Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 3:15

"But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Jehovah came upon him." — 2 Kings 3:15 (ASV)

Bring me a minstrel.— Mĕnaggçn — i.e., a harper, player on a stringed instrument (nĕgînâh). Elisha called for music as a natural means of calming his perturbed spirit (2 Kings 3:13–14). Composure and serenity of soul were essential if the prophet was to hear the voice of God within.

Cicero tells us that the Pythagoreans were accustomed to tranquilize their minds after the strain of thought with harp music and singing (Tusc. IV. 2). (Compare 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1, Note.) The incident is a striking mark of the historical truth of the narrative.

And it came to pass. —Perfect with weak waw: a later idiom. (Compare 1 Samuel 17:48.)

The hand of the Lord came upon him. —The Targum and some manuscripts have “the Spirit of the Lord;” but compare 1 Kings 18:46.