Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.” New Living Translation You will conquer the best of their towns, even the fortified ones. You will cut down all their good trees, stop up all their springs, and ruin all their good land with stones.” English Standard Version and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” Berean Standard Bible And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.” Berean Literal Bible And you⁺ will strike every fortified city and every choice city, and every good tree you⁺ will cut down, and every spring of water you⁺ will stop up, and every good piece of the land you⁺ will ruin with stones.” King James Bible And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. New King James Version Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” New American Standard Bible Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all the springs of water, and spoil every good plot of land with stones.’” NASB 1995 ‘Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’” NASB 1977 ‘Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’” Legacy Standard Bible Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’” Amplified Bible You shall strike every fortified city and every choice (principal) city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’” Berean Annotated Bible And you⁺ shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You⁺ shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones. Christian Standard Bible Then you will attack every fortified city and every choice city. You will cut down every good tree and stop up every spring. You will ruin every good piece of land with stones.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.” American Standard Version And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. Contemporary English Version You will capture all their walled cities and important towns. You will chop down every good tree and stop up every spring of water, then ruin their fertile fields by covering them with rocks. English Revised Version And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. GOD'S WORD® Translation You will defeat every walled city and every important city. You will cut down every good tree, seal all the wells, and use rocks to ruin every good piece of land." Good News Translation You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities; you will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones." International Standard Version Then you are to attack every fortified city and every significant city. Cut down every significant tree, fill in all of the water springs, and ruin every prime piece of land with stones." NET Bible You will defeat every fortified city and every important city. You must chop down every productive tree, stop up all the springs, and cover all the cultivated land with stones." New Heart English Bible You shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.'" Webster's Bible Translation And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.” World English Bible You shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand you have struck every fortified city, and every choice city, and you cause every good tree to fall, and you stop all fountains of waters, and you mar every good portion with stones.” Berean Literal Bible And you⁺ will strike every fortified city and every choice city, and every good tree you⁺ will cut down, and every spring of water you⁺ will stop up, and every good piece of the land you⁺ will ruin with stones.” Young's Literal Translation and ye have smitten every fenced city, and every choice city, and every good tree ye cause to fall, and all fountains of waters ye stop, and every good portion ye mar with stones.' Smith's Literal Translation And strike ye every fortified city and every chosen city, and every good tree ye shall cause it to fall, and all the fountains of water ye shall shut up, and every good part ye shall mar with stones. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd you shall destroy every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall cut down every fruitful tree, and shall stop up all the springs of waters, and every goodly field you shall cover with stones. Catholic Public Domain Version And you shall strike every fortified town and every elect city. And you shall cut down every fruitful tree. And you shall obstruct all the sources of water. And you shall cover every excellent field with stones.” New American Bible You shall destroy every fortified city and every choice city, fell every fruit tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every fertile field with stones.” New Revised Standard Version You shall conquer every fortified city and every choice city; every good tree you shall fell, all springs of water you shall stop up, and every good piece of land you shall ruin with stones.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd you shall destroy every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and pollute all the springs of water and mar every good piece of land with stones. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you shall destroy all the fortress cities, and all cities that are choice, and you shall fell all trees that are beautiful, and you shall stop up all springs of waters, and you shall fill every inheritance that is beautiful with stones.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And ye shall smite every strong city, and ye shall cut down every good tree, and ye shall stop all wells of water, and spoil every good piece of land with stones. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion…18This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 19And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones.” 20The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land.… Cross References And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. 2 Kings 19:25 Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. 2 Kings 18:13 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:1 After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself. You shall cut down every good tree, Deuteronomy 20:19-20 When you lay siege to a city for an extended time while fighting against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. You must not cut them down. Are the trees of the field human, that you should besiege them? / But you may destroy the trees that you know do not produce fruit. Use them to build siege works against the city that is waging war against you, until it falls. Jeremiah 6:6 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst. 2 Kings 19:23 Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest outposts, the densest of its forests. stop up every spring, 2 Chronicles 32:3-4 he consulted with his leaders and mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out. / Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. Genesis 26:15 So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. 2 Kings 19:24 I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.” and ruin every good field with stones.” Isaiah 5:2 He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! Micah 3:12 Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge. Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns. Isaiah 37:25 I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.” Isaiah 7:23-25 And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found. / Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. / For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample. Jeremiah 48:34 There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh; they raise their voices to Jahaz, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up. Jeremiah 48:8 The destroyer will move against every city, and not one town will escape. The valley will also be ruined, and the high plain will be destroyed, as the LORD has said. Treasury of Scripture And you shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. And ye 2 Kings 13:17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Judges 6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. fell Deuteronomy 20:19,20 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege: … mar [heb] grieve 2 Kings 3:25 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 Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it. Jump to Previous Choice City Fell Fenced Fortified Fountains Good Major Mar Overthrow Piece Smite Springs Stones Stop Strike Tree Water WellsJump to Next Choice City Fell Fenced Fortified Fountains Good Major Mar Overthrow Piece Smite Springs Stones Stop Strike Tree Water Wells2 Kings 3 1. Jehoram's reign4. Mesha rebels 6. Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water, 13. by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory 21. The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome 26. The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege And you shall attack every fortified city and every city of importance. This command reflects the ancient Near Eastern warfare practices where conquering armies targeted fortified cities, which were centers of power and defense. Fortified cities often had walls and strongholds, making them strategic military targets. The phrase indicates a comprehensive military campaign against Moab, emphasizing the totality of the destruction intended. Historically, this reflects the common practice of ensuring that no place of refuge or resistance remains for the enemy. This command also echoes the divine instructions given to Israel in earlier conquests, such as the conquest of Canaan, where complete destruction was often mandated to prevent future threats and idolatry (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). You shall cut down every good tree, stop up every spring, and ruin every good field with stones. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jehoram (Joram)- The king of Israel during this time, son of Ahab and Jezebel. He sought help from Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to fight against Moab. 2. Jehoshaphat - The king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God, who allied with Jehoram to fight against the Moabites. 3. Moabites - The people of Moab, led by King Mesha, who rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 4. Elisha - The prophet of God who provided guidance and assurance of victory to the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom. 5. Edom - A region and its king who joined the alliance with Israel and Judah against Moab. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in JudgmentThe command to destroy Moab's resources demonstrates God's control over nations and His ability to execute judgment according to His will. The Role of Prophetic Guidance Elisha's involvement underscores the importance of seeking God's direction through His prophets or, in contemporary terms, through Scripture and prayer. The Consequences of Rebellion Moab's rebellion against Israel serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning against God's chosen people and His ordained order. Unity Among God's People The alliance between Israel, Judah, and Edom illustrates the strength found in unity, especially when facing common threats. The Importance of Obedience The detailed instructions given to the allied forces highlight the necessity of obedience to God's commands, even when they seem harsh or difficult. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 3:19?2. How does 2 Kings 3:19 demonstrate God's power over Israel's enemies? 3. What strategies were commanded in 2 Kings 3:19 to defeat Moab? 4. How can we apply the obedience shown in 2 Kings 3:19 today? 5. What other biblical battles show similar divine instructions as 2 Kings 3:19? 6. How does 2 Kings 3:19 reflect God's judgment and justice? 7. How does 2 Kings 3:19 reflect God's judgment on the Moabites? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 3:19? 9. Why does God command such destruction in 2 Kings 3:19? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 3? 11. Who was Sennacherib in the Bible? 12. When is it time to scatter or gather stones? 13. Why would a single human sacrifice on a city wall abruptly force Israel's retreat (2 Kings 3:26-27)? 14. In Isaiah 15:1, how can Moab's entire city be destroyed 'in a night' without any historical or archaeological record of such an event? What Does 2 Kings 3:19 Mean Attack every fortified cityGod’s command through Elisha is for Israel, Judah, and Edom to press the battle all the way to Moab’s strongest defenses. This is no skirmish; it is a divinely sanctioned assault on every walled stronghold (see 2 Chronicles 11:10–12; Isaiah 25:12). By ordering attacks on fortified places, the LORD underscores His absolute sovereignty: no human fortification can stand when He decrees judgment (Psalm 18:2; Proverbs 21:31). • Fortified cities symbolized security and pride. Moab had relied on them (Jeremiah 48:1). • The coalition’s victory would give unmistakable evidence that the LORD, not Baal or Chemosh, rules (Exodus 14:17–18). Strike every city of importance The phrase reaches beyond military bastions to economic and cultural centers—“every choice city”. The judgment will touch everything Moab values (Jeremiah 48:15; Zephaniah 2:9). • By leveling premier cities, God breaks national confidence (Isaiah 13:19). • Nothing of Moab’s influence or prestige is exempt; comprehensive obedience is required (1 Samuel 15:3). Cut down every good tree Elisha’s instructions extend to resources that sustain life and commerce (Deuteronomy 20:19–20). “Good” trees likely include fruit-bearing orchards that fuel the economy (Joel 1:12). • Eliminating food sources intensifies pressure for surrender (2 Kings 6:25). • The act communicates irrevocable judgment; prosperity will not rebound quickly (Isaiah 5:5–6). Stop up every spring Water is life in an arid land. Stopping springs means dismantling Moab’s capacity to recover (2 Chronicles 32:3–4; Genesis 26:15). • The LORD who miraculously supplied water for Israel (2 Kings 3:17) now removes it from Moab—blessing for His people, deprivation for His foes (Exodus 15:25–26). • Springs often fed agriculture and livestock; blocking them cripples both (Jeremiah 14:3–4). Ruin every good field with stones Covering arable land with rocks renders it useless (Isaiah 5:2). This punitive farming of destruction makes long-term cultivation impossible. • An ancient tactic for ensuring that a defeated enemy could not quickly return to strength (2 Kings 19:24). • Symbolically, God is sowing judgment where Moab once sowed crops (Hosea 10:13). summary 2 Kings 3:19 outlines a divinely commanded, total judgment on Moab. Every fortified wall, prestigious city, fruitful tree, life-giving spring, and productive field is to be dismantled. The verse showcases God’s unmatched authority, the seriousness of sin and rebellion, and the certainty that His purposes stand even against the strongest human defenses. (19) And ye shall smite . . . shall fell . . .--These verbs are continuative of those in the last verse, i.e., they do not command a course of action, but foretell it. (Comp. 2Kings 8:12-13.) Taken as commands, they appear to conflict with Deuteronomy 20:19, where the felling of an enemy's fruit trees for the purposes of siege-works is forbidden. Keil, however, explains that the law relates to Canaanite territory which the Israelites were to occupy, whereas Moab's was an enemy's country, and therefore not to be spared.Fenced city . . . choice city.--There is a paronomasia, or play on words of similar sound, in the Hebrew: 'ir mibc?r . . . 'ir mibhor. Every good tree--i.e., fruit-bearing trees. Stop.--Genesis 26:15; Genesis 26:18. . . . Verse 19. - And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city. The LXX. omit the second clause, perhaps because they could not reproduce in Greek the assonance of the Hebrew, where the words for "fenced" and "choice" (מִבְצֶר and מִבְחור) have nearly the same sound. And shall fell every good tree. It has been said that the Law forbade this, and argued(1) that Elisha did not here utter a command, but only a prediction (Pool), not bidding the Israelites to cut down the trees, but only telling them they would do so; (2) that Elisha intentionally excepted the Moabites from the merciful provision of the Law (Deuteronomy 20:19, 20), having authority to do so, and regarding the Moabites as exceptionally wicked (Keil); and (3) that the Mosaic Law was not observed under the kings, and that Elisha himself had forgotten the provision about fruit trees (Geddes). But a careful examination of the passage in Deuteronomy will show . . . Hebrew And you shall attackוְהִכִּיתֶ֞ם (wə·hik·kî·ṯem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 5221: To strike every כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every fortified מִבְצָר֙ (miḇ·ṣār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4013: A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defender city עִ֤יר (‘îr) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5892: Excitement and every וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every city עִ֣יר (‘îr) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5892: Excitement of importance. מִבְח֔וֹר (miḇ·ḥō·wr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4004: Select, well fortified You shall cut down תַּפִּ֔ילוּ (tap·pî·lū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 5307: To fall, lie every וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every good טוֹב֙ (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good tree, עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood stop up תִּסְתֹּ֑מוּ (tis·tō·mū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 5640: To stop up, to repair, to keep secret every וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every spring, מַעְיְנֵי־ (ma‘·yə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4599: A fountain, a source and ruin תַּכְאִ֖בוּ (taḵ·’i·ḇū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 3510: To feel pain, to grieve, to spoil every וְכֹל֙ (wə·ḵōl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every good הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good field הַחֶלְקָ֣ה (ha·ḥel·qāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2513: Smoothness, flattery, an allotment with stones.” בָּאֲבָנִֽים׃ (bā·’ă·ḇā·nîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 68: A stone Links 2 Kings 3:19 NIV2 Kings 3:19 NLT 2 Kings 3:19 ESV 2 Kings 3:19 NASB 2 Kings 3:19 KJV 2 Kings 3:19 BibleApps.com 2 Kings 3:19 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 3:19 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 3:19 French Bible 2 Kings 3:19 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Kings 3:19 You shall strike every fortified city (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) |
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