Reading for July 1st

Read 2 Kings 3
In verse 1-27 the independence of Moab
In verse 1 the inforomation here about the beginning of Jehoram's reign disaggrees witht hat of 1.17.
The two verses maybe based on two distinct chronologies.
In verse 2 a pillar was often used, much as an idol would be, as a symbol for a god in worship.
In verse 3 the sin of Jeroboam was the two shrines at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12.25-33).
In verse 4 Moab was the country across the Dead Sea from Israel.
The lambs and wool that King Mesha sent to Israel w ere the yearly payment of tribute of a subject state to its overlord.
In verse 8 Edom was east of Judah and south of Moab.
It was apparently controlled at this time by Judah.
Jehoram plans to attack Moab from the south.
In verse 11 as in 1 kings 22.7 it is the righteous King Jehoshaphat of Judah who asks for a prophet of the Lord.
To inquire is a technical term for divination or seeking an oracle from God.
Elisha is here recognized as Elijah's servant who used to pour water on his hands.
In verse 13 what have I to do with you? means we have nothing in common; Elisha wants nothing to do with the king of Israel.
Jehoram's father was Ahab and his mother Jezebel.
Their prophets were worshippers of Baal and Asherah ( 1kings 18.19).
In verse 15 music was used to induce the prophet's ecstatic experience in which he would give his oracle.
In verses 19 the measures described in this verse would ruin a piece of land for agriculture.
In verse 20 the morning offering or oblation was made at dawn.
1 Kings 18.28 refers to the second oblation at about 3 p.m.
The practice of two oblations may have begun in exile or later.
This is an indication that this story may have been written at a later date.
In verse 22 the red color of the water is appropriate to Edom which comes from the word for red and which is known for its red sandstone.
In verse 27 child sacrifice was practiced in the ancient Near east.
here the king of Moab sacrifices his son to Chemosh, Moab's god.
It is not clear what is meant by great wrath came upon Israel.
Perhaps this means that the Israelites became afraid when they witnessed this desperate act, Though the natural interpretation would seem to be that Chemosh's wrath was directed against Israel in some form.
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