John Gill Commentary


John Gill 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)
And Elisha said to the king of Israel, what have I to do
with you ?
&c.] An idolater; I can hold no discourse nor have any conversation with you, nor give you any advice or assistance:
get you to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your
mother ;
the prophets of Baal, and of the groves:
and the king of Israel said to him, nay ;
meaning, he would not apply to them, who he was sensible could give him no relief, only to the Lord God, from whom this affliction was, and therefore begs he would pray to him to have mercy on them; so the Targum, ``I beseech you remember not the sins of that wickedness, pray for mercy for us:''
for the Lord has called these three kings together, to deliver them
into the hand of Moab ;
signifying, that he should not perish alone, but the other two kings with him, who had no connection with the prophets of your father and your mother in their idolatry, and therefore hoped for their sakes mercy would be shown.