2 Kings 3:24

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.

And when they came {H935} to the camp {H4264} of Israel {H3478}, the Israelites {H3478} rose up {H6965} and smote {H5221} the Moabites {H4124}, so that they fled {H5127} before {H6440} them: but they went forward {H5221} smiting {H5221} the Moabites {H4124}, even in their country.

When they arrived at the camp of Isra'el, Isra'el launched an attack, so that Mo'av fled before them. But they advanced on Mo'av and struck it.

But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites.

And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land smiting the Moabites.

Commentary

2 Kings 3:24 marks a pivotal moment in the allied campaign of Israel, Judah, and Edom against the rebellious Moabites, detailing the overwhelming and decisive victory granted to the Israelite coalition through divine intervention. This verse vividly portrays the immediate and powerful counter-attack that turned the tide of battle.

Context

This verse is the climax of a desperate situation faced by King Jehoram of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom. Moab had rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab (2 Kings 3:5), prompting this retaliatory campaign. During their march through the wilderness of Edom, the allied armies and their animals faced severe dehydration. In their distress, they sought the prophet Elisha, who, despite his initial reluctance towards Jehoram, prophesied both the miraculous provision of water and a decisive victory over Moab (2 Kings 3:17). The preceding verses describe how God miraculously filled the valley with water, which appeared as blood to the Moabites at sunrise. This optical illusion led the Moabites to believe the allied kings had slaughtered each other, prompting them to rush into the Israelite camp expecting easy plunder. Instead, they met a prepared and divinely empowered enemy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Deliverance: The victory described in this verse was not merely a result of human military prowess but a direct consequence of God's miraculous provision and strategic deception of the enemy. It demonstrates God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, fulfilling His promises and delivering them from seemingly insurmountable odds. This echoes other instances of God fighting for Israel.
  • Decisive Victory and Pursuit: The phrase "rose up and smote the Moabites" signifies a powerful and overwhelming counter-attack that routed the Moabite forces. The subsequent declaration, "but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in [their] country," emphasizes the completeness of the victory. The Israelites didn't just defend their camp; they pursued the fleeing enemy deep into Moabite territory, inflicting heavy losses and asserting dominance, signifying a comprehensive defeat.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This verse serves as a powerful testament to the reliability of God's word spoken through His prophets. Elisha's promise of victory was precisely fulfilled, reinforcing faith in God's power and faithfulness to those who seek Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated as "smote" is nakah (Χ ΦΈΧ›ΦΈΧ”), which conveys a strong sense of striking, beating, or inflicting a decisive blow. Its repeated use in the verse ("smote the Moabites... went forward smiting the Moabites") powerfully underscores the intensity, determination, and persistence of the Israelite attack, transforming a defensive stand into a full-scale offensive that utterly shattered the Moabite threat.

Practical Application

2 Kings 3:24 offers a timeless lesson that even in desperate circumstances, when human resources are exhausted, God can intervene miraculously to provide deliverance and victory. It encourages believers to seek God's guidance and trust in His power to deliver and provide, even when the path forward seems unclear or impossible. Just as the Israelites experienced a dramatic reversal of fortune through divine aid, we too can find strength and ultimate victory through faith in God's promises, knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3

    For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:4

    But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

  • Joshua 8:20

    And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

  • Joshua 8:22

    And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.

  • Judges 20:40

    But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

  • Judges 20:46

    So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valour.