Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay; for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab." — 2 Kings 3:13 (ASV)
Jehoram’s humility in seeking Elisha (2 Kings 3:12) instead of summoning him does not save him from rebuke. His reformation (2 Kings 3:2) had been only a half-reformation—a compromise with idolatry.
Nay: for the Lord hath called... The force of this reply seems to be: “No, do not reproach me, since I am in dire straits—and not only I, but these two other kings also. The Lord—Yahweh—is about to deliver us into the hand of Moab. If you cannot or will not help, at least do not reproach me.”