# 2 Kings 03 đ: Victory Over Moab
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Moab Fights with Israel
[[#Verse 01.]]Â In the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphatâs reign over Judah, Ahabâs son Jehoram became king over Israel in Samaria; he ruled for twelve years.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] He did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not to the same degree as his father and mother. He did remove the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] Yet he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin; he did not turn from them.
[[#Verse 04.]] Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He would send as tribute to the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.Â
[[#Verse 05.]]Â When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â At that time King Jehoram left Samaria and assembled all Israel for war.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: âThe king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you fight with me against Moab?â Jehoshaphat replied, âI will join you in the campaign; my army and horses are at your disposal.âÂ
[[#Verse 08.]] He then asked, âWhich invasion route are we going to take?â Jehoram answered, âBy the road through the wilderness of Edom.âÂ
[[#Verse 09.]] So the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom set out together. They wandered around on the road for seven days and finally ran out of water for the men and animals they had with them.
[[#Verse 10.]] The king of Israel said, âOh no! Certainly the Lord has summoned these three kings so that he can hand them over to the king of Moab!âÂ
[[#Verse 11.]] Jehoshaphat asked, âIs there no prophet of the Lord here that we might seek the Lordâs direction?â One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, âElisha son of Shapat is here; he used to be Elijahâs servant.âÂ
[[#Verse 12.]] Jehoshaphat said, âYes, he receives the Lordâs messages.â So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to visit him.
[[#Verse 13.]] Elisha said to the king of Israel, âWhy are you here? Go to your fatherâs prophets or your motherâs prophets!â The king of Israel replied to him, âNo, for the Lord is the one who summoned these three kings so that he can hand them over to Moab.âÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] Elisha said, âAs certainly as the Lord of Heavenâs Armies lives (whom I serve), if I did not respect King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not pay attention to you or acknowledge you.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] But now, get me a musician.â When the musician played, the Lord energized him,Â
[[#Verse 16.]] and he said, âThis is what the Lord has said, âMake many cisterns in this valley,âÂ
[[#Verse 17.]] for this is what the Lord has said, âYou will not feel any wind or see any rain, but this valley will be full of water, and you and your cattle and animals will drink.âÂ
[[#Verse 18.]] This is an easy task for the Lord; he will also hand Moab over to you.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] You will defeat every fortified city and every important city. You must chop down every productive tree, stop up all the springs, and cover all the cultivated land with stones.â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Sure enough, the next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water came flowing down from Edom and filled the land.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Now all Moab had heard that the kings were attacking, so everyone old enough to fight was mustered and placed at the border.Â
[[#Verse 22.]]Â When they got up early the next morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites, who were some distance away, the water looked red like blood.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] The Moabites said, âItâs blood! The kings must have fought one another! The soldiers have struck one another down! Now, Moab, seize the plunder!âÂ
[[#Verse 24.]] When they approached the Israelite camp, the Israelites rose up and struck down the Moabites, who then ran from them. The Israelites thoroughly defeated Moab.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] They tore down the cities, and each man threw a stone into every cultivated field until they were covered. They stopped up every spring and chopped down every productive tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left intact, but the soldiers armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] When the king of Moab realized he was losing the battle, he and 700 swordsmen tried to break through and attack the king of Edom, but they failed.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him up as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. There was an outburst of divine anger against Israel, so they broke off the attack and returned to their homeland.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Moabite Stone (Mesha Stele), from about 840 BC, was written by this same King Mesha. It describes Israel's rule over Moab under Omri and his son and Mesha's revolt.
2. Mesha is called a "sheep breeder" (3:4). The same Hebrew word describes the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1).
3. Moab's yearly tribute to Israel was 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams (3:4).
4. The allied armies marched seven days through the wilderness of Edom (3:8-9), likely to attack Moab from the south.
5. Jehoram removed a sacred pillar of Baal that his father Ahab had made (3:2).
6. Elisha asked for a musician before he prophesied (3:15). Music was often connected with prophecy in Israel (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1).
7. The water arrived about the time of the morning offering (3:20).
8. The Moabites saw the water red like blood in the morning sun (3:22), and they assumed the kings had turned on each other.
9. Kir Hareseth (3:25) was Moab's stronghold and is usually identified with modern Kerak in Jordan.
10. Mesha offered his firstborn son as a burnt offering on the city wall (3:27), a practice God's law strongly condemned (Deuteronomy 12:31).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the living water God provides in a dry land. The Lord filled a dry valley with water without wind or rain (3:16-17), and Jesus invites the thirsty to come to Him and drink (John 7:37-38).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Jehoram removed the pillar of Baal but held on to the sins of Jeroboam (3:2-3). Why is partial obedience so dangerous?
2. The kings made their plans first and only asked for a prophet after they ran out of water (3:9-11). How can we make seeking God our first step instead of our last resort?
3. God told them to dig ditches before there was any sign of rain (3:16-17). What would it look like for you to prepare in faith for what God has promised?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 15: As the musician plays, the hand of the Lord comes on Elisha.
- đ verses 16-17: God promises to fill the valley with water without wind or rain.
- đ verse 18: Elisha says this is an easy thing in the Lord's sight.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[John 07#Verse 37.|John 7:37-38]] - Rivers of living water flow from Jesus.
- đ [[Isaiah 41#Verse 17.|Isaiah 41:17-18]] - God opens rivers for the poor and needy.
- đ [[Psalm 107#Verse 35.|Psalm 107:35]] - He turns a desert into pools of water.
- đ [[1 Samuel 10#Verse 05.|1 Samuel 10:5]] - Prophets prophesying with music.
- đ [[Isaiah 16#Verse 07.|Isaiah 16:7]] - A lament over Kir Hareseth in Moab.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Kings 03 - SOAP|The Power of Music in Worship]]
## đ Internal Notes