Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 3
Kings could become extremely rich if their country had power over a weaker country. They would choose the ruler of that other country; and they would demand the payment of taxes.
Until the death of Ahab (the king of northern and central Israel), Israel also controlled Moab. Moab was on the east side of the Dead Sea, south of the land that belonged to Israel.
Usually, a weaker nation would pay a certain amount of silver and gold for its taxes. However, Moab had especially good land for sheep. So, it paid its taxes from that. It had to hand over a certain number of young sheep and a certain amount of wool each year.
When Ahab died, the king of Moab refused to pay these taxes. Moab’s king knew that Ahab had been a very powerful man; he hoped that Ahab’s sons would be less powerful.
Ahab’s son Amaziah had been unable to deal with this matter before his own early death. So, it was Ahab’s next son, Joram, who decided to start a war against Moab. He knew that Moab’s army would fight strongly for their freedom. So, he decided to order every man in Israel who could fight, to join his army for this war.
Even then, Joram did not believe that he had a strong enough army. So, he requested support from Judah’s army, which was very large. Joram’s sister had married the son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. So, the royal families of Judah and of northern Israel had friendly relationships.
Next part: Jehoshaphat and Joram decide to attack Edom (2 Kings 3:7-8)
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