2 Kings 3 19

2 Kings 3:19 kjv

And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.

2 Kings 3:19 nkjv

Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones."

2 Kings 3:19 niv

You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones."

2 Kings 3:19 esv

and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones."

2 Kings 3:19 nlt

You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones."

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 19 Meaning

Second Kings chapter 3 verse 19 details a specific prophetic command given by the Lord through Elisha to the allied kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom concerning their impending military campaign against Moab. The verse outlines a total warfare strategy involving the utter destruction of Moab's infrastructure and resources: every fortified city, every choice city, every good tree, all wells of water, and every productive piece of land are to be thoroughly ruined. This severe instruction goes beyond conventional ancient siege practices, emphasizing a complete desolation intended to signify divine judgment upon Moab and eliminate any means of sustenance or recovery for the nation.

2 Kings 3 19 Context

Second Kings 3:19 occurs in the midst of a critical military campaign involving Jehoram king of Israel, Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom against Mesha, king of Moab. The combined armies faced severe drought in the wilderness of Edom, risking utter defeat without even engaging the enemy. Jehoshaphat, known for his reverence for the Lord, insisted on consulting a prophet of the Lord. Elisha was found, but initially reluctant to prophesy to Jehoram due to his idolatry. For the sake of Jehoshaphat, Elisha relented. After calling for a musician, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, and he delivered a twofold prophecy. First, miraculous provision of water would appear from unseen sources without wind or rain, filling the valley. Second, the Lord promised to deliver Moab into their hands, giving the detailed instructions of complete devastation outlined in verse 19. This verse, therefore, represents a divine strategy for absolute conquest and judgment upon Moab, specifically tailored to its rebellious history against Israel (see 2 Kgs 1:1, Amos 2:1) and delivered at a moment of extreme desperation for the allied forces. Historically, ancient warfare often involved scorched-earth tactics, but this divine command adds a layer of absolute necessity and judgment, going beyond conventional military objectives to encompass utter obliteration.

2 Kings 3 19 Word analysis

• And ye shall smite (וְהִכִּיתֶם, v'hikitem): From the root נכה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, defeat, destroy, slay." This is an active and forceful verb indicating complete defeat and execution of the judgment. The use of "ye" (plural) emphasizes the collective responsibility of the allied kings and their armies to carry out the divine mandate.
• every fenced city (כָּל עִיר מִבְצָר, kol ir mibtzar): Hebrew for "every city of fortress/stronghold." Refers to fortified settlements, those designed for defense, implying that no strategic or secure location should be left intact.
• and every choice city (וְכָל עִיר מִבְחָר, v'khol ir mivchar): Hebrew for "and every city of chosen/best/select." This refers to cities of excellence, perhaps administrative centers, major population hubs, or economically significant places. The command targets not only the fortified military points but also the centers of Moabite life and prosperity.
• and shall cut down (וְכָל עֵץ טוֹב תַּפִּילוּ, v'khol etz tov tappilu, lit. "and every good tree you shall cause to fall"): From the root נפל (naphal), "to fall, throw down, fell."
  • every good tree (כָּל עֵץ טוֹב, kol etz tov): This literally means "every fruit-bearing tree" or "every tree that produces good (i.e., edible) fruit." This is a highly significant command in contrast to the law given in Deut 20:19-20, which explicitly prohibits the destruction of fruit trees during sieges, as "man is like a tree of the field for you to besiege it." The divine instruction here to destroy every good tree (even those used for food) demonstrates the extraordinary nature and severity of the judgment against Moab, stripping them of long-term sustenance and the very foundation of their agricultural economy. This exception emphasizes the comprehensive, total, and punitive nature of this particular divinely sanctioned warfare.
• and stop (וְכָל מַעְיְנֵי מַיִם תִּסְתְּמוּ, v'khol ma'yeney mayim tistemu, lit. "and every spring of water you shall stop/seal"): From the root סתם (satham), "to stop up, shut, seal, obstruct."
  • all wells of water (כָּל מַעְיְנֵי מַיִם, kol ma'yeney mayim): This phrase indicates all water sources, springs, or wells. In an arid region like Moab, water was the absolute prerequisite for life and agriculture. Stopping up water sources was an act of complete desolation, rendering land uninhabitable and unfarmable. This reflects the severity of the judgment and the intention to utterly incapacitate the enemy.
• and mar (וְכָל חֶלְקַת מִבְחָר תְּכַסּוּ בָאֲבָנִים, v'khol chelkat mivchar tekassu ba'avanim, lit. "and every piece of choicest land you shall cover with stones"): From the root כסה (kasah), "to cover, conceal, hide."
  • every good piece of land with stones (כָּל חֶלְקַת מִבְחָר בָּאֲבָנִים, kol chelkat mivchar ba'avanim): Literally, "every chosen/select portion of land with stones." This refers to the most fertile or productive agricultural fields. Spreading stones on such land makes it unsuitable for cultivation, preventing any future crops. This highly destructive agricultural tactic, known as "stoning the fields," signified total and irreversible desolation, preventing recovery. This targeted agricultural ruin ensures long-term non-sustainability for Moab.

Words-group Analysis:

• "smite every fenced city, and every choice city": This phrase combines military and civilian targets, ensuring total dominance. "Fenced" implies defensive capabilities, "choice" implies significance or wealth. The divine command for complete eradication leaves no refuge.
• "cut down every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones": This sequence of commands forms a "scorched earth" strategy specifically designed for long-term agricultural and demographic ruin. It targets the very basis of sustenance: food (trees), drink (water), and the means of production (land). This thorough destruction would prevent Moab from quickly recovering, showcasing the depth of God's judgment against them. This is a unique instance of such explicit destructive commands regarding resources in contrast to typical siege ethics, underscoring the severity of God's wrath against Moab.

2 Kings 3 19 Bonus section

The severe nature of the commands in 2 Kings 3:19 highlights a crucial theological point about divine judgment: when the Lord acts in judgment against a nation or people, it can transcend normal human ethical frameworks or even prior covenant stipulations (like Deut 20:19), especially when it serves as a punitive act against profound and persistent rebellion. This is not about human cruelty for its own sake, but a sovereign decree designed for complete and irreversible devastation as a testament to God's holiness and justice. The deliberate marring of fertile land with stones signifies more than just making it unusable; it implies a long-term curse or a statement of abandonment that may prevent quick resettlement or renewed prosperity for generations. This extreme act would also serve as a stark object lesson to all neighboring nations about the consequences of defying the God of Israel.

2 Kings 3 19 Commentary

The command in 2 Kings 3:19 is a stark revelation of the Lord's absolute sovereignty and His use of judgment through human instruments. This scorched-earth policy, specifically targeting the essential life sources and infrastructure of Moab, serves multiple purposes. First, it ensures the utter defeat and incapacitation of an enemy that had long vexed Israel (recall Moab's rebellion in 2 Kgs 1:1 and Mesha's infamous Stone recording sacrifices and conquest of Israelite land). Second, and more profoundly, it underscores a divine punitive judgment. The violation of the usual humane standards of warfare concerning fruit trees (Deut 20:19) signifies that this was not a conventional battle but a divinely orchestrated act of complete desolation. The complete destruction of productive assets - cities, trees, wells, and land – highlights that God's judgment, when full, leaves no stone unturned in ensuring complete incapacitation and lasting impact upon those who defy Him. This demonstrates God's profound control over all elements necessary for human sustenance and the severity of His dealings with persistent rebellion and idolatry. The Moabites had offended God (as highlighted in Amos 2:1-3) and this divine command reflects a comprehensive reckoning, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of standing against the Lord and His chosen people.