Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

My people as thy people - We find that Jehoshaphat maintained the same friendly intercourse with the son, as he did with the father. See 1 Kings 22:4.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The close alliance between the two kingdoms still subsisted. Jehoram therefore sends confidently to make the same request with respect to Moab that his father had made two years before with respect to Syria (marginal reference). Jehoshaphat consented at once, notwithstanding that his former compliance had drawn upon him the rebuke of a prophet 2 Chronicles 19:2. Perhaps Jehoram‘s removal of the Baal-worship 2 Kings 3:2 weighed with him. He had himself been attacked by the Moabites in the preceding year; and though the attempt had failed, Jehoshaphat would feel that it might be renewed, and that it was important to seize the opportunity of weakening his enemy which now offered itself.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, the king of Moab hath rebelled against me,.... By refusing to pay him tribute:

wilt thou go up with me against Moab to battle? and he said, I will go up; which he agreed to, partly to encourage in the reformation of religion which he had begun, and partly to chastise the Moabites for their invasion of his country, 2 Chronicles 20:1.

I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses; the same answer he returned to Ahab; see Gill on 1 Kings 22:4.

Geneva Study Bible

(d) Read (1 Kings 22:4).

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

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.

He said — He joins with him in this war; because the war was just in itself, and convenient for Jehoshaphat, both in the general, that revolters should be chastised: lest the examples should pass into his dominions, and the Edomites be encouraged to revolt from him, as they did from his son; and in particular, that the Moabites should be humbled, who had invaded his land before this time, 2 Chronicles 20:1, and might do so again if they were not brought low; for which a fair opportunity now offered.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

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.

Ver. 7. And he said, I will go up.] See on 2 Kings 3:2. The Moabites had lately, with other nations, invaded Judah, [2 Chronicles 20:1] and therefore it may be Jehoshaphat hearkened the rather to Jehoram’s motion.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Of which see on 1 Kings 22:4. He joins with him in this war, partly because the war was very just in itself, and convenient for Jehoshaphat, both in the general, that rebels and revolters should be chastised and suppressed, lest the example should pass into his dominions, and the Edomites should be hereby encouraged to revolt from him, as they did from his son; and in particular, that the Moabites should be humbled, who had with others invaded his land before this time, 2 Chronicles 20:1, and might do so again if they were not brought low, for which a fair opportunity was now offered to him; and partly because Jehoram had reformed some things, and Jehoshaphat hoped by this means to engage him to proceed further in that work.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7.Sent to Jehoshaphat — Whose son and successor, Jehoram, was brother-in-law to Jehoram king of Israel by marriage with Athaliah, daughter of Ahab. 2 Chronicles 21:6.

I will go up — In spite of the reproof of Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:2) for assisting Ahab in the war against Syria, Jehoshaphat repeats in substance the same act of joining Jehoram in battle against Moab. Perhaps, however, the interests of the kingdom of Judah demanded that Jehoshaphat should engage in this war with Moab, for the expedition of the combined armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom against Jehoshaphat, which is narrated in 2 Chronicles xx, had probably occurred before this time.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

entered cordially into this war, as he perceived that if Moab succeeded, Edom would follow the same plan. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

I am, &c. Compare 1 Kings 22:4.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

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.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Wilt thou go.—So Ahab asks Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22:4, and he replies as here, “I am as thou art,” &c. This indicates that the present section was originally composed by the same hand as 1 Kings 20:1-34; 1 Kings 22:1-37 (Thenius) Jehoshaphat assented, in spite of the prophetic censures of his alliance with Ahab and Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 20:37); perhaps because he was anxious to inflict further punishment on the Moabites for their inroad into Judah (2 Chronicles 20), and to prevent any recurrence of the same (Keil).

Against Moab to battle?—Or, into Moab to the war?

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

wilt thou go

1 Kings 22:4,32,33; 2 Chronicles 18:3,29-32; 19:2; 21:4-7; 22:3,4,10-12