What does 2 Kings 3:24 mean?

"And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country." - 2 Kings 3:24

2 Kings 3:24 - "And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country."

2 Kings 3:24 (KJV) reads: "And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country."

This verse is part of a larger narrative found in the book of 2 Kings, which documents the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. The specific context of this verse is a battle between the Israelites and the Moabites. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, and they inhabited the land east of the Dead Sea, which is now part of modern-day Jordan. The Moabites were frequently at odds with the Israelites, and this particular conflict began when King Mesha of Moab rebelled against King Jehoram of Israel.

In the preceding verses, the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom had joined forces to fight against King Mesha. They also encountered a lack of water for themselves and their animals, and sought the prophet Elisha for guidance. Elisha provided them with a miraculous solution and prophesied the defeat of the Moabites. This sets the stage for the events described in 2 Kings 3:24.

The verse describes the moment when the Israelites were able to overcome the Moabites. When the Moabites saw the advancing armies of Israel, they likely believed that they were in a vulnerable position and sought to attack them by ambushing them. However, when the Israelites saw the Moabites, they immediately rose up and struck them with such force that the Moabites were forced to flee. The Israelites then pursued them into their own country, continuing to attack and defeat them.

At its core, this verse reflects the theme of victory in battle. The Israelites were victorious over the Moabites as a result of God's intervention and their own efforts. Throughout the Bible, there are many accounts of battles and conflicts, and the outcome often hinges on the faithfulness and obedience of God's people. In this case, the king of Israel sought the counsel of a prophet of God, and the miraculous provision of water and the subsequent victory over the Moabites were evidence of God's favor and assistance.

The symbolism in this verse can be interpreted in various ways. On one level, it can be seen as a demonstration of God's faithfulness and provision for His people. The fact that the Israelites were able to overcome their enemies, even when facing a lack of resources, speaks to the idea that God is able to provide for and protect His people in times of need.

Additionally, the verse can be viewed as a metaphor for spiritual warfare. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to "put on the full armor of God" in order to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). The battles described in the Old Testament can serve as a symbol for the struggles and conflicts that Christians face in their spiritual lives. Just as the Israelites relied on God's guidance and strength to defeat their enemies, believers are called to rely on God's power in their own spiritual battles.

Overall, 2 Kings 3:24 captures a moment of triumph for the Israelites and serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision for His people. It also offers a rich source of symbolism and themes that can be applied to the spiritual lives of believers.

2 Kings 3:24 Artwork

1 Kings 3:24 - "And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king."

2 Kings 24:3 - "Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;"

2 Kings 24:5 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

2 Kings 24:11 - "And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it."

2 Kings 3:6 - "¶ And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel."

2 Kings 3:16 - "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."

2 Kings 24:10 - "¶ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged."

2 Kings 13:24 - "So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead."

2 Kings 24:6 - "So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead."

2 Kings 24:19 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done."

2 Kings 3:10 - "And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!"

2 Kings 24:17 - "¶ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah."

2 Kings 3:23 - "And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."

2 Chronicles 24:3 - "And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters."

2 Kings 24:9 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done."

2 Kings 3:5 - "But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel."

2 Kings 24:4 - "And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon."

2 Kings 6:24 - "¶ And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria."

Jeremiah 25:24 - "And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,"

2 Kings 3:8 - "And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom."

2 Kings 8:24 - "And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead."

2 Kings 3:3 - "Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom."

Kings 3:16

2 Kings 3:18 - "And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."

2 Kings 25:3 - "And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land."

2 Kings 2:24 - "And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."

2 Kings 25:24 - "And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you."