2 Kings 3 24

2 Kings 3:24 kjv

And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

2 Kings 3:24 nkjv

So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites.

2 Kings 3:24 niv

But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites.

2 Kings 3:24 esv

But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, till they fled before them. And they went forward, striking the Moabites as they went.

2 Kings 3:24 nlt

But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the army of Israel rushed out and attacked them until they turned and ran. The army of Israel chased them into the land of Moab, destroying everything as they went.

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 24 Meaning

The verse describes the climactic turning point and immediate aftermath of the battle between the allied forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab. After the Moabites, deceived by the blood-like appearance of water, mistakenly believed the allied armies had destroyed each other and advanced confidently for plunder, the Israelites rose up to meet them. Instead of finding a broken enemy, the Moabites were suddenly met by a vigorous, united front that struck them decisively. This initial strike quickly devolved into a complete rout, with the Moabites fleeing in disarray. The allied forces, far from being satisfied with repelling the invasion, pressed their advantage, pursuing the Moabites deep into their own territory, continuing to strike them. This event signifies the direct fulfillment of the Lord's prophecy given through Elisha, promising an overwhelming victory.

2 Kings 3 24 Context

This verse is embedded in the third chapter of 2 Kings, which details King Jehoram of Israel’s campaign against Moab, an endeavor he undertakes with the allied support of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom. The immediate context preceding this verse is one of near disaster; the allied armies, marching through the desert of Edom, were on the brink of death from lack of water. Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, urged consultation with a prophet of the Lord, leading them to Elisha. Elisha, initially reluctant due to Jehoram's idolatry, prophesied abundant water the next morning and a decisive victory over Moab. He commanded them to dig trenches for the water, which would appear without wind or rain. The following morning, water filled the trenches, and the rising sun, reflecting off the water, made it appear red like blood to the Moabites. The Moabites, suffering from thirst themselves and misinterpreting this sight as the allied armies having self-destructed, confidently advanced to plunder the 'defeated' camps. Verse 24 marks the point where their confident advance turns into utter chaos and defeat as they encounter the fully prepared and supernaturally provisioned armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom. This historical moment served as a vivid demonstration of the Lord's sovereign power over both natural elements and military outcomes, often operating through means unexpected by human understanding, and standing in stark contrast to the power attributed to Kemosh, the god of Moab.

2 Kings 3 24 Word analysis

• And when they came: (וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ - vayāḇō’û) This plural verb refers to the Moabite forces. It emphasizes their direct approach and proximity to the allied camp, signaling their imminent, anticipated assault.
• to the camp of Israel: (עַד־מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - ‘aḏ-maḥănēh yiśrā’ēl) "Camp" (maḥănēh) signifies the military encampment. "Israel" here encompasses the allied forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom, as the northern kingdom often represented the broader covenant people in such narratives. This highlights the target of the Moabite assault.
• the Israelites rose up: (וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - vayāqūmū yiśrā’ēl) "Rose up" (vayāqūmū) denotes an active, immediate, and energetic response. It contrasts sharply with the Moabites' expectation of a debilitated, self-annihilated foe. This verb signifies preparation and readiness to engage.
• and struck the Moabites: (וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־מוֹאָ֔ב - vayakkū ’eṯ-mô’āḇ) "Struck" (vayakkū) is a powerful verb indicating a decisive and forceful attack. This action turned the tables completely on the confident Moabite charge, initiating their defeat.
• so that they fled before them: (וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם - vayyānūsū lifnêhem) "Fled" (vayyānūsū) highlights the immediate and direct consequence of the allied assault: the rapid disengagement and rout of the Moabite army. "Before them" (lifnêhem) suggests a chaotic retreat, backs turned to the advancing enemy.
• And they went forward, still striking the Moabites, even in their own land: (וְהַכּוֹת֙ וּבָא־בָ֔הּ עַד־אַרְצָהּ - wəhakkōwṯ ûḇā’-ḇāh ‘aḏ-’arṣāh) This phrase describes the continuation and escalation of the conflict.
  • "And they went forward" (וּבָא־בָ֔הּ - ûḇā’-ḇāh, literally "and came into it") signifies the active advance of the allied forces.
  • "still striking" (וְהַכּוֹת֙ - wəhakkōwṯ) is an infinitive absolute, implying a continuous, relentless, and intensive act of striking. The defeat was not just at the border, but continued through pursuit.
  • "even in their own land" (עַד־אַרְצָהּ - ‘aḏ-’arṣāh, literally "unto its land") emphasizes the depth of the invasion and pursuit. The victory extended beyond repelling the invaders, leading to the penetration and devastation of Moabite territory as prophesied, fulfilling the extent of divine judgment.

2 Kings 3 24 Bonus section

• The surprise of the Moabites underscores a theological principle: human perception and strategic brilliance are no match for divine orchestration. Their confidence, built on a false premise, led them directly into their downfall.
• This military success for Jehoram, despite his personal unfaithfulness, was largely due to the presence of Jehoshaphat and the Lord's faithfulness to His covenant people, particularly demonstrated through His prophet Elisha. It highlights God's patience and use of faithful remnants within a largely apostate kingdom.
• The ruthless pursuit into Moabite territory and the continued "striking" directly relate to the full extent of the divine judgment and the nature of ancient warfare. Elisha had prophesied the destruction of "every fortified city and every choice city," the cutting down of "every good tree," the stopping of "up every spring of water," and the spoiling of "every good piece of land with stones" (2 Ki 3:19). This indicates a thorough and devastating campaign intended to neutralize Moab as a threat and fulfill the full scope of God's word.

2 Kings 3 24 Commentary

2 Kings 3:24 chronicles the remarkable and swift turnaround of fortunes in the war against Moab. What began with the Moabite army advancing with full confidence, expecting an effortless plunder of an allegedly self-destroyed enemy, abruptly became their own calamitous rout. The allied Israelite forces, divinely provisioned and supernaturally poised, rose up in full battle readiness, completely shattering Moabite assumptions and their formation. The blow was so decisive that the Moabites immediately fled in disarray. Crucially, the allied armies did not simply hold their ground or repel the invaders; they capitalized on the divine advantage, pressing the assault deep into Moabite territory, signifying a total, relentless, and unmitigated defeat. This swift, overwhelming victory underscored the precise fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy (2 Ki 3:18-19) and unmistakably revealed the Lord's absolute power and control over human events, directly countering any boasts in Kemosh, the Moabite god, to whose 'god' the Moabite King eventually sacrificed his own son. The event vividly portrays God's ability to turn human folly and deception into a pathway for His sovereign purposes and the display of His power.