2 Kings 3:6 kjv
And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
2 Kings 3:6 nkjv
So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
2 Kings 3:6 niv
So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel.
2 Kings 3:6 esv
So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.
2 Kings 3:6 nlt
So King Joram promptly mustered the army of Israel and marched from Samaria.
2 Kings 3 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 3:5 | But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. | Context: Moab's rebellion triggering the response |
| 2 Ki 3:7 | He went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "The king of Moab has rebelled..." | Seeking alliances for the impending war |
| 1 Ki 16:24 | And he bought the hill Samaria from Shemer... and built on the hill... | Samaria established as the capital |
| 1 Ki 12:20 | ...then all Israel made him king over all Israel... | "All Israel" often refers to Northern Kingdom |
| 1 Ki 22:4 | ...So they went up to Ramoth Gilead. | Kings going out to battle with their armies |
| 2 Sam 11:1 | In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle... | Common expectation of kings leading armies |
| 1 Sam 8:20 | ...that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. | King's role as military leader demanded |
| Num 1:3 | from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war... | Military census for national strength |
| Jdg 20:1-2 | Then all the Israelites came out... And the leaders of all the people presented themselves... | Tribal mobilization for war |
| Deut 20:5-8 | Instructions regarding those exempt from war before going into battle. | Principles for mustering an army |
| Josh 8:1 | ...Do not be afraid or dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you and arise... | Divine command to muster for battle |
| 1 Chr 20:1 | In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army... | Example of general leading the army |
| Neh 4:13 | So I stationed guards... according to their families with their swords... | Organized defensive mobilization |
| 2 Ki 3:2 | He removed the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made, but he held fast to the sins of Jeroboam... | Jehoram's religious compromise, affecting the kingdom |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... and trust in chariots... but do not look to the Holy One of Israel. | Contrast of reliance on human might vs. God |
| Ps 144:1 | Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. | God's ultimate role in victory and might |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Divine source of power, not human forces |
| Deut 2:32 | ...then Sihon and all his people came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz. | Example of a king leading "all his people" into battle |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy... | Though not direct, parallels approaching a sovereign authority. |
| Rom 13:4 | For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. | The authority of rulers (including to raise armies) |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 6 Meaning
This verse describes King Jehoram of Israel's decisive and immediate action in response to the rebellion of Moab. He mobilized the full military might of the Northern Kingdom from its capital, Samaria, indicating his direct command and preparation for warfare against the rebellious nation.
2 Kings 3 6 Context
2 Kings chapter 3 begins by introducing Jehoram, son of Ahab, who becomes king of Israel after his brother Ahaziah. Though he removes some idols associated with Baal worship, he persists in the syncretistic calf worship introduced by Jeroboam I. The narrative immediately establishes the historical backdrop for verse 6: Mesha, King of Moab, who had paid heavy tribute to Ahab, rebels against Israel upon Ahab's death. Jehoram's action in 2 Kings 3:6 is a direct and forceful response to this rebellion, asserting Israel's dominion. The subsequent verses detail his strategic alliance with Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom to march against Moab, ultimately leading to the involvement of the prophet Elisha, who secures miraculous intervention from God.
2 Kings 3 6 Word analysis
- וַיֵּצֵא֙ (vayyēṣē'): From the root yātsā’ (יָצָא), meaning "to go out," "come forth," or "march." The waw consecutive imperfect verbal form signifies a strong, immediate, and consecutive action. In a military context, it explicitly means to "go out to war" or "march to battle," indicating the commencement of a campaign under the king's direct leadership. This is a deliberate, ordered movement, not a spontaneous dispersal.
- הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (hammeleḵ): "The king." This definitive article points specifically to King Jehoram. It highlights his supreme royal authority and responsibility as the military commander-in-chief, a key function of kingship in ancient Near Eastern societies, where the king often led his armies personally.
- יְהֹוֹרָ֔ם (yᵉhôwôrām): "Jehoram." This is the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, son of Ahab. His name means "Yahweh is exalted" or "Yahweh lifts up," a theological declaration that contrasts starkly with his often-compromised religious practices as detailed in the opening verses of the chapter. Distinguish from Jehoram of Judah.
- בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא (bayyôm hahû'): "On that day" or "at that time." This temporal phrase indicates an immediate response to Moab's rebellion, emphasizing the urgency and decisiveness of Jehoram's action. It ties directly back to the events described in 2 Kings 3:5.
- מִשֹּׁמְרֹ֔ון (mishshōmᵉrôn): "From Samaria." Samaria was the fortified capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by King Omri. Its mention indicates the central mustering point for Israel's military and the seat of Jehoram's authority. Marching from Samaria signifies the departure of the king and his initial forces from their power base.
- וַיִּפְקֹ֖ד (vayyip̄qōḏ): From the root pāqaḏ (פָּקַד), a rich Hebrew verb meaning "to visit," "attend to," "number," "muster," "inspect," "appoint," or "command." In this context, it specifically means to "muster," "review," or "enlist" troops. It implies a formal, organized census or inspection of available fighting men, confirming their readiness and strength for battle, suggesting comprehensive mobilization rather than a simple gathering.
- אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ʾeṯ-kāl-yiśrāʾēl): "All Israel." In the context of the Divided Monarchy (post-931 BC), "all Israel" refers specifically to the entire military force of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, distinct from Judah. It denotes a comprehensive mobilization, encompassing all eligible and available fighting men throughout Jehoram's territory, signaling the severity of the challenge from Moab.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So King Jehoram marched out... from Samaria": This phrase emphasizes the origin of the military campaign and the active leadership of the sovereign. Samaria, as the strategic and political heart of the Northern Kingdom, served as the base for this royal military expedition. The king's physical departure underscores his commitment and leadership of the troops.
- "at that time and mustered all Israel": This highlights the immediacy and totality of the mobilization. "At that time" connects directly to the preceding event (Moab's rebellion), demonstrating the king's prompt and resolute reaction. "Mustered all Israel" conveys the comprehensive nature of the call to arms, involving the full available fighting strength of the northern tribes. It points to an organized military assembly, ready for deployment.
2 Kings 3 6 Bonus section
- The military action initiated in this verse serves as a crucial point of engagement between the human desire for political and economic stability and the divine purposes at play, ultimately bringing the prophetic ministry of Elisha into sharp focus later in the chapter.
- While "all Israel" often refers to the Northern Kingdom in this period, the eventual alliance with Judah's forces later in the chapter reminds the reader of the fractured nature of the larger covenant community and how various crises could sometimes temporarily reunite parts of the scattered people under different leaders.
- The act of "mustering" (paqad) has a double meaning of both census-taking and reviewing/ordering for a task. In a military sense, it means the effective registration and preparation of men fit for war, signifying not just a count but an organizing process essential for the functioning of a large army.
2 Kings 3 6 Commentary
2 Kings 3:6 concisely captures King Jehoram's immediate and comprehensive military response to Moab's rebellion. As the ruling monarch, he fulfilled his expected duty to defend the realm, personally leading the mobilization of his armed forces from the capital, Samaria. This verse sets a pragmatic and political tone, showcasing the king exercising his royal authority to command and prepare for conflict. While it details a decisive human action, the broader narrative of 2 Kings 3 reveals that the subsequent success against Moab was ultimately dependent not on the strength of Jehoram's mustered forces, but on the divine intervention secured through the prophet Elisha. Thus, this verse lays the groundwork for a critical lesson about the limits of human might in the face of God's sovereign power, demonstrating that even earthly kings, while powerful, operate within a larger divine framework where true victory belongs to the Lord.