The Meaning of 2 Kings 3:10 Explained

2 Kings 3:10

KJV: And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!

YLT: and the king of Israel saith, 'Alas, for Jehovah hath called for these three kings, to give them into the hand of Moab.'

Darby: And the king of Israel said, Alas! that Jehovah has called these three kings together, to give them into the hand of Moab!

ASV: And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the king  of Israel  said,  Alas!  that the LORD  hath called  these three  kings  together,  to deliver  them into the hand  of Moab! 

What does 2 Kings 3:10 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 3:1-12 - An Unwise Alliance
Jehoram's reign over the ten tribes was marked by some measures of reform. He discountenanced Baal worship; though, in defiance of the Second Commandment, he clave to Jeroboam's calves. Therefore Jehoshaphat was ill-advised to enter into alliance with him. The servant of Jehovah had no right to say to such a man, "I am as thou art," etc. He had said this before, and narrowly escaped with his life. It was very bad, therefore, to repeat a policy which was already discredited. See 1 Kings 22:4.
How often we rush into alliances and undertake engagements without prayer for guidance, and begin to seek God only when faced with disappointment! In the day of sore trouble, when it seemed likely that kings and troops would perish in the waterless desert, Judah sought divine help. But it was foolish and wrong to charge the Lord with their disasters, as in 2 Kings 3:10. When the curtains of the night are drawn, sailors steer by the stars; and often it is the pressure of dark trials that drives men to seek the advice and help of the servants of God. They know where to find such helpers, when they want them, though in their prosperity they ignore and deride. He who is willing to pour water, as a servant, will not be inflated with pride when three kings visit him. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 3

1  Jehoram's reign
4  Mesha rebels
6  Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water,
13  by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory
21  The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome
26  The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 3:10 mean?

And said the king of Israel Alas for has called together Yahweh three kings these to deliver them into the hand of Moab
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ! אֲהָ֕הּ כִּֽי־ קָרָ֣א יְהוָ֗ה לִשְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ הַמְּלָכִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לָתֵ֥ת אוֹתָ֖ם בְּיַד־ ! מוֹאָֽב

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
! אֲהָ֕הּ  Alas 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֲהָהּ  
Sense: alas!, oh!, ah!.
קָרָ֣א  has  called  together 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
לִשְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙  three 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
הַמְּלָכִ֣ים  kings 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
לָתֵ֥ת  to  deliver 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּיַד־  into  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
! מוֹאָֽב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.