Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. THe eighteenth yeer of Jeh…shaphat] When Jehoram his son was vice-roy. See chap. 1. 17. and 8. 6. and 1 King. 22▪ 51.
V. 2. evill] As is exemplified, v. 3.
not like his father] Ahab. See 1 King. 16. 33.
and like his mother] Jezebel. See 1 King. 16. 31.
image] Heb. statue.
V. 3. sins of Jeroboam] See the notes on 1 King. 16. 19.
V. 4. sheep-master] A possessour of many sheep. His countrey abounded with that kinde of cattle, Isai. 16. 1.
rendred] By way of tribute every yeer. See chap. 1. v. 1.
to the king of Israel] For after the revolt of the ten tribes, the kings of Israel held that jurisdiction over Moab, which David had got, 2 Sam. 8. 2. For Moab was on the other side of Jordan, and coasted upon the tribes which belonged to the kingdom of Israel, Num. 21. 13.
with the wooll] At the best time, when they were most worth.
V. 5. Ahab was dead] Chap. 1. 1.
rebelled] See chap. 1. v. 1.
V. 6. the same time] Heb. in that day. When Moab began to rebell, which was in the beginning of his reign, yea, somewhat before, chap. 1. 1.
numbred] Took a view of, as 2 Sam. 24. 1. or mustered them.
V. 7. wilt thou go, &c.] See 1 King. 22. 4.
I am as thou art, &c.] 1 King. 22. 4.
V. 8. he] Jehoshaphat.
wildernesse of Edom] Because he had obtained ayd from Edom.
V. 9. king of Edom] Who was onelyonly a deputy there (1 Kin. 22. 48.) but called king, because he was the supreme governour in Edom.
a compasse] About the wildernesse of Edom.
that followed them] Heb. at their feet.
V. 10. Alas] A word of despair.
that the Lord] He impiously laies the blame of their distresse upon the LORD, as chap. 6. 33.
V. 11. poured water] Ministred unto him as an houshold servant.
V. 12. The word of the Lord] Jehoshaphat supposed that he was now in the place of Elijah, and had his spirit, chap. 1. 16. 1 King. 18. 18. and 21. 20.
V▪ 13. What have I to do with thee?] Heb. What to thee and me? So Joh. 2. 4. This shews that the spirit of Elijah was in him.
get thee to the prophets] He upbraideth to him his toleration of those false prophets that could give him no safe counsell. Of these prophets, see 1 King. 18. 19.
three kings] Hereby he pleads favour, if not for himself alone, yet for the two other kings joyned with him.
to deliver, &c.] His guilty conscience made him misgive the worst.
V. 14. As the Lord] See 1 King 17. 1.
of Jehoshaphat] For his piety and integrity. It was not the number of three, but the goodnesse of one of the three which most wrought upon the prophet.
V. 15. a minstrel] The Hebrew word signifieth any kinde of musician, whether by singing or playing on instrument: prophets used to have such (1 Sam. 10. 5.) and that to quicken their spirits, and to rouze them up from dulnesse and heavinesse. The minstrell or musician, here intended, might be some Levite, skilfull in singing divine Psalms, and playing them on a lute, harp, or other like instrument.
the hand of the Lord] A divine motion of Gods spirit stirred him up to prophesie as he did.
V. 16. valley full of ditches] The doubling of the Hebrew (thus, ditches, ditches) importeth very many. See chap. 4. v. 3.
V. 17. Ye shall not see winde] No ordinary means to cause water: as there was no ordinary means to cause fire, 1 King. 18. 38.
V. 18. but a light] Though in kinde and benefit it be a very great thing, yet to the LORD it seems but small: for he intends a far greater blessing.
V. 19. ye shall smite] This is by prediction, promise, and command, as 1 Sam. 15. 3. chap. 8. 12. and 1 King. 20. 28.
fell every good tree] This was extraordinary for this time. It was forbidden, Deut. 20. 19. God would have them so spoiled every way, as they might have no power to rebell again.
marre] Heb. grieve.
V. 20. when the meat-offering] The ordinary morning sacrifice (Exod. 29. 39.) When the true and faithfull ministers of the LORD were at their devotions. A like at the evening sacrifice, 1 King. 18. 36.
V. 21. gathered] Heb. were cryed together.
all that were able] Both younger and elder: such as never before went to warre, and old souldiers; as Josh. 8. 26.
put on armour] Heb. gird himself with a girdle.
in the border] In the outmost coast of their own land. For theirs was a defensive war.
V. 22. red] For the morning and evening sun will make water look red.
V. 23. are surely slain] Heb. by destroying are destroyed.
…ne another] Heb. a man his neighbour.
Moab, to the spoil] An incitation of one another.
V. 24. they went forward smiting] Or, they smote in it even smiting. The Israelites having put the Moabites to flight, pursued the victory, and slew them every where in the fields, and in the cities.
V. 25. they beat down, &c.] As was foretold, and enjoyned, v. 19.
onelyonly in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof] Heb. untill he left the stones thereof in Kir-haraseth.
Kir-haraseth] The chiefest and strongest city in Moab: so called by reason of the workmanship and strength of the wals. Mention is made of it, Jere. 16. 7, 11.
the stones] The strong stone-wall, which they could not demolish.
the slingers] Engineers, who with such violence forced stones against a wall out of their engines, as now gunners shoot bullets.
they smote it] Or, battered it.
V. 26. that drew sword] That were valorous and well exercised in war.
to break, &c.] To break thorow the king of Edoms troops, to have seized on that king.
but they could not] Yet, it seems, they took his son, v. 27.
V. 27. his eldest son] This relative HIS may have reference to the king of Moab, or of Edom: for both are mentioned in the verse before. If to the former, then he offered his own son and heir to his god, to move him by such an extraordinary sacrifice to …p in that desperate case. A folly worse then that of the Baalites, 1 King. 18. 28. If it have reference to the king of Edom, then was his son, being taken, in the hands of the king of Moab, who in a spitefull revenge thus offered him up, Amos 2. 1.
great indignation against Israel] By the king of Edom and his souldiers, or the king of Judah and his souldiers. Or there might be great indignation and vexation of spirit upon, or among the Israelites themselves, by reason of that desperate and miserable fact of the king of Moab.
they departed] Being much troubled at that lamentable spectacle.