2 Kings 3:11

But (and) Jehoshaphat... by him? — The same question is asked by Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22:7.

By him. — Heb., from with him (mç’ôthô for mç’ittô, both here and in the parallel place — a mark of the same hand). Jehoshaphat is for “seeking Jehovah” through a prophet, in contrast with Jehoram, who at once despairs. (Comp. Amos 5:4; Amos 5:8; and Note on 1 Chronicles 13:3; 2 Chronicles 15:2.)

One of the king of Israel’s servants. — One of the king’s staff, who, like Obadiah (1 Kings 18:3), was perhaps a friend of the prophets of Jehovah.

Here is Elisha. — The prophet must have followed the army of his own accord, or rather, as Keil suggests, under a Divine impulse, in order that, when the hour of trial came, he might point Jehoram to Jehovah as the only true God.

Which poured water on the hands of Elijah. — Was the personal attendant of that greatest of prophets. The phrase alludes to the well-known Oriental custom of the servant pouring water from a ewer on his master’s hands to wash them.