2 Kings 3:7

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.

And he went {H3212} and sent {H7971} to Jehoshaphat {H3092} the king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, saying {H559}, The king {H4428} of Moab {H4124} hath rebelled {H6586} against me: wilt thou go {H3212} with me against Moab {H4124} to battle {H4421}? And he said {H559}, I will go up {H5927}: I am as thou art, my people {H5971} as thy people {H5971}, and my horses {H5483} as thy horses {H5483}.

He also went and sent this word to Y'hoshafat king of Y'hudah: "The king of Mo'av has rebelled against me. Will you join me in attacking Mo'av?" He answered, "I will join in the attack - I'm with you all the way; think of my people and horses as yours.

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.”

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, my horses as thy horses.

Commentary

2 Kings 3:7 describes a pivotal moment in the history of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, setting the stage for a significant military campaign. It records the appeal of the unnamed King of Israel (Jehoram, son of Ahab, as revealed in the preceding verses) to Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, for military assistance against a rebellious Moab.

Context

Following the death of King Ahab of Israel, Moab, which had previously paid tribute to Israel (as noted in 2 Kings 3:4), rebelled against Israelite rule. King Jehoram, needing to reassert control and facing a formidable enemy, sought a strategic alliance with his southern neighbor, King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat was known for his piety and for generally seeking the Lord, though he also had a history of problematic alliances with the northern kingdom of Israel, including a prior military venture with Ahab himself (1 Kings 22:4).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Alliance and Solidarity: Jehoshaphat's response, "I will go up: I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, [and] my horses as thy horses," signifies a complete and unwavering commitment to the alliance. It's an affirmation of full military and strategic solidarity, pledging all available resources to the common cause.
  • Political Necessity: The verse highlights the political realities of the ancient Near East, where kingdoms often formed alliances for mutual defense or offensive campaigns. Jehoram's appeal underscores the need for strength in numbers when facing a significant threat.
  • Jehoshaphat's Willingness: Despite previous negative outcomes from his alliances with Israel, Jehoshaphat readily agrees to help. This demonstrates a consistent pattern of seeking unity or at least pragmatic cooperation with the northern kingdom, sometimes to his own detriment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I [am] as thou [art]" is a powerful Hebrew idiom expressing absolute identification and solidarity. It's more than just saying "I agree"; it conveys "my very self is yours," indicating a profound level of commitment where one's resources, people, and even identity are aligned with the other. This isn't merely a verbal agreement but a declaration of shared destiny in the upcoming conflict.

Related Scriptures

This alliance ultimately leads to the involvement of the prophet Elisha, whose divine intervention becomes crucial to the campaign's success. The narrative continues with the kings seeking Elisha's counsel in 2 Kings 3:11, revealing that while human alliances are formed, divine guidance is still essential for true victory.

Practical Application

This verse offers insights into the nature of commitment and alliances. While Jehoshaphat's history shows that not all alliances are divinely sanctioned or beneficial, his immediate and full commitment here speaks to the importance of solidarity when one chooses to stand with another. For believers today, it can prompt reflection on:

  • The importance of discerning who we align ourselves with, whether in personal relationships, business, or ministry.
  • The value of a clear and unwavering commitment when we do enter into agreements or partnerships.
  • The ultimate need to seek God's counsel above all human strategies, even when forming necessary alliances.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 22:4

    And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

  • 2 Chronicles 18:3

    And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I [am] as thou [art], and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.

  • 2 Chronicles 22:10

    ¶ But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

  • 2 Chronicles 22:12

    And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

  • 1 Kings 22:32

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it [is] the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

  • 1 Kings 22:33

    And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it [was] not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

  • 2 Chronicles 19:2

    And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
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