2 Kings 3:25

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וְהֶֽעָרִ֣ים the cities H5892
וְהֶֽעָרִ֣ים the cities
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 1 of 25
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יַֽהֲרֹ֡סוּ And they beat down H2040
יַֽהֲרֹ֡סוּ And they beat down
Strong's: H2040
Word #: 2 of 25
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 3 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֶלְקָ֣ה piece H2513
חֶלְקָ֣ה piece
Strong's: H2513
Word #: 4 of 25
properly, smoothness; figuratively, flattery
ט֣וֹב all the good H2896
ט֣וֹב all the good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 5 of 25
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
יַשְׁלִ֨יכוּ of land cast H7993
יַשְׁלִ֨יכוּ of land cast
Strong's: H7993
Word #: 6 of 25
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
אִישׁ every man H376
אִישׁ every man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 7 of 25
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)
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ his stone H68
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ his stone
Strong's: H68
Word #: 8 of 25
a stone
וּמִלְא֗וּהָ and filled H4390
וּמִלְא֗וּהָ and filled
Strong's: H4390
Word #: 9 of 25
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 10 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַעְיַן all the wells H4599
מַעְיַן all the wells
Strong's: H4599
Word #: 11 of 25
a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
מַ֤יִם of water H4325
מַ֤יִם of water
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 12 of 25
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
יִסְתֹּ֙מוּ֙ it and they stopped H5640
יִסְתֹּ֙מוּ֙ it and they stopped
Strong's: H5640
Word #: 13 of 25
to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 14 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֵֽץ trees H6086
עֵֽץ trees
Strong's: H6086
Word #: 15 of 25
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
ט֣וֹב all the good H2896
ט֣וֹב all the good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 16 of 25
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
יַפִּ֔ילוּ and felled H5307
יַפִּ֔ילוּ and felled
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 17 of 25
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 18 of 25
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הִשְׁאִ֧יר left H7604
הִשְׁאִ֧יר left
Strong's: H7604
Word #: 19 of 25
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ his stone H68
אֲבָנֶ֛יהָ his stone
Strong's: H68
Word #: 20 of 25
a stone
בַּקִּ֖יר H0
בַּקִּ֖יר
Strong's: H0
Word #: 21 of 25
חֲרָ֑שֶׂת only in Kirharaseth H7025
חֲרָ֑שֶׂת only in Kirharaseth
Strong's: H7025
Word #: 22 of 25
kir-cheres or kir-chareseth, a place in moab
וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ went about H5437
וַיָּסֹ֥בּוּ went about
Strong's: H5437
Word #: 23 of 25
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
הַקַּלָּעִ֖ים thereof howbeit the slingers H7051
הַקַּלָּעִ֖ים thereof howbeit the slingers
Strong's: H7051
Word #: 24 of 25
a slinger
וַיַּכּֽוּהָ׃ it and smote H5221
וַיַּכּֽוּהָ׃ it and smote
Strong's: H5221
Word #: 25 of 25
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

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.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 3: God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. The prophetic ministry served as God's primary means of covenant enforcement, calling both kings and people to faithfulness. During this period, Israel and Judah struggled with persistent idolatry, particularly Baal worship introduced under Ahab and Jezebel.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

Historical Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 3 takes place during the Elisha prophetic ministry, approximately 850-800 BCE. The chapter's theme (Moabite Rebellion and God's Deliverance) reflects the historical reality of God's compassionate provision through prophetic miracles while both kingdoms struggled with persistent idolatry. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

Questions for Reflection

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