2 Kings 3:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When all Mo'av heard that the kings had come up to attack them, every man was summoned, from the youngest capable of bearing arms to older ones, and stationed on the border.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border.

American Standard Version:

Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when all the Moabites^{H4124} heard^{H8085} that the kings^{H4428} were come up^{H5927} to fight^{H3898} against them, they gathered^{H6817} all that were able to put^{H2296} on armour^{H2290}, and upward^{H4605}, and stood^{H5975} in the border^{H1366}.

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Commentary for 2 Kings 3:21

2 Kings 3:21 is part of a narrative that describes a military campaign involving a coalition of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab. The historical context of this verse is set during the reigns of King Jehoram of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, who joined forces with the King of Edom to suppress a rebellion by Mesha, King of Moab. Moab had been a vassal state to Israel, but after the death of King Ahab of Israel, Mesha sought to break free from Israelite control.

The verse itself captures a moment of immediate response from the Moabites upon learning of the approaching coalition armies. The Moabites, recognizing the imminent threat, quickly mustered their military might, gathering all those capable of bearing arms to defend their border. This indicates a sense of urgency and the gravity of the situation for Moab. The text emphasizes the readiness of the Moabites to defend their land and their willingness to engage in battle to maintain their sovereignty and freedom from the dominion of their neighbors.

The themes present in this verse include the dynamics of political power and control in the ancient Near East, the importance of military preparedness and response in the face of invasion, and the fierce determination of a people to protect their homeland. It also reflects the recurring biblical motif of God's people engaging in warfare, which often raises theological questions about divine will and the justification of conflict. The verse sets the stage for the ensuing battle, which, according to the narrative, ultimately leads to a miraculous victory for the Israelite coalition, albeit with a twist that involves a desperate act by the Moabite king that turns the tide of battle in a shocking and gruesome manner.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4124
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹאָב
   Transliteration: Môwʼâb
   Pronunciation: mo-awb
   Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5927
   There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלָה
   Transliteration: ʻâlâh
   Pronunciation: aw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3898
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָחַם
   Transliteration: lâcham
   Pronunciation: law-kham'
   Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
   
6. Strong's Number: H6817
   There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָעַק
   Transliteration: tsâʻaq
   Pronunciation: tsaw-ak'
   Description: a primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly); [idiom] at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together).
   
7. Strong's Number: H2296
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָגַר
   Transliteration: châgar
   Pronunciation: khaw-gar'
   Description: a primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.); be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, [idiom] on every side.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2290
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲגוֹר
   Transliteration: chăgôwr
   Pronunciation: khag-ore'
   Description: or חֲגֹר; and (feminine) חֲגוֹרָה; or חֲגֹרָה; from חָגַר; a belt (for the waist); apron, armour, gird(-le).
   
9. Strong's Number: H4605
   There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעַל
   Transliteration: maʻal
   Pronunciation: mah'al
   Description: from עָלָה; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.; above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5975
    There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָמַד
    Transliteration: ʻâmad
    Pronunciation: aw-mad'
    Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
    
11. Strong's Number: H1366
    There are 196 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גְּבוּל
    Transliteration: gᵉbûwl
    Pronunciation: gheb-ool'
    Description: or גְּבֻל; (shortened) from גָּבַל; properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed; border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space.