Page 590 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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JUNE 8
So one of the servants of the king of Israel 24 So when they came to the camp of Israel,
answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so
is here, who poured water on the hands of that they fled before them; and they entered
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Elijah.” their land, killing the Moabites. Then they
12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the destroyed the cities, and each man threw a
LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and stone on every good piece of land and filled it;
Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down and they stopped up all the springs of water
to him. and cut down all the good trees. But they left
13 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the
have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of slingers surrounded and attacked it.
your father and the prophets of your mother.” 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the
But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for battle was too fierce for him, he took with him
the LORD has called these three kings together seven hundred men who drew swords, to
to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” break through to the king of Edom, but they
14 And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts could not. Then he took his eldest son who
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lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not would have reigned in his place, and offered
that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and
of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. there was great indignation against Israel. So
15 But now bring me a musician.” they departed from him and returned to their
own land.
A certain woman of the wives of the sons
4 of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying,
“Your servant my husband is dead, and you
3:15 a musician.The music was used to accom-
pany praise and prayer,which calmed the mind know that your servant feared the LORD. And
of the prophet that he might clearly hear the the creditor is coming to take my two sons to
word of the Lord. Music often accompanied be his slaves.”
prophecies in the Old Testament (1 Chr.25:1). 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for
you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?”
And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing
Then it happened, when the musician in the house but a jar of oil.”
played, that the hand of the LORD came upon 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from
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him. And he said, “Thus says the LORD: everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty
‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus vessels; do not gather just a few. And when
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says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor you have come in, you shall shut the door
shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled behind you and your sons; then pour it into all
with water, so that you, your cattle, and your those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
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animals may drink.’ And this is a simple mat-
ter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliv-
er the Moabites into your hand. Also you
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shall attack every fortified city and every 4:4 shut the door behind you. Since the
choice city, and shall cut down every good widow’s need was private,the provision was to
tree, and stop up every spring of water, and be private also. Further, the absence of Elisha
ruin every good piece of land with stones.” demonstrated that the miracle happened only
20 Now it happened in the morning, when the by God’s power. God’s power multiplied little
grain offering was offered, that suddenly into much, filling all the vessels to meet the
water came by way of Edom, and the land was widow’s need (1 Kin.17:7–16).
filled with water.
21 And when all the Moabites heard that the
kings had come up to fight against them, all 5 So she went from him and shut the door
who were able to bear arms and older were behind her and her sons, who brought the ves-
gathered; and they stood at the border. Then sels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came
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they rose up early in the morning, and the sun to pass, when the vessels were full, that she
was shining on the water; and the Moabites said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”
saw the water on the other side as red as And he said to her, “There is not another
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blood. And they said, “This is blood; the vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and
kings have surely struck swords and have told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the
killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons
the spoil!” live on the rest.”
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