kill God’s prophets. Like Jeroboam, he tried to modify the Jewish religion to maintain control of the people however. Because he did not do as wickedly as his parents, he was allowed to reign for twelve years.
“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. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.” (II Kings 3:4-5)
The Moabites had paid Ahab a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand Rams for many years to avoid war. They had rebelled and refused to pay it when Ahaziah became king, but he died without being able to take action.
“And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 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. ” (II Kings 3:6-7)
Like most governments, Jehoram wanted to get as much income as possible. After counting his forces, he decided to ask for Judah’s help to force Moab to pay their tribute. Jehoshaphat had been rebuked for helping Ahab about six years before, but he responded the same way he had when Ahab asked for help. He didn’t bother to ask God before committing himself.
“And he said, Which way shall we go up?
And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
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.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” (II Kings 3:8-10)
After some discussion, it was decided that rather than attack from the north, they would swing south around the Dead sea through the land of Edom and try to catch them by surprise. They enlisted the Edomite army in their effort as well. Unfortunately, the water holes they were counting on were insufficient for the army and the livestock they had taken for food. The entire force was suffering from dehydration. Without an immediate source of water, they would start dying soon.
Though they had not asked God, like most people, Jehoram blamed him when things didn’t go as he expected them to. He accused God of just bringing them out there so the Moabites could wipe them out. It is a very common response.
"But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire 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.
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.” (II Kings 3:11-12)
Rather than blaming God, Jehoshaphat suggested they ask him what they should do. Somebody mentioned that Elisha was nearby, and Jehoshaphat recommended they go ask him what God said. He, Jehoram, adnd the King of Edom all went to see Elisha.
“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.
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. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.” (II Kings 3:13-15)
When he saw Jehoram, Elisha told him they should go ask the ones they had chosen as prophets since they thought they were better than God. Jehoram insisted that they knew it was god who had put them in that position, and they needed to know what he wanted. Elisha told them that the only reason he’d even consider helping them was because of his respect for Jehoshaphat. Since Jehoshaphat was there, he would ask God.
He called for a minstrel to come and play soft relaxing music to settle his emotions so he would be able to hear the still small voice of God. Otherwise, his dislike of Jehoram might well prevent his hearing what God said. Unfortunately, much modern music is designed to stimulate the emotions, and emotional responses drown out God’s voice.
“And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 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.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 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.” (II Kings 3:16-19)
God directed them to dig ditches to trap water all over the valley. They would not see any wind or rain, but a storm elsewhere would cause a flashflood in the valley where they were, and if they had ditches to prevent it running off, would provide enough water for everyone. Furthermore, instead of causing them to lose to the Moabites, God was going to give them a huge victory, defeating and destroying the defenses of every major city.
While they were at it, they were to plug up the wells, cut down all the orchards and vineyards, and scatter rocks in allt eh fields to make them difficult to plow. Moab would be forced to concentrate on rebuilding their infrastructure and would be unable to retaliate as a result.
When Jehoshaphat went with Ahab, it almost resulted in his death because he was mistaken for Ahab. When he agreed to join forces in a trading venture with Ahaziah, his entire fleet was destroyed by a storm. This time his entire army was in danger of death as a result of dehydration. Seems like he ought to catch on after a while doesn’t it? An awful lot of us don't seem to catch on either.
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