2 Kings 3:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

Complete Jewish Bible:

and he said, "ADONAI says to dig until this valley is full of trenches.

Berean Standard Bible:

and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’

American Standard Version:

And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Thus saith^{H559} the LORD^{H3068}, Make^{H6213} this valley^{H5158} full of ditches^{H1356}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for 2 Kings 3:16

2 Kings 3:16 is part of a narrative describing a military campaign involving the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against the rebellious Moabites. The historical context is set during the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Joram (Jehoram) of Israel, who sought to suppress a Moabite revolt that began after the death of King Ahab of Israel.

In this particular verse, the prophet Elisha is speaking, delivering a message from the Lord to the three allied kings who had come to him seeking divine guidance. The Moabite situation had become dire, as their army was vast and they were trapped with no water for their men or animals. Elisha's response seems counterintuitive to the immediate physical needs of the situation, as he instructs them to dig ditches throughout the valley. The theme here is one of faith and obedience; despite the apparent irrationality of the command, it is a test of the kings' trust in God's provision.

The verse underscores the biblical motif that God's ways are not always aligned with human logic. It also emphasizes the importance of prophecy and divine guidance in the decisions of the kings. The command to dig ditches foreshadows a miraculous intervention by God, as the following verses describe how the ditches would be filled with water, not by rain but by a divine act, quenching the thirst of the allied armies and their animals, and moreover, appearing to the Moabites as if the armies had turned on each other, leading to a rout of the Moabite forces. This event thus serves as a powerful demonstration of God's power and faithfulness to His people when they obey His commands, even when those commands do not make immediate sense.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5158
   There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַחַל
   Transliteration: nachal
   Pronunciation: nakh'-al
   Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1356
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֵּב
   Transliteration: gêb
   Pronunciation: gabe
   Description: from גּוּב; a log (as cut out); also well or cistern (as dug); beam, ditch, pit.