2 Kings 3:26

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 3:26 vividly portrays the desperate plight of the Moabite king, Mesha, as he faces overwhelming defeat at the hands of the allied forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom. Recognizing the battle's insurmountable intensity, he marshals a formidable contingent of seven hundred swordsmen in a desperate, last-ditch effort to breach the enemy lines and target the king of Edom, a strategic move aimed at disrupting the alliance. However, despite the ferocity and perceived strength of this assault, their attempt proved utterly futile, underscoring the futility of human might against a divinely ordained outcome.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of the military campaign detailed in [2 Kings 3](/2_kings/3 "2 Kings 3 - The Moabite Rebellion and Elisha's Prophecy"). Following Moab's rebellion against Israel after the death of Ahab, King Jehoram of Israel enlists the aid of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the King of Edom to suppress the revolt. The allied armies, while marching through the wilderness of Edom, face a severe water shortage, a crisis that threatens the entire campaign. It is at this critical juncture that the prophet Elisha is consulted. Through divine intervention, Elisha miraculously provides water for the armies and their livestock, and prophesies a decisive victory over Moab ([2 Kings 3:16-19](/2_kings/3-16 "2 Kings 3:16-19 - Elisha's Prophecy of Water and Victory")). The subsequent battle sees the Moabites routed, their cities destroyed, and their land devastated. Verse 26 captures the climax of Moab's military collapse, immediately preceding the horrific act of human sacrifice by the Moabite king in [2 Kings 3:27](/2_kings/3-27 "2 Kings 3:27 - The King of Moab's Desperate Sacrifice"), which marks the sudden and unexpected end of the allied campaign.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of 2 Kings 3 occur during the reign of Jehoram of Israel (c. 852-841 BC) and Jehoshaphat of Judah (c. 870-848 BC). Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, was a long-standing tributary state to Israel, paying a heavy tribute of sheep and wool ([2 Kings 3:4](/2_kings/3-4 "2 Kings 3:4 - Moab's Tribute to Israel")). The rebellion of Mesha, the king of Moab, is also famously attested in the Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone), an extra-biblical inscription that corroborates aspects of this conflict from Moab's perspective, though it naturally presents a different interpretation of the outcome. Ancient warfare was brutal and often involved siege warfare, scorched-earth tactics, and the total subjugation or annihilation of defeated peoples. The desperation of the Moabite king, facing the potential destruction of his kingdom and dynasty, aligns with the extreme measures leaders in the ancient Near East might resort to, including the shocking act of child sacrifice, which was practiced by some surrounding nations in times of extreme distress, though abhorrent to Israelite law ([Deuteronomy 18:10](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10 - Abominable Practices")).
* **Key Themes:** The narrative of 2 Kings 3, culminating in this verse, powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights the **sovereignty of God** over human affairs and military outcomes. Despite the initial challenges faced by the allied armies, God's intervention through Elisha demonstrates that ultimate victory comes from Him, not from human strength or strategy ([Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "Psalm 33:16-17 - God's Deliverance, Not Human Strength")). Secondly, the verse underscores the **futility of human might and desperation** when opposed to divine will. The Moabite king's desperate charge, though brave, ultimately fails, emphasizing the limitations of human power. This theme is further amplified by the subsequent, even more extreme, act of human sacrifice, which also proves ineffective in altering the course of the battle. Finally, the chapter, through the actions of the Moabite king, touches upon the theme of **idolatry and its consequences**, as the desperate sacrifice in the following verse is likely an appeal to the Moabite god Chemosh, a stark contrast to the true God who delivers Israel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sore (Hebrew, _chazaq'_):** The KJV translation "too sore for him" for the Hebrew *chazaq* (חָזַק) conveys a sense of overwhelming difficulty and severity. While *chazaq* often means "strong," "firm," or "courageous," in this context, it signifies that the battle had become "too strong," "too hard," or "too severe" for the Moabite king to withstand by conventional means. It implies an oppressive intensity that pushed him to the brink, forcing him to consider desperate, unconventional alternatives.
* **Break through (Hebrew, _bāqaʿ'_):** The verb *bāqaʿ* (בָּקַע) means "to cleave," "to break open," or "to burst through." It suggests a violent, forceful attempt to create an opening or gap in the enemy's lines. This was not merely an attack but an attempt to penetrate and escape or disrupt the core of the allied forces, specifically targeting the king of Edom, who likely represented a weaker point or a symbolic target within the coalition. The choice of this verb emphasizes the aggressive and desperate nature of the Moabite king's final military maneuver.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him":** This opening clause establishes the immediate context of extreme duress and impending defeat. The Moabite king's perception of the battle as "too sore" or "too strong" signifies a recognition of his army's complete collapse and the futility of continued conventional resistance. It sets the stage for a desperate, non-conventional action.
* **"he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords":** In response to his dire assessment, the king personally leads a significant contingent of elite warriors. "Men that drew swords" refers to experienced, armed combatants, suggesting a chosen force for a high-stakes, direct assault. Seven hundred men, while not a massive army, represents a substantial and formidable force for a targeted, desperate breakthrough attempt, indicating the seriousness and scale of this last effort.
* **"to break through [even] unto the king of Edom":** This reveals the specific objective of the desperate charge. The Moabite king's strategic aim was not merely to escape but to target the king of Edom. This could have been an attempt to assassinate a key leader, sow discord within the allied ranks, or perhaps open a path for retreat through the Edomite flank, which might have been perceived as the weakest link in the triple alliance. The phrase "even unto" emphasizes the direct, determined, and perhaps audacious nature of this specific target.
* **"but they could not":** This final, concise clause delivers the immediate, decisive outcome: the attempt failed. Despite the king's desperation, the elite force, and the clear objective, their efforts were in vain. This brief statement underscores the overwhelming power of the allied forces (and implicitly, the divine hand behind them) and the ultimate futility of the Moabite king's human strength and strategy against a divinely ordained victory.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its dramatic message. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the king's desperate and failed military maneuver directly sets the stage for the even more shocking and horrific act of human sacrifice described in [2 Kings 3:27](/2_kings/3-27 "2 Kings 3:27 - The King of Moab's Desperate Sacrifice"), indicating an escalating despair and willingness to go to any lengths. There is also a strong element of **irony** in the king's actions: despite leading a force of "seven hundred men that drew swords"—a symbol of strength and martial prowess—they are utterly unable to achieve their objective. This highlights the **futility** of human might when confronted with a divinely empowered force, contrasting the king's perceived strength with his ultimate weakness. The concise "but they could not" acts as a powerful **antithesis** to the preceding description of the king's determined effort, delivering a stark and immediate sense of failure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The desperation of the Moabite king in 2 Kings 3:26 serves as a profound theological statement on the limits of human power and the futility of relying solely on one's own strength, especially when facing a divinely ordained outcome. The king's inability to "break through" despite a formidable force underscores that true victory and deliverance come from God, not from military might or human ingenuity. This narrative implicitly contrasts the Moabite king's reliance on his own strength and, later, on his pagan god (Chemosh), with Israel's reliance on the LORD, who had just miraculously provided water and promised victory through Elisha. It highlights the biblical principle that "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance belongs to the LORD" ([Proverbs 21:31](/proverbs/21-31 "Proverbs 21:31 - Deliverance Belongs to the LORD")).
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Trust in the Name of the LORD")
* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "God's Deliverance, Not Human Strength")
* [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Not by Might Nor by Power")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers a stark reflection on human desperation and the limits of self-reliance. In life, we often encounter "battles too sore for us"—situations where our strength, resources, or ingenuity are utterly insufficient. Like the king of Moab, our natural inclination might be to double down, to muster every last bit of our own strength or devise a clever "breakthrough" strategy. However, the outcome for the Moabite king reminds us that human effort, no matter how valiant or desperate, is ultimately limited. For the believer, this passage serves as a powerful call to humility and dependence on God. When our own efforts fail, it is not a sign of our weakness but an invitation to lean into God's inexhaustible strength and wisdom. It challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust: in our own abilities, or in the sovereign power of God who can achieve what is impossible for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "battles" in your life currently feel "too sore" for your own strength?**
* **In what ways do you tend to rely on your own ingenuity or resources before turning to God in difficult situations?**
* **How can the failure of the Moabite king's desperate charge encourage you to seek divine intervention and guidance more readily?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the futility of human effort apart from God's will?**

### FAQ
**Why did the King of Moab specifically target the King of Edom?**

Answer: The text doesn't explicitly state the reason, but several possibilities exist. The King of Edom was likely the weakest link in the triple alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom, as Edom was a vassal state to Judah at this time ([2 Kings 3:9](/2_kings/3-9 "2 Kings 3:9 - The March Through Edom")). Targeting him could have been a strategic attempt to break the alliance by eliminating a key leader, sowing discord among the allies, or creating a chaotic opening through which the Moabite forces could escape or regroup. It's also possible that the Edomite flank was perceived as less fortified or more vulnerable than the main Israelite or Judean forces.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate, failed charge of the Moabite king in 2 Kings 3:26, a futile attempt to save his kingdom through human strength and violence, stands in stark contrast to the ultimate victory achieved through the "weakness" of Christ. The Moabite king sought to "break through" by drawing swords and confronting an earthly king; yet, the true breakthrough for humanity came not through an act of force, but through the sacrificial Lamb of God. Jesus, the ultimate King, did not come to conquer by might but to lay down His life, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His "battle" was against sin and death, and His victory was secured not by a desperate charge but by His willing submission to the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). The Moabite king's failure highlights the futility of human efforts to save themselves or achieve lasting peace through violence, pointing forward to the perfect and complete salvation offered through Christ's atoning work ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")). His kingdom is established not by the sword, but by grace and truth, offering eternal life to all who believe, a stark contrast to the temporary and ultimately failed kingdom of Moab.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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: