King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through [even] unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
Complete Jewish Bible:
When the king of Mo'av saw that the fighting was too much for him, he took with him 700 men armed with swords and tried to break through to the king of Edom; but they couldn't do it.
Berean Standard Bible:
When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail.
American Standard Version:
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew sword, to break through unto the king of Edom; but they could not.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when the king{H4428} of Moab{H4124} saw{H7200} that the battle{H4421} was too sore{H2388} for him, he took{H3947} with him seven{H7651} hundred{H3967} men{H376} that drew{H8025} swords{H2719}, to break through{H1234} even unto the king{H4428} of Edom{H123}: but they could{H3201} not.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 3:9
- So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
Amos 2:1
- ¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
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Commentary for 2 Kings 3:26
2 Kings 3:26 is part of a larger narrative found in 2 Kings 3:4-27, which details the account of a coalition army consisting of the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom waging war against Moab. The Moabites had rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab, and this military campaign was an effort to quell that rebellion.
In the verse itself, the king of Moab, facing a dire situation on the battlefield, makes a desperate and dramatic decision. Seeing that the battle is going against him, he decides to take seven hundred of his best soldiers in an attempt to break through the enemy lines and reach the king of Edom, possibly hoping to create an opportunity to turn the tide of the battle or to escape. However, his attempt fails; the Moabite forces are unable to penetrate the coalition's defenses.
The historical context of this verse is set during the divided monarchy period of Israel's history, when the kingdom was split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. The Moabites were a perennial enemy of Israel, and this conflict reflects the ongoing tensions and power struggles in the region.
The themes present in this verse include the desperation of war, the strategic decisions made by leaders under duress, and the precariousness of military campaigns. It also underscores the ancient Near Eastern practice of warfare, where the outcome could hinge on personal valor and the ability to rally a select group of warriors for a critical assault. Additionally, this verse sets the stage for the following verses, where the king of Moab resorts to an even more extreme measure—offering his firstborn son as a burnt offering to his god, Chemosh—in a final, desperate attempt to secure victory. This act is said to result in a great wrath against Israel, leading to their retreat.
In summary, 2 Kings 3:26 captures a moment of intense military conflict, illustrating the severe measures taken by a king to change the course of a battle that seems lost, and reflects the broader political and religious tensions of the time. It also highlights the belief in the efficacy of divine intervention in the outcomes of war, which was a common perspective in the ancient world.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- 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. - 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. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H4421
There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: milchâmâh
Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior). - Strong's Number: H2388
There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָזַק
Transliteration: châzaq
Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H3967
There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֵאָה
Transliteration: mêʼâh
Pronunciation: may-aw'
Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H8025
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַף
Transliteration: shâlaph
Pronunciation: saw-laf'
Description: a primitive root; to pull out, up or off; draw (off), grow up, pluck off. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H1234
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקַע
Transliteration: bâqaʻ
Pronunciation: baw-kah'
Description: a primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open; make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces, through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out, divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win. - Strong's Number: H123
There are 188 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱדֹם
Transliteration: ʼĔdôm
Pronunciation: ed-ome'
Description: or (fully) אֱדוֹם ; from אָדֹם; red (see Genesis 25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him; Edom, Edomites, Idumea. - Strong's Number: H3201
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָכֹל
Transliteration: yâkôl
Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.