2 Kings 3 25

2 Kings 3:25 kjv

And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

2 Kings 3:25 nkjv

Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.

2 Kings 3:25 niv

They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones in place, but men armed with slings surrounded it and attacked it.

2 Kings 3:25 esv

And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone until it was covered. They stopped every spring of water and felled all the good trees, till only its stones were left in Kir-hareseth, and the slingers surrounded and attacked it.

2 Kings 3:25 nlt

They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it.

2 Kings 3 verses

2 Kings 3 25 Meaning

This verse describes the complete and systematic devastation of Moabite territory by the allied forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom, acting upon the prophecy given by Elisha. The destruction encompassed their cities, rendered their fertile agricultural land unusable by covering it with stones, cut off their vital water supplies, and destroyed their productive trees, leaving only the fortified city of Kir Hareseth under a continuous siege by slingers.

2 Kings 3 25 Context

This verse is the climax of the military campaign detailed in 2 Kings chapter 3. The context begins with Moab's rebellion against Israel after King Ahab's death, prompting Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom to form an alliance. After experiencing a dire water shortage in the wilderness, they sought counsel from the prophet Elisha, who miraculously provided water and prophesied complete victory, explicitly stating that the allied forces would "destroy every fortified city and every choice city and fell every good tree and stop up every spring of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones" (2 Ki 3:19). Verse 25 is the direct fulfillment of this comprehensive divine judgment. Historically, "scorched earth" tactics were a severe form of ancient Near Eastern warfare, designed not just for conquest but for economic destruction and demoralization, ensuring a long-term inability for the enemy to recover. The specific targeting of "good trees" went against standard Israelite warfare ethics (Deut 20:19-20), highlighting the extraordinary nature of this punitive campaign under divine command.

2 Kings 3 25 Word analysis

• Thus they destroyed the cities:
  • thus indicates the consequence and fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy (2 Ki 3:19).
  • destroyed (Hebrew: shaḥath, שָׁחַת, here hithû) signifies complete ruination, devastation, and spoiling, not merely conquering.
  • the cities refers to urban centers, emphasizing a widespread eradication of organized life.
• and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone, and filled it:
  • every good piece of land (Hebrew: kol ḥelqath sadhe tov, כָּל־חֶלְקַת שָׂדֶה טוֹב) implies fertile, productive agricultural fields, essential for food supply.
  • every man threw a stone highlights the coordinated, exhaustive effort by individual soldiers, underscoring the thoroughness of the destruction.
  • filled it (Hebrew: mil'ûha, וּמִלְאוּהָ) means the fields were completely covered with stones, rendering them barren and unusable for cultivation. This act of permanent economic warfare prevented future harvests.
• and they stopped up all the springs of water:
  • stopped up (Hebrew: satham, סָתַם, here yiśtimu) signifies blockage and closure, making water sources inaccessible.
  • all the springs of water are vital for human and animal survival, as well as for agriculture, emphasizing the cutting off of life-sustaining resources. This creates an uninhabitable environment.
• and cut down all the good trees:
  • cut down (Hebrew: naphal, נָפַל, here Hiphil yappilu) means causing trees to fall or be felled.
  • all the good trees (Hebrew: kol 'ets tov, כָּל־עֵץ טוֹב) refers primarily to fruit-bearing trees, which were explicitly protected under Mosaic law during sieges (Deut 20:19-20). This act's violation of Israelite law underscores the severity and divinely-mandated "cherem"-like nature of this campaign, ensuring no long-term economic recovery for Moab.
• until only Kir Hareseth was left with its stones:
  • until only... was left signifies that all other strategic locations or viable settlements had been utterly destroyed.
  • Kir Hareseth (קִיר חֲרֶשֶׂת), a powerful Moabite fortress city (modern Kerak), serving as Moab's last, impregnable stronghold. Its name possibly meaning "Fortress of Pottery" or "Walled City of Pottery," implies robust construction.
  • with its stones emphasizes its fortified, rock-solid construction and defensive strength, highlighting its unique resistance amidst the devastation.
• but the slingers surrounded and struck it:
  • slingers (Hebrew: Qalla', קַלָּעִים) were specialized infantry, known for precision and ranged attacks.
  • surrounded and struck it indicates a prolonged and continuous siege, with constant missile attacks to wear down defenders, signaling the final phase of the war.

2 Kings 3 25 Bonus section

• The "stoning" of the fertile fields resembles the symbolic act of sowing a conquered city with salt (e.g., Judg 9:45), signifying a permanent curse and rendering the land perpetually barren and useless for future generations. While literally throwing stones, the underlying intent of permanent desolation aligns with this ritualistic curse.
• The emphasis on destroying "good" or "choice" elements (good land, good trees) reinforces that the goal was to cripple Moab's long-term sustainability and ability to recover, not just to gain immediate victory. It represents a policy of leaving no vital resources for future use.
• The narrative serves as a reminder of the seriousness of covenants and God's interventions, as the Moabite rebellion and their historical actions against Israel ultimately brought upon them such severe judgment.

2 Kings 3 25 Commentary

2 Kings 3:25 succinctly details the comprehensive devastation of Moab, executing Elisha's specific prophecy of "scorched earth" warfare. This was not mere conquest but a punitive campaign of divine judgment, characterized by actions such as rendering fertile land unusable by stoning, blocking water, and cutting down fruit trees. These tactics were extraordinarily harsh, violating standard Israelite war ethics concerning trees, which signals this was an instance of total warfare aimed at economic collapse and long-term desolation. The remaining fortress, Kir Hareseth, under relentless assault, signifies Moab's desperate last stand. This verse powerfully illustrates God's use of human armies to enforce His will and judgment upon nations that rebel against Him and against His people, revealing the dire consequences of disobedience. It foreshadows the desperate measures Moab's king will take next, born from such extreme pressure.