DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus

\Home\

Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2017 November 24




Image 1: Valley With Blood-Like Deposits
National Geographic Photo
National Geographic Photography
Image Source: National Geographic

~~~~~~~~~~

Image 2: The Sacrifice of Iphigenia (c. 1749)
Francesco Fontebasso (1707-1769)
Late-Baroque Also Called Rococo Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


SPECIAL NOTE:

[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]


     Explanation: The chief event of 2 Kings 3 is the defeat of Moab by the combined forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom. [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart].
     Jehoram, King of Israel, put away the Baal image of his father Ahab; but he clung to the sins of Jeroboam (1-3).
     Mesha, King of Moab, rebelled against Jehoram after Ahab died. So Jehoram asked Jehoshaphat, King of Judah to join him in fighting Mesha. They also included the King of Edom among their forces (4-8).
     As their forces advanced they came to a place where they had no water for themselves or their animals. Jehoshaphat suggested that they seek the counsel of Elisha. For Jehoshaphat's sake Elisha consented to consult the LORD on their behalf (9-14).
     A minstrel helped Elisha to enter a frame of mind in which he more receptive to hearing from the LORD. And, through Elisha, the LORD told the assembled kings to make the valley full of ditches which he would fill with water without using rain so that they and their animals could drink. He also promised to enable them to defeat the Moabites. He instructed them to bring the land to ruin. In the morning the land filled with water with a flow which came from Edom (15-20).
     When the Moabites saw the water, the morning sun was shining on it, making it look like blood. They presumed that the armies of three kings had slain one another; and they went to take the spoil. However, they fell into the hands of three kings who slaughtered them and devastated their land. The king of Moab took 700 elite forces and tried to break through to the king of Edom, but he could not. So, in desperation, he sacrificed his eldest son to his god Chemosh upon the wall. "And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land." The commentators have various ideas about the source and nature of the "indignation" mentioned in the preceding sentence. Some think that the indignation is from the LORD; some think that Edom was indignant with Israel and perhaps with Judah; some think that Judah (and Edom) were indignant with Israel. As for the nature of the indignation, there is general agreement that it came because the king of Moab was driven to the extremity of sacrificing his son. However, a natural reading of the text is that those who departed (Judah and Edom) did so because of the indignation, whether it was their indignation or the LORD's indignation that caused this reaction. But the LORD wanted severe measures to be brought against Moab, so it seems unlikely that the LORD was indignant. My conclusion is that the human sensibilities (rather than the divine) were stirred to the point of indignation, causing Judah and Edom to depart from Israel. I believe that the indignation was out of accord with the divine and righteous sensibilities of the LORD, whose underlying intent with Moab and all of Israel's enemies was to rid the land of them (21-27).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Stuart Olyott. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's images depict two of the key features of the battle against Edom. The First Illustration is of a valley that seems to be full of blood -- falsely so, both in the image and in today's chapter. The Second Illustration is of a human sacrifice which was given to appease the gods -- a female sacrifice in the painting, and a male sacrifice in the Scriptures. ]







RESOURCES

PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.


          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Kings 3:
     [Chapter 3: Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 1:1.]
     [1] 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 8:16.
     [2] 2 Kings 9:30; 2 Kings 10:18-28; 1 Kings 16:31-32; 2 Kings 10:26-27; 2 Chronicles 34:4.
     [3] 1 Kings 12:28; 1 Kings 16:2; 1 Kings 16:26; 2 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 13:6; 2 Kings 13:11.
     [4] 2 Kings 1:1; Amos 1:1; Isaiah 16:1.
     [7] 1 Kings 22:4; 1 Kings 20:1-34; 1 Kings 22:1-37; 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 20:37.
     [8] 2 Kings 8:28; 1 Kings 22:48.
     [9] Judges 5:15.
     [11] 1 Kings 22:7; Amos 5:4; Amos 5:8; 1 Chronicles 13:3; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Kings 18:3.
     [13] 1 Kings 18:19; 1 Kings 22:6; 1 Kings 22:11; Ruth 1:13.
     [14] 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:15; 2 Kings 3:10; 2 Kings 3:11; 2 Kings 3:3; Genesis 19:21; Genesis 32:21.
     [15] 2 Kings 3:13-14; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1; 1 Samuel 17:48; 1 Kings 18:46.
     [16] Deuteronomy 2:13; Isaiah 15:7; Genesis 14:10; Jeremiah 14:3-4.
     [18] 1 Kings 16:31; 2 Kings 3:10; 2 Kings 3:13.
     [19] 2 Kings 8:12-13;Deuteronomy 20:19; Genesis 26:15; Genesis 26:18; Isaiah 24:4; Jeremiah 12:4.
     [20] 1 Kings 18:29; 1 Kings 18:36; Exodus 29:38; 2 Kings 7:1-2.
     [21] Judges 7:23.
     [22] 2 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 2:15.
     [23] Judges 7:22; 2 Chronicles 20:23.
     [24] 1 Kings 12:12.
     [25] Isaiah 15:1; Isaiah 16:11.
     [27] 2 Kings 1:1; Micah 6:7; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Psalm 106:37-3; Amos 2:1; 2 Chronicles 19:10; 2 Chronicles 24:18; 1 Chronicles 16:25-26; 1 Chronicles 17:21; Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24; 2 Kings 1:1.
     -- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]


          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]




HARMONY OF THE LAW


John Calvin - CCEL | Analytical Chart - BLB




GOSPEL HARMONIES

Gospel Harmony - Summary | The Harmony of the Gospels - Augustine | Gospel Harmony Chart - Online Bible

Greek Harmony of the Gospels - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF) | Gospel Harmony in English - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF)


HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES


Hebrew and Greek Interlinear Download - Scripture 4 All

Bible Hub Interlinear Hebrew and Greek Bible


Bible Hub Hebrew Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Hebrew Interlinear


Mounce Interlinear | Bible Hub Greek Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Greek Interlinear Bible





1 Kings Detailed Outline



2 Kings 3

Notes: In the Hebrew Bible 1 Kings and 2 Kings were one Book. Overlapping dates for various kings indicate overlapping reigns (co-regencies).

1. The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1:1 - 1 Kings 11:43) - 971 - 931 B.C. Israel

2. The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 12:1 - 2 Kings 25:30) - 931 - 560 B.C. Israel

M. Joram of Israel (2 Kings 2:1 - 8:15) - {852-841 B.C.}

2. Events in the Kingdom (2 Kings 3:1-27)



Map | Time Line


     1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
     4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. 8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
     9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13 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 the LORD hath called these three kings, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
     15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches [pools, pools]. 17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones . 20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
     21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. 22 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: 23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain [being slain they were slain], and they have smitten one another [a man his fellow]: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. 24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites even in their country [smiting they are smiting Moab within her]. 25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. 27 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.




Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2017, Scott Souza