2 kings 3:26 - When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
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What does "2 kings 3:26" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 3:26 describes a desperate attempt by the king of Moab to break the siege laid upon him by the combined forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom. Let's break down the meaning:
"When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him...": The king of Moab, Mesha, recognized that his forces were being overwhelmed. The siege was putting immense pressure on his city, and defeat seemed inevitable.
"...he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword...": Mesha chose a select group of his best warriors, 700 in number, all armed with swords. This suggests a determined and potentially suicidal mission.
"...to break through to the king of Edom...": Mesha's goal was to launch a surprise attack specifically aimed at the king of Edom. There could be several reasons for this strategy:
Weak Link: He might have perceived the Edomite forces as the weakest or most vulnerable part of the allied army.
Undermine the Alliance: Targeting the king of Edom could be an attempt to kill or capture him, hoping to demoralize the Edomite troops and potentially fracture the alliance with Israel and Judah.
Symbolic Victory: Killing the Edomite king could be seen as a symbolic victory that could rally Moabite morale.
"...but they could not.": Despite their desperation and the element of surprise, Mesha and his 700 warriors failed to break through the siege lines and reach the king of Edom. This signifies the strength of the besieging army and the futility of Mesha's attempt.
In essence, this verse portrays a moment of desperation and a failed attempt to change the course of a losing battle. The king of Moab recognizes his imminent defeat and launches a risky, targeted attack, but his efforts are ultimately unsuccessful. This event sets the stage for the even more extreme act of desperation Mesha takes in the following verse, where he sacrifices his own son.
2 kings 3:26 - When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
What does "2 kings 3:26" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 3:26 describes a desperate attempt by the king of Moab to break the siege laid upon him by the combined forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom. Let's break down the meaning:
"When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him...": The king of Moab, Mesha, recognized that his forces were being overwhelmed. The siege was putting immense pressure on his city, and defeat seemed inevitable.
"...he took with him seven hundred men who drew a sword...": Mesha chose a select group of his best warriors, 700 in number, all armed with swords. This suggests a determined and potentially suicidal mission.
"...to break through to the king of Edom...": Mesha's goal was to launch a surprise attack specifically aimed at the king of Edom. There could be several reasons for this strategy:
Weak Link: He might have perceived the Edomite forces as the weakest or most vulnerable part of the allied army.
Undermine the Alliance: Targeting the king of Edom could be an attempt to kill or capture him, hoping to demoralize the Edomite troops and potentially fracture the alliance with Israel and Judah.
Symbolic Victory: Killing the Edomite king could be seen as a symbolic victory that could rally Moabite morale.
"...but they could not.": Despite their desperation and the element of surprise, Mesha and his 700 warriors failed to break through the siege lines and reach the king of Edom. This signifies the strength of the besieging army and the futility of Mesha's attempt.
In essence, this verse portrays a moment of desperation and a failed attempt to change the course of a losing battle. The king of Moab recognizes his imminent defeat and launches a risky, targeted attack, but his efforts are ultimately unsuccessful. This event sets the stage for the even more extreme act of desperation Mesha takes in the following verse, where he sacrifices his own son.