2 Kings 3:11 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

But (and) Jehoshaphat... by him? — The same question is asked by Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22:7.

By him. — Heb., from with him (mç’ôthô for mç’ittô, both here and in the parallel place — a mark of the same hand). Jehoshaphat is for “seeking Jehovah” through a prophet, in contrast with Jehoram, who at once despairs. (Comp. Amos 5:4; Amos 5:8; and Note on 1 Chronicles 13:3; 2 Chronicles 15:2.)

One of the king of Israel’s servants. — One of the king’s staff, who, like Obadiah (1 Kings 18:3), was perhaps a friend of the prophets of Jehovah.

Here is Elisha. — The prophet must have followed the army of his own accord, or rather, as Keil suggests, under a Divine impulse, in order that, when the hour of trial came, he might point Jehoram to Jehovah as the only true God.

Which poured water on the hands of Elijah. — Was the personal attendant of that greatest of prophets. The phrase alludes to the well-known Oriental custom of the servant pouring water from a ewer on his master’s hands to wash them.

2 Kings 3:11

11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.