2 Kings 3:10 kjv
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
2 Kings 3:10 nkjv
And the king of Israel said, "Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab."
2 Kings 3:10 niv
"What!" exclaimed the king of Israel. "Has the LORD called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?"
2 Kings 3:10 esv
Then the king of Israel said, "Alas! The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."
2 Kings 3:10 nlt
"What should we do?" the king of Israel cried out. "The LORD has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us."
2 Kings 3 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 14:11 | They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that... | Despair in face of entrapment; Israel's wilderness |
| Num 20:3-5 | And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had died... | Complaining during water crisis in wilderness |
| Deut 8:2-3 | And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you... | God leading through wilderness to test and humble |
| Josh 10:8 | The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand." | God giving enemies into one's hand |
| Judg 2:14 | So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them into... | God delivering Israel to enemies as judgment |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | ...that the Lord does not save by sword or spear. For the battle is the Lord’s... | God's sovereignty in battle and deliverance |
| 2 Chr 20:3-4 | Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord... | Seeking God in face of overwhelming odds |
| Job 2:10 | But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall... | Accepting both good and bad from God's hand |
| Ps 78:19 | They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?" | Doubting God's provision in impossible situations |
| Ps 107:4-6 | Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry... | Crying to the Lord in distress of wilderness |
| Ps 107:43 | Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast... | Considering God's works and steadfast love |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will... | God's presence and help in times of fear |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers... | God's presence and protection in severe trials |
| Jer 12:5 | If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you... | Trusting God in worsening situations |
| Lam 3:21-23 | But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of... | Hope in God's unfailing mercies despite affliction |
| Joel 2:13 | Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for... | Call to repentance and God's graciousness |
| Matt 8:26 | He said to them, "Why are you so afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he... | Rebuke of fear and lack of faith |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good... | God's ultimate purpose in all circumstances |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful... | God provides a way out of trials |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication... | Overcoming anxiety through prayer and trust |
| Jam 1:2-4 | Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for... | Trials developing endurance and testing faith |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach... | Importance of faith for pleasing God |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you... | Not to be surprised by trials but rejoice in them |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 10 Meaning
This verse reveals the desperate exclamation of Jehoram, the king of Israel, who interprets the dire situation of the three allied kings (Israel, Judah, and Edom) facing a lack of water in the wilderness as an act of divine judgment. He believes the Lord has intentionally lured them into this predicament only to hand them over to their enemy, Moab, to be defeated. His words convey despair, a fatalistic understanding of divine providence, and a complete lack of faith in God's power to deliver.
2 Kings 3 10 Context
This verse occurs during a military campaign undertaken by the combined forces of Israel (led by King Jehoram), Judah (led by King Jehoshaphat), and Edom (under Israel's control). Moab, which had been paying tribute to Israel since David's reign, rebelled after the death of Ahab. To suppress this rebellion, the three kings decided to march against Moab, but they took a roundabout seven-day route through the wilderness of Edom. This path was chosen possibly to bypass the direct, heavily fortified Moabite frontier or to surprise the enemy. However, their prolonged march in the arid wilderness led to a severe lack of water for their armies and livestock. This crisis brings them to the brink of despair. King Jehoram's lament in 2 Kings 3:10 is a direct reaction to this immediate and critical shortage, expressing his profound anxiety and a misinterpretation of their predicament as a divine act designed for their destruction. This moment of extreme need sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention through the prophet Elisha, whose presence was sought by Jehoshaphat.
2 Kings 3 10 Word analysis
- Then the king of Israel: Refers to Jehoram (Joram), son of Ahab. While he removed a pillar of Baal that his father made, his spiritual state remained largely compromised, reflected in his reaction to this crisis.
- said, 'Alas!' (Hebrew: אָהּ, ʾāh): An interjection expressing grief, dismay, anguish, or despair. It indicates a strong emotional reaction to perceived doom and highlights Jehoram's deep pessimism and immediate sense of helplessness rather than seeking divine intervention.
- The Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH): The personal, covenant name of God. Jehoram acknowledges God's agency, but his understanding is flawed; he views YHWH as actively leading them to their destruction, not as a potential deliverer or orchestrator of a test of faith. This contrasts with Jehoshaphat's readiness to seek counsel from a prophet of the Lord in the next verse.
- has called these three kings: Implies a divine summoning or intentional leading. Jehoram sees their alliance and their chosen route as a trap set by God. He doesn't attribute it to their own miscalculation or simply a hardship of war, but directly to divine malicious intent.
- to give them into the hand of Moab! (Hebrew: לָתֵת אוֹתָם בְּיַד־מוֹאָב, lātēt ʾōṯām bĕyaḏ-mōʾāḇ): "Give into the hand of" (בְּיַד, bĕyaḏ) is a common biblical idiom meaning to deliver someone into the power, control, or conquest of another. Jehoram fatalistically concludes that their dire water situation is a pre-ordained step for God to ensure their defeat by the Moabites, betraying his profound lack of faith and understanding of God's ways with His people, even unfaithful ones.
- "these three kings": This specific group represents not just Israel, but Judah and Edom too, meaning Jehoram perceived a broader divine judgment upon the entire alliance, not just himself or Israel. This could magnify his sense of helplessness.
2 Kings 3 10 Bonus section
- Jehoram's words here betray a deep-seated spiritual condition inherited from his family lineage in Israel, where apostasy was rampant. Despite removing some idolatry, his underlying heart leaned towards distrust rather than devotion to YHWH, especially under pressure.
- The dramatic crisis serves as a pivotal moment, much like similar "no water" episodes in the wilderness wanderings of the Exodus generation, designed to expose hearts and elicit a search for God's intervention.
- This verse subtly sets up the narrative tension that is resolved through the miraculous provision of water (2 Kings 3:16-17) and the subsequent victory over Moab, demonstrating God's ultimate control and faithfulness despite human despair and limited faith.
2 Kings 3 10 Commentary
King Jehoram's lament in 2 Kings 3:10 provides a stark contrast to a spirit of faith. Facing a genuine and life-threatening crisis in the desert, his immediate reaction is one of despair, projecting his hopelessness onto God. He does not lament his own sin or seek God's mercy; instead, he views the dire circumstances as irrefutable proof of God's malicious intent to destroy them. This theological misunderstanding of divine providence is critical. God often leads His people into seemingly impossible situations, not to destroy them, but to reveal His power, teach them dependence, and glorify His name. Jehoram's perspective is entirely human-centric, devoid of trust in God's redemptive capacity or sovereign ability to reverse adverse circumstances. His cry of "Alas!" encapsulates the heart of one who perceives God as a dispenser of doom rather than a God who tests, sustains, and delivers. The contrast with Jehoshaphat's immediate impulse to seek a prophet of the Lord (2 Kings 3:11) highlights the differing spiritual states and reveals that even in crisis, true faith seeks God, while despair accuses Him.