2 Kings 3:16-27 - I will fill the valley with pools of water

3:16-23

Elisha tells them that the Lord will “fill this valley with pools of water”. This would be a supernatural eve, God would also deliver Moab into their hands. The next morning the water came. The Moabites looked down and saw the water glistening, they thought it was blood and that Israel was in big trouble. So they set out to attack them.

3:24-27

The Moabites came to the camp, but the Israelites rose up and attacked them.  They invaded the land and slaughtered the Israelites. The king of Moab tried to turn the course of the battle, but failed. He even sacrificed his son in a vain attempt to get the aid of his god. Unsurprisingly this did not work either. Godless people will do stupid things.

2 KIngs 3:8-15 - By what route shall we attack?

3:8-11

Jehoshaphat was pleased to help Israel. However he did not seek the Lord. They went through edom because it was something of a vassal state. However, they ran out of water. Joram thought they were all doomed because the Lord was against them. As in the time of Ahab, Jehoshaphat says they should consult a prophet, The king of Israel was informed that Elisha was around, and that he had served with Elijah.

3:12-15

Jehoshaphat said that Elisha was a true man of God. So he, the king of Israel and the king of Edom went down to Elisha. Elisha was not impressed, telling the king of Israel to go to “the prophets of his mother”. The king of Israel replied that they were acting according to the will of the Lord. Elisha responds that it is only because of Jehoshaphat  that he will give them the time of day. So he asked  for a harpist. Music helped him to prophesy.

2 Kings 3:1-7 - He did evil in the eyes of the Lord

3:1-3

Joram becomes king, he was the son of Ahab, Ahazia does not seem to have had any sons. He reigned for twelve years. He was bad, but not as bad as Ahab, having got rid of the sacred stone of Baal. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam. Sin is a very destructive thing that can have a terrible hold on us.

3:4-7

Mesha was a king of Moab in the ninth century BC, and Moab had to pay a heavy tribute to Israel. After the death of Ahab, Mesha saw this as an opportunity to escape this tribute, so he rebelled against Israel. In response, Joram mobilised all Israel, he also sought the support of Jehoshaphat, much as his father had done. 

2 Kings 2:16-23 - Baldy!

2:16-22

The prophets also wanted to go and look for Elijah. Elisha told them this would be a waste of time, but they insisted. As Elisha had said, they returned without having found Elijah. Elijah went into the city (Jericho). The water was bad, but Elisha healed it, so they too knew he was indeed a man of God.

2:23

However, Elisha was not respected by everyone. He was jeered at by a group of boys, who called him “baldy” and told him “to get out of here”. In response Elisha called down a curse (God’s judgement on man’s sin”, and two  bears came out of the woods and mauled the boys (forty two of them). Elisha went to Mount Carmel, the scene of Elijah’s triumph, and then returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 2:10-15 - A difficult thing

2:10

Elijah replies that this is a difficult thing to give. It is not clear why he says this since God has told him to anoint Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)., maybe it is because it is out of Elijah’s hands, but is up to God. Elijah then gives a test.

2:11-15

Elijah is then suddenly taken away by a chariot of fire. Elisha saw this, thus fulfilling Elijah’s test, then he saw Elijah no more. Elijah’s cloak had fallen from him and Elisha picked it up. With it he strikes the water, and the water divided again, signifying that God was with him. The company of prophets also saw  this, so they too knew that Elisha was anointed by God.

2 Kings 2:6-9 - stay here

2:6-8

Elijah is now sent to the Jordan. Again he fails to shake off Elisha. Previously the fire had demonstrated that Elijah was a man of God, now Elijah takes his cloak and divides the water with it, reminiscent of Moses and the Red Sea. So Elijah and Elisha crossed on dry land.

2:9

Elijah then asks Elisha “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” This is maybe a test for Elisha, Elisha answers well asking for a “double portion of your spirit”, i.e. he asks for more of the anointing from God that Elijah has, Elisha knows what was truly important.

2 Kings 2:1-5 - The Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven

2:1-3

We now come to Elijah’s departure, he was taken up to heaven rather than actually dying. It is also the handover to Elisha, his successor.  Elijah wants to be alone, trying to persuade Elisha to “star here”. We are not told why Elijah did not want Elisha to be with him, but Elisha is insistent that he will not leave Elijah. At Bethel he is met by the “company of prophets”, they tell Elisha  that Elijah is going to be taken away that day. Elisha replies that he knows this but does not want to hear anymore about it.

2:4,5

Elijah is now sent to Jericho and once again tries to get away from Elisha, with an equal lack of success. The prophets at Jericho meet Elisha and get the came response as the ones at Bethel.