A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

On another occasion, Elisha raised the son of a Shunammite woman in whose home he
had often been a guest. Again, many have noted the similarity between this and another of
Elijah’s miracles. But Elisha also had miracles unique to his own ministry. When the prophets
had accidentally poisoned a stew they were making, Elisha neutralized the poison by adding
flour to the pot. On another occasion, the prophet fed 100 hungry men with twenty loaves of
barley and a grain offering. Not only was the hunger of the men satisfied, but there were
leftovers as well. On yet another occasion, Elisha recovered a borrowed head that had been lost
in the Jordan River by causing it to float. These and other miracles characteristic of the ministry
of Elisha have caused some Bible teachers to argue Elisha was typical of Christ in his ministry
just as Elijah’s ministry was more typical of that of John the Baptist.
THE FINAL DAYS OF JEHOSHAPHAT
AND JEHORAM OF JUDAH
(2 Kings 3:1-27; 2 Chron. 20:31-21:20)
As Elisha was becoming established in his new role as head of the school of the prophets,
the king of Israel planned an expedition to deal with the rebels in Moab. Perhaps because
Jehoshaphat had allied himself with the two previous kings of Israel, and the co-regent of Judah
by this time was related by marriage, Judah was invited to join in this battle. The king of Edom
was also invited to be a part of this campaign and the march began through Judah and Edom
toward Moab.
The alliance of kings marched around the southern tip of tie Dead Sea, traveling a full
week without finding a supply of fresh water. Again it was Jehoshaphat who called on the king
of Israel to seek the counsel of a prophet. Elisha was a part of the number and was called on for
help. Elisha made it clear that God would help only because of the presence of the godly King
Jehoshaphat. He commanded the people to dig trench s in the soil. When the people did so, fresh
water began slowly seeping into the trenches. By morning, the trenches were full of fresh water.
This technique is still used by shepherds of that region to provide fresh water for their flocks (2
Kings 3:4-20).
When the men of Moab looked out over their city wall the next morning, they saw the
trenches of water around the camp of the allied armies but misinterpreted its meaning. Because
of the color of the soil in that region, the water looked like blood in the morning light. The men
who had been prepared for battle assumed the armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom had begun
fighting among themselves the night before and had succeeded in destroying each other. Quickly
they made their way to the camp, intending to plunder it, unprepared for the ensuing battle.
By the time the men of Moab realized their mistake, it was too late. The battle raged
against Moab, driving those who were not killed back into their cities. City after city fell under
the attack until even the king of Moab realized the situation was hopeless. He gathered around
him 700 skilled soldiers in a final desperate attempt to break through to the king of Edom, but
the attempt was unsuccessful. Moab was given over to a form of idol worship which included
human sacrifice. The king of Moab may have been appealing to his gods, or simply surrendering
to the invading army as he mounted the city wall for his final act. “Then he took his eldest son
who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall” (2
Kings 3:27).
Jehoshaphat died not long after the victor over Moab, leaving his son Jehoram the sole
king of Judah. And with the death of Jehoshaphat died also a person who had been distinguished
among the recent kings of Judah. Jehoram his son chose to abandon his godly heritage and