Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Kings
Book: 2 Kings
Chapter: 3
Overview:
Jehoram,
King of
Israel.
(1-5) War with
Moab, The intercession
of
Elisha.
(6-19) Water supplied,
Moab overcome.
(20-27)
1-5 Jehoram took warning
By God's
Judgment, and
Put away the
image of
Baal, yet he maintained the
Worship of the calves.
Those do not truly repent or reform, who only part with the sins
they lose
By, but continue to
Love the sins that they think to
gain
By.
6-19 The
King of
Israel laments their distress, and the danger
they were in. He called these
Kings together, yet he charges it
upon
Providence. Thus the foolishness of
Man perverteth his way,
and then his
Heart fretteth against the
Lord, Pr 19:3. It was
Well that
Jehoshaphat inquired of the
Lord now, but it had been
much better if he had done it before he engaged in this
War.
Good men sometimes neglect their duty, till necessity and
affliction drive them to it. Wicked people often fare the better
for the friendship and society of the godly. To try their
Faith
and obedience,
Elisha bids them make the
Valley full of pits to
receive water. Those who expect
God's blessings, must dig pools
for the
Rain to fill, as in the
Valley of Baca, and thus make
even that a
Well, Ps 84:6. We need not inquire whence the
water came.
God is not tied to second causes. They that
sincerely seek for the
Dew of
God's
Grace, shall have it, and
By
it be made more than conquerors.
20-27 It is a blessing to be favoured with the company of those
who have power with
God, and can prevail
By their prayers. A
kingdom may be upheld and prosper, in consequence of the fervent
prayers of those who are dear to
God. May we place our highest
regard upon such as are most precious in his account. When
sinners are saying Peace, peace,
Destruction comes upon them:
despair will follow their mad presumption. In
Satan's service
and at his suggestion, such horrid deeds have been done, as
cause the natural feelings of the
Heart to shudder; like the
King of
Moab's sacrificing his son. It is
Well not to urge the
worst of men to extremities; we should rather leave them to the
Judgment of
God.