Explore the Bible Online

2 Kings 3:19

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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.

2 Kings 3:19 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Kings 3:19

Theological / Devotional

Every fenced city. The fortified cities of Moab would be no defense against Israel’s hosts, but would fall before them.

Shall fell. It is sometimes thought that in this course of action Israel was going contrary to the directions given in Deut. 20:19, 20. But Moses is there dealing with sieges of cities at the time of the conquest, and the reason given for not cutting down the trees is that Israel might eat of their fruit. The provision was prudent in its spirit rather than merciful, for Israel was to occupy the land, and if they cut down the fruit trees they would only be bringing injury upon themselves.

Stop all wells. The stoppage of wells was a common practice in the wars of the ancient East. At the time of Isaac the Philistines stopped the wells that Abraham had dug (Gen. 26:15–18).

With stones. They were to throw so many stones upon the land as to make it unfit for cultivation.

By SdaBc