Bible Strands
2 Kings 3:26
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king of Moab confronts a collapsing defense as allied Israelite, Judahite, and Edomite forces surround Kir-haraseth following a campaign of systematic agricultural and urban destruction.
The words — The text highlights חָזַק (cha.Zak), meaning "it was strong/fierce," and וַ/יִּקַּ֣ח (va/i.yi.Kach), meaning "and he took," framing the king's desperate tactical response.
The thread — This siege narrative continues the campaign trajectory established in 2 Kings 3:9 and echoes the broader judgment against Moab condemned in Amos 2:1.
Why it lands — The passage records a failed military breakout that precedes a desperate religious act, demanding recognition of human strategy's limits when confronted with divine judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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 swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 3:9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.
- Amos 2:1 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king.