2 Kings 3:25

Authorized King James Version

And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהֶֽעָרִ֣ים
the cities
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#2
יַֽהֲרֹ֡סוּ
And they beat down
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
#3
וְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#4
חֶלְקָ֣ה
piece
properly, smoothness; figuratively, flattery
#5
ט֣וֹב
all the good
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#6
יַשְׁלִ֨יכוּ
of land cast
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
#7
אִישׁ
every man
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)
#8
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ
H68
his stone
a stone
#9
וּמִלְא֗וּהָ
and filled
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
#10
וְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#11
מַעְיַן
all the wells
a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
#12
מַ֤יִם
of water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#13
יִסְתֹּ֙מוּ֙
it and they stopped
to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret
#14
וְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#15
עֵֽץ
trees
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#16
ט֣וֹב
all the good
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#17
יַפִּ֔ילוּ
and felled
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#18
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#19
הִשְׁאִ֧יר
left
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
#20
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ
H68
his stone
a stone
#21
בַּקִּ֖יר
H0
#22
חֲרָ֑שֶׂת
only in Kirharaseth
kir-cheres or kir-chareseth, a place in moab
#23
וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ
went about
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
#24
הַקַּלָּעִ֖ים
thereof howbeit the slingers
a slinger
#25
וַיַּכּֽוּהָ׃
it and smote
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to 2 Kings. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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