Rashi on the Former Prophets

Yehorom, son of Achov. This section too [in order] to tell the miracle of Meisha the king of Moav, which was performed through Elisha, was written here, for [Scripture] enumerated for Eliyahu eight miracles and for Elisha sixteen, to fulfill “a double amount of your spirit upon me,” and he wrote them all, one juxtaposed to the other. I saw this in the “Thirty-two Methods of Rabbi Eliezer, son of Rabbi Yose Haglili.” And the dividing of the Yardein by Elisha, is [counted] like two of Eliyahu’s miracles.

But not [as bad] as his father and mother. Who added the [worship of the ] Baal in order to provoke [God].

However, to the sins of Yorovom, etc. he cling. And so did all kings of Yisroel, out of fear, so that the kingdom does not return to the House of Dovid if they were to perform the pilgrimage on the [Three] Festival[s]. They, therefore, worshiped the calves.

Owned many flocks. [Targum Yonoson renders,] “owner of livestock.”
Wooly rams. [Targum Yonoson renders,] “pasture-fed rams,” with their wool.

Through the road of the wilderness of Edom. For the king of Edom, too, will go with us.

To hand them over, etc. For they will die of thirst.

Who poured water on the hands of Eliyahu. On Mount Carmel, and with his pouring, his fingers became like springs of water, until the ditch filled up, and it is [therefore] fitting for a miracle to be performed for us through him concerning water.

Do not [say that], for Adonoy has called, etc. [Targum Yonoson renders,] “Please [אל] do not mention the sins of that wicked woman. Beg mercy for us, for Adonoy has summoned, etc.”

Bring me a musician. Because of his anger, the Divine Presence departed from him.. See Maseches Pesachim 117a.

Many pools. Ditches full of water.

This is easy. And furthermore, this miracle is slight and insignificant in the eyes of God, and He will proceed to act wondrously with you and [perform] another miracle, and He will deliver Moav into your hand.

And every valuable tree you will chop down. Even though it is stated, “Do not harm any of its trees,” here He permitted it for you, for this is a contemptible and insignificant nation before Him. And so Scripture states, “You shall not pursue their peace and their benefit,” [i.e.,] these are the good trees that are among them.
Fertile field. Sown field, koumici, in O.F.

At the time of the morning when the meal-offering was brought up. The water began falling from heaven in the morning in the land of Edom, and at the [time of] offering up the meal-offering, it came surging into that valley, because Elisha had said, “You will not see wind and you will not see rain.” [This is stated] in the Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma.

At the border. At the border, that is called marche, in O.F.

Red as blood. Such is the nature of water; when the sun shines on it in the morning, causes it to appear red.
From a distance. At a distance, but because they had never seen water in that valley, they, therefore, thought that it was blood.

They demolished the cities. They would destroy the cities.
Each man threw his stone. For they would take stones from the walls until they left all the stones of the walls in the wall, with only their clay, [i.e.,] their mortar; i.e., there were no more stones in the wall. Afterwards, “and the catapulters surrounded it,” and destroyed that which remained in the fields where the wall was not broken, and tore it down.

And then took his firstborn son. In the Pesikta of the section of Shekalim it is expounded: He asked his servants, “What is the character of this nation, that miracles such as these were performed for them?” They replied, “Their forefather, Avrohom, had an only son. The Holy One, Blessed Is He, said to him, ‘Offer him before me,’ and he wanted to sacrifice him to the Holy One, Blessed Is He.” He said to them, “I too have a firstborn son. I will go and sacrifice him to the gods.”
On the wall. The ‘vav’ [in חֹמָה] is missing, for he worshiped the sun [=חַמָּה].
This caused a terrible anger. For their iniquities were remembered, that they too worship pagan deities and are not worthy of a miracle.