Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
2 Kings 3:8-14
C. The Invasion Plan Goes Wrong And The Invaders Find Themselves In Jeopardy Through Lack Of Water With The Result That Jehoshaphat Desires The Advice Of A Prophet Of YHWH (2 Kings 3:8).
The alliance decided that they would invade Moab by going round the bottom of the Deed Sea and approaching Moab from the south, although even then avoiding the usual route. By this means they avoided the strings of forts that Moab had renewed and established. But the route that they took meant travelling through the wilderness of Edom, and this resulted in great hardship due to lack of water. This was something that affected both the army themselves, their chariot horses and the herds which provided food and milk to the army, and their resulting condition was such that as they approached Moab (and were unable to turn back to face the return journey through the same wilderness) they foresaw disaster and defeat staring them in the face.
This moved Jehoshaphat to request that they consult a prophet of YHWH, and the result was that Elisha was called on. This was interesting as it demonstrates that 1). Jehoshaphat expected Jehoram to have a prophet of YHWH available, and 2). that Elisha was somehow available, probably accompanying the troops with some of the sons of the prophets in order to use the opportunity to bring home the message of YHWH to the Israelite army. War presented an evangelistic opportunity. It may, however, be that he had also tagged along because he had had an intimation from YHWH of what would happen.
Analysis.
a And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.” So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and they made a circuit of seven days' journey, and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts which followed them (2 Kings 3:8).
b And the king of Israel said, “Alas! for YHWH has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:10).
c But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here a prophet of YHWH, that we may enquire of YHWH by him?” And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11).
d And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of YHWH is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him (2 Kings 3:12).
c And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Get yourself to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother” (2 Kings 3:13 a).
b And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for YHWH has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:13 b).
a And Elisha said, “As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look towards you, nor see you” (2 Kings 3:14).
Note that in ‘a' the alliance of kings of Israel, Judah and Edom, advanced on Moab from the south, and in the parallel it was because the king of Judah was among them that Elisha would help them. In ‘b' the king of Israel surmised that the three had been gathered together in order to be delivered into the hands of the king of Moab, and in the parallel he declared the same to Elisha. In ‘c' Jehoshaphat asked whether there was no prophet of YHWH to guide them, and was informed that Elisha was available, and in the parallel Elisha refused to acknowledge that the king of Israel deserved such guidance. Let him look to the gods that he and his house had chosen. Centrally in ‘d' Jehoshaphat acknowledged Elisha as a true prophet of YHWH and both kings went to consult him.
‘And he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”
These words, of course, summarise what was probably a lengthy process as different alternatives were discussed. The initial question was, ‘which way shall we go?', and the final decision was to take ‘the way of the wilderness of Edom'.
‘So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and they made a circuit of seven days' journey, and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts which followed them.'
The ‘king of Edom' is now seen as incorporated in the alliance. Edom was ruled by Jehoshaphat's deputy (1 Kings 22:47), but Israel would be keen to demonstrate their gratitude for his support, and they demonstrated this by calling him by the courtesy title ‘king' (melek). (Compare how Herod the Tetrarch was often called ‘king' for a similar reason). Like many courtesies it cost nothing but could make a great difference to his cooperation. A ‘seven day journey' indicated a longer journey in contrast to a ‘three day journey' (see Genesis were these two descriptions regularly occur). It does not indicate the actual length of time taken, but the ‘average' time taken. Had they taken the shorter route it would have been called a ‘three day journey'. The point was that they made a wide circuit, coming at Moab from the south-east, in other words from an unexpected, and relatively undefended, angle. But it was a miscalculation because due to the weather, and the terrain, and the length of time taken, combined with the size of their forces, it meant that they had great difficulty in finding sufficient water, either for themselves or their horses and cattle. (That was partly why the approach was relatively undefended. Only desert tribes came from that angle).
‘And the king of Israel said, “Alas! for YHWH has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” '
The situation became so desperate that the king of Israel foresaw disaster. He visualised a severely weakened army being at the mercy of the Moabites. Note his reference to YHWH. His destruction of the Baal pillar indicated that he gave at least some allegiance to YHWH, even though Elisha would not be impressed by it.
‘But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here a prophet of YHWH, that we may enquire of YHWH by him?” And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”
Jehoshaphat was, however, a man of stronger faith. And he asked whether there might be a prophet of YHWH present through whom they could make enquiries of YHWH. One of the courtiers of the king of Israel was aware that Elisha was with the troops. Elisha was at this stage clearly not well known, apart from in prophetic circles, and was described in terms of the relationship that he had had with Elijah. Everyone by now knew about Elijah! The fact that the king of Israel did not know of his presence demonstrates that he had not been taken along officially.
‘Poured water on the hands of Elijah.' That is, was his personal servant, which would be evidence that he was a respected prophet.
‘And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of YHWH is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.'
In Jehoshaphat's mind the close connection with Elijah established the fact that ‘the word of YHWH is with him'. Elijah's reputation was by now legendary, and any close servant of his must be a reliable prophet. So the three kings went to seek out Elisha in order to consult him.
‘And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Get yourself to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.”
When Elisha saw the king of Israel approaching and gathered that he wanted to consult him, he demonstrated his opinion of him by wanting nothing to do with him. If he wanted prophetic help let him got to ‘the prophets of his father, and the prophets of his mother'. This is the second time we have seen Jezebel especially mentioned (compare 2 Kings 3:2), indicating the importance of her influence on the kingdom. And she was still alive and consulting her prophets, while seemingly, to Elisha's knowledge, Jehoram had also not disbanded his father's prophets, even though he might not have used them. His excuse was probably loyalty to his mother's wishes in this regard.
‘And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for YHWH has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” '
But the king was determined not to take ‘no' for an answer, and he rejected Elisha's refusal on the grounds that there was no point in consulting the prophets of Baal and Asherah when it was clearly YHWH who had delivered Israel into the hand of Moab. Jehoram was in the sad position that the influence of his father and mother had directed him towards Baal worship whereas he himself paid more honour to YHWH. But it should be noted that it was a limited faith as is evidenced by his attitude towards the syncretistic sanctuaries of Jeroboam. A wholehearted faith in YHWH could only have led to restrictions on the influence of Jezebel. But it was wholehearted enough for him to recognise in what was happening the hand of YHWH.
‘And Elisha said, “As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look towards you, nor see you.” '
Elisha's reply was to indicate that had it not been that the godly Jehoshaphat was involved with them, he would not have even deigned to notice them. But in the presence of Jehoshaphat, a faithful servant of YHWH, he would be willing to speak. The implication from this was that YHWH was willing to help because of His love for Jehoshaphat.