2 kings 3:13 - Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
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What does "2 kings 3:13" mean?
This verse (2 Kings 3:13) is part of a larger story where the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom have joined forces to fight against Moab, who had rebelled against Israel's control. They are traveling through the desert and have run out of water, putting their entire army in peril. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you?": Elisha, the prophet of God, is showing his disdain for Jehoram, the king of Israel. Elisha is essentially saying, "Why are you coming to me?" This is likely because Jehoram was still involved in idol worship, the practices of which were condemned by prophets such as Elijah and Elisha. Elisha viewed Jehoram as not being wholeheartedly devoted to the God of Israel.
"Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.": This is sarcastic and accusatory. Elisha is referring to the prophets of Baal and other false gods that Jehoram's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, had promoted. It is a way of highlighting Jehoram's family's history of idolatry and suggesting that he should seek help from the idols that his family had supported.
"The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.": The king defends his presence before Elisha by arguing that it was Yahweh (the God of Israel) who brought them together. He seems to believe that this predicament, though dire, is part of God's plan to deliver them to Moab. The king implies that the three of them being in this situation means it is part of a greater calling, a divine assignment from God. Note that the king's use of Yahweh's name could be insincere or out of desperation. He is trying to appeal to Elisha, despite their strained relationship, by attributing their situation to the will of Yahweh.
In summary:
Elisha is initially reluctant to help the king of Israel because of the king's and his family's idolatrous practices. He sarcastically suggests the king should seek help from the prophets of the false gods his parents worshiped. The king, desperate for help due to their dire situation, insists that it was Yahweh who brought them together, implying that God has a purpose for them in this campaign against Moab, and therefore Elisha should help. The king's statement is likely an attempt to appeal to Elisha's sense of duty and faith, despite the king's own flawed religious practices.
2 kings 3:13 - Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
What does "2 kings 3:13" mean?
This verse (2 Kings 3:13) is part of a larger story where the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom have joined forces to fight against Moab, who had rebelled against Israel's control. They are traveling through the desert and have run out of water, putting their entire army in peril. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you?": Elisha, the prophet of God, is showing his disdain for Jehoram, the king of Israel. Elisha is essentially saying, "Why are you coming to me?" This is likely because Jehoram was still involved in idol worship, the practices of which were condemned by prophets such as Elijah and Elisha. Elisha viewed Jehoram as not being wholeheartedly devoted to the God of Israel.
"Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.": This is sarcastic and accusatory. Elisha is referring to the prophets of Baal and other false gods that Jehoram's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, had promoted. It is a way of highlighting Jehoram's family's history of idolatry and suggesting that he should seek help from the idols that his family had supported.
"The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.": The king defends his presence before Elisha by arguing that it was Yahweh (the God of Israel) who brought them together. He seems to believe that this predicament, though dire, is part of God's plan to deliver them to Moab. The king implies that the three of them being in this situation means it is part of a greater calling, a divine assignment from God. Note that the king's use of Yahweh's name could be insincere or out of desperation. He is trying to appeal to Elisha, despite their strained relationship, by attributing their situation to the will of Yahweh.
In summary:
Elisha is initially reluctant to help the king of Israel because of the king's and his family's idolatrous practices. He sarcastically suggests the king should seek help from the prophets of the false gods his parents worshiped. The king, desperate for help due to their dire situation, insists that it was Yahweh who brought them together, implying that God has a purpose for them in this campaign against Moab, and therefore Elisha should help. The king's statement is likely an attempt to appeal to Elisha's sense of duty and faith, despite the king's own flawed religious practices.