Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 3

THE REIGN OF JEHORAM OF ISRAEL, AND HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST MOAB, IN WHICH JEHOSHAPHAT OF JUDAH TAKES PART.

Began to reign. —Literally, reigned.

The eighteenth year. —Compare Note on 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 8:16.

Wrought evil. — He did evil in the eyes, and so on; that is, he maintained the illicit worship of the bullock at Bethel (2 Kings 3:3).

Like his mother. — Jezebel lived throughout his reign (2 Kings 9:30), which explains why he did not eradicate Baal worship (2 Kings 10:18–28).

For he put away. — And he removed, that is, from its place in the temple of Baal (compare to 1 Kings 16:31–32). It must have been restored afterwards, probably by the influence of Jezebel (compare to 2 Kings 10:26–27, and Notes).

The image. — Pillar (compare to 2 Chronicles 34:4). The Septuagint, Vulgate, and Arabic read “pillars” (a different pointing); and the Septuagint adds at the end, “and brake them in pieces.” This seems original. Ahab would likely have set up more than one pillar to Baal.

He cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam. — 1 Kings 12:28 and following, 1 Kings 16:2, 1 Kings 16:26.

From it. — Hebrew, from it (a collective feminine). So in 2 Kings 13:2, 2 Kings 13:6, 2 Kings 13:11.

The revolt of Moab, continued from 2 Kings 1:1. Ahaziah did not reign two full years, and his accident seems to have prevented any attempt on his part to subdue the Moabites.

Mesha.—The name means “deliverance, salvation,” and occurs on the monument set up by this king, describing his victories and buildings (see Note on 2 Kings 1:1).

A sheep-master.—Hebrew, nôqçd (Amos 1:1). In Arabic, naqad means a kind of sheep of superior wool, and naqqâd means the owner or shepherd of such sheep. The land of Moab is mountainous but well-watered and rich in fertile valleys, and was therefore especially suited for pasture; and the Arabian wilderness lay open to the Moabite shepherds and their flocks.

Rendered.—Used to render (waw conversive of the perfect); namely, year by year. This tribute is referred to in Isaiah 16:1.

With the wool.—Rather, in wool (an accusative of limitation). The word rendered “lambs” (kârîm) means lambs fatted for food. The expression “in wool,” therefore, relates only to the rams. Mesha’s annual tribute was paid in kind and consisted of a hundred thousand fatted lambs and the fleeces of a hundred thousand rams. This was a heavy burden for a country no larger than the county of Huntingdon (compare Mesha’s own allusions to the “oppression” of Moab by Omri and Ahab, 2 Kings 1:1, Note).

The Septuagint adds, ἐν τῇ ἐπαναστάσει (“in the revolt”), implying that this present rebellion was distinct from that of 2 Kings 1:1, and that this tribute was imposed as an indemnity for the former revolt. This addition is probably due to a transcriber.

But. — And.

When. —So some manuscripts. The ordinary text has, “about the time of Ahab’s death” (ke for be).

Rebelled — i.e., refused payment of the annual tribute.