◄ 2 Kings 3:7 ►
And he sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?" "I will go," replied Jehoshaphat. "I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses."
Study Bible
He also sent a message
This phrase indicates the proactive diplomatic efforts of the king of Israel, likely Jehoram, to secure an alliance. In the ancient Near Eastern context, sending messages was a formal and significant act, often involving envoys or messengers. The Hebrew root for "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) implies a deliberate and purposeful action, reflecting the urgency and importance of the situation.

to Jehoshaphat king of Judah
Jehoshaphat was a king known for his piety and reforms in Judah. His name in Hebrew (יְהוֹשָׁפָט, Yehoshaphat) means "Yahweh has judged," indicating his role as a leader under divine guidance. Historically, Jehoshaphat's reign was marked by efforts to strengthen Judah spiritually and militarily, making him a valuable ally.

The king of Moab has rebelled against me
The rebellion of Moab under King Mesha is a significant historical event, also recorded in the Mesha Stele, an archaeological artifact that corroborates the biblical account. The Hebrew word for "rebelled" (פָּשַׁע, pasha) suggests a breach of loyalty or covenant, highlighting the political tensions of the time.

Will you go with me to fight against Moab?
This question underscores the need for alliances in ancient warfare. The Hebrew verb for "go" (הָלַךְ, halak) implies a journey or campaign, indicating the seriousness of the military endeavor. The request for assistance reflects the interconnectedness of the Israelite and Judean kingdoms despite their separate political entities.

I will go
Jehoshaphat's immediate affirmative response demonstrates his willingness to support Israel, reflecting the unity and shared heritage between the two kingdoms. This phrase signifies loyalty and the importance of kinship ties in the ancient world.

I am like you, my people are your people, and my horses are your horses
This declaration of solidarity emphasizes the deep bond between Judah and Israel. The repetition of "my" and "your" highlights the mutual commitment and shared resources. The mention of "horses" (סוּס, sus) is particularly significant, as horses were valuable military assets, symbolizing strength and readiness for battle.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jehoram (Joram) of Israel
The son of Ahab and Jezebel, Jehoram was the king of Israel who sought an alliance with Judah to fight against Moab.

2. Jehoshaphat of Judah
The king of Judah known for his faithfulness to God, Jehoshaphat agreed to ally with Jehoram against Moab.

3. Moab
A neighboring nation that rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab, leading to the conflict described in this passage.

4. The Alliance
The event where Jehoram seeks Jehoshaphat's help to subdue the Moabite rebellion, highlighting political and military alliances in the ancient Near East.

5. The Rebellion of Moab
The catalyst for the events in this chapter, where Moab, under King Mesha, rebels against Israelite control.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly Alliances
Jehoshaphat's alliance with Jehoram serves as a reminder to seek God's guidance in forming partnerships, ensuring they align with His will.

Unity Among God's People
Jehoshaphat's response, "I am like you, my people are your people," highlights the importance of unity among believers, even when facing external threats.

Discernment in Leadership
Leaders must exercise discernment in their alliances and decisions, seeking God's wisdom to avoid compromising their spiritual integrity.

The Consequences of Rebellion
Moab's rebellion against Israel serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of defying God's established order.

Faithfulness in Adversity
Despite the political and military challenges, Jehoshaphat's faithfulness to God is a model for maintaining spiritual integrity in difficult times.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Jehoshaphat's willingness to ally with Jehoram, and how does this apply to our relationships and partnerships today?

2. How does the alliance between Israel and Judah in this passage reflect the broader theme of unity among God's people found throughout Scripture?

3. In what ways can we seek God's guidance and wisdom when faced with decisions about alliances or partnerships in our own lives?

4. How does the rebellion of Moab illustrate the consequences of turning away from God's authority, and what lessons can we draw for our personal spiritual journey?

5. Reflecting on Jehoshaphat's leadership, how can we balance political or social responsibilities with our commitment to God and His principles?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 22
This chapter provides background on Jehoshaphat's previous alliance with Ahab, Jehoram's father, showing a pattern of political alliances.

2 Chronicles 18
Offers a parallel account of Jehoshaphat's alliances, emphasizing his willingness to join forces with Israel despite differing spiritual commitments.

Psalm 83
A prayer for God's intervention against a coalition of nations, including Moab, which can be seen as a spiritual backdrop to the military conflicts involving Israel and Judah.
Sermons
Forgetting God, and its ResultsC.H. Irwwin 2 Kings 3:4-12
The Alliance of the Three KingsJ. Orr 2 Kings 3:6-8
Worldly Rulers - Men in Trial Seeking Help from a Godly ManD. Thomas 2 Kings 3:6-12
People
Ahab, Aram, Elijah, Elisha, Israelites, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, Jeroboam, Mesha, Moabites, Nebat, Shaphat
Places
Edom, Kir-hareseth, Moab, Samaria
Topics
Authority, Battle, Fight, Free, Got, Horses, Jehoshaphat, Jehosh'aphat, Judah, Moab, Rebelled, Replied, Saying, Transgressed, War, Wilt
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 3:4-7

     7233   Israel, northern kingdom

Library
Sight and Blindness
'Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that them pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Minstrel
ELISHA needed that the Holy Spirit should come upon him to inspire him with prophetic utterances. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." We need that the hand of the Lord should be laid upon us, for we can never open our mouths in wisdom except we are under the divine touch. Now, the Spirit of God works according to his own will. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," and the Spirit of God operates as he chooseth. Elisha could not prophesy just when he liked; he must wait until …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 27: 1881

The Old Testament and Archeology
A century ago the student of the world's history found it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to paint for himself a clear picture of events antedating B.C. 400. Concerning earlier periods, he was, aside from the Old Testament, practically without records that could claim contemporaneousness with the events recorded. But, one hundred years ago, men had commenced to test every statement, be it historical, or scientific, or theological, by severe canons of criticism, and if it could not stand …
Frederick Carl Eiselen—The Christian View of the Old Testament

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's Answer, Briefly Considered.
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with, thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression; the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?--He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good: And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" As mankind are …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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