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Now to the plunder, Moab!" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/3-23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/3-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/3-22.htm" title="2 Kings 3:22">◄</a> 2 Kings 3:23 <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm" title="2 Kings 3:24">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_kings/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220That&#8217s blood!&#8221 they said. &#8220Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_kings/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“It’s blood!” the Moabites exclaimed. “The three armies must have attacked and killed each other! Let’s go, men of Moab, and collect the plunder!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_kings/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_kings/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they said, This <i>is</i> blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_kings/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_kings/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said, “This is blood; the kings must have fought each other, and they have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoils!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then they said, &#8220This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have slain one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have slain one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_kings/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together, and they have struck down one another. So now, Moab, to the spoil!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_kings/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And they said, “This is blood! Clearly the kings have fought together, and have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil [and the plunder of the dead soldiers]!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_kings/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“This is blood! ” they exclaimed. “The kings have crossed swords and their men have killed one another. So, to the spoil, Moab! ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_kings/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is blood!&#8221 they exclaimed. &#8220The kings have clashed swords and killed each other. So, to the spoil, Moab!&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_kings/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have smitten each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_kings/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and shouted, "Look at that blood! The armies of those kings must have fought and killed each other. Come on, let's go take what's left in their camp." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_kings/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have smitten each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_kings/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They said, "It's blood! The kings have been fighting one another and have killed each other. Now, Moabites, let's take their goods!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_kings/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"It's blood!" they exclaimed. "The three enemy armies must have fought and killed each other! Let's go and loot their camp!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_kings/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So they concluded, "This must be blood! The kings must have had one mighty big fight and each man killed the other! So let's go get the battle spoil, Moab!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_kings/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?This is blood!? they exclaimed. ?The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_kings/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Moabites said, "It's blood! The kings are totally destroyed! They have struck one another down! Now, Moab, seize the plunder!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_kings/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They said, "This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_kings/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_kings/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They said, “This is blood. The kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each other. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder!” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_kings/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and say, “This [is] blood; the kings have been surely destroyed, and they each strike his neighbor; and now for spoil, Moab!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_kings/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and say, 'Blood this is; the kings have been surely destroyed, and they smite each his neighbour; and now for spoil, Moab!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_kings/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will say, This the blood of the sword; the kings were destroyed, and they will strike a man his neighbor: and now to the spoil, Moab.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_kings/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they said: It is the blood of the sword: the kings have fought among themselves, and they have killed one another: go now, Moab, to the spoils. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_kings/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they said: “It is the blood of the sword! The kings have fought among themselves, and they have slain one another. Go now, Moab, to the spoils!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_kings/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />and said, “This is blood! The kings have fought among themselves and killed one another. Quick! To the spoils, Moab!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They said, “This is blood; the kings must have fought together, and killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they said. This is blood; the kings are surely slain, and they have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_kings/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they said: “This is blood! Surely the Kings have been slaughtered, and they have killed each man his neighbor; therefore, to the prey Moab!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_kings/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />and they said: 'This is blood: the kings have surely fought together, and they have smitten each man his fellow; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_kings/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they said, This <i>is</i> the blood of the sword; and the kings have fought, and each man has smitten his neighbour; now then to the spoils, Moab.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_kings/3-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=840" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">“This</a> <a href="/hebrew/2717.htm" title="2717: hā·ḥo·rêḇ (V-Hofal-InfAbs) -- To parch, to desolate, destroy, kill. Or chareb; a primitive root; to parch i.e. to desolate, destroy, kill."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: dām (N-ms) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">is blood!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they exclaimed.</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·mə·lā·ḵîm (Art:: N-mp) -- King. From malak; a king.">“The kings</a> <a href="/hebrew/2717.htm" title="2717: ne·ḥer·ḇū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To parch, to desolate, destroy, kill. Or chareb; a primitive root; to parch i.e. to desolate, destroy, kill.">have clashed swords</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: way·yak·kū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">and slaughtered</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7453.htm" title="7453: rê·‘ê·hū (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Friend, companion, fellow. Or reya2; from ra'ah; an associate.">another.</a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/7998.htm" title="7998: laš·šā·lāl (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- A prey, spoil, plunder, booty. From shalal; booty.">to the plunder,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4124.htm" title="4124: mō·w·’āḇ (N-proper-fs) -- A son of Lot, also his desc. and the territory where they settled. ">Moab!”</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-22.htm">Judges 7:22</a></span><br />And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-20.htm">1 Samuel 14:20</a></span><br />Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-23.htm">2 Chronicles 20:23</a></span><br />The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-24.htm">Exodus 14:24-25</a></span><br />At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. / He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-2.htm">Isaiah 19:2</a></span><br />“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/22-20.htm">1 Kings 22:20-23</a></span><br />And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. / Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. / And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/7-6.htm">2 Kings 7:6-7</a></span><br />For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/83-9.htm">Psalm 83:9-10</a></span><br />Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, / who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-36.htm">Isaiah 37:36-38</a></span><br />Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/38-21.htm">Ezekiel 38:21</a></span><br />And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-6.htm">Matthew 24:6-7</a></span><br />You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-7.htm">Mark 13:7-8</a></span><br />When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-9.htm">Luke 21:9-10</a></span><br />When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.” / Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-14.htm">Revelation 16:14</a></span><br />These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-19.htm">Revelation 19:19-21</a></span><br />Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. / But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. / And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.</p><p class="hdg">This is blood</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/6-18.htm">2 Kings 6:18-20</a></b></br> And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/7-6.htm">2 Kings 7:6</a></b></br> For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, <i>even</i> the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.</p><p class="hdg">slain [heb] destroyed </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Exodus 15:9</a></b></br> The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/5-30.htm">Judges 5:30</a></b></br> Have they not sped? have they <i>not</i> divided the prey; to every man a damsel <i>or</i> two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, <i>meet</i> for the necks of <i>them that take</i> the spoil?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/20-25.htm">2 Chronicles 20:25</a></b></br> And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/3-22.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-24.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-4.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-42.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-23.htm">Entirely</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-27.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-45.htm">Fought</a> <a href="/2_samuel/8-12.htm">Goods</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">Moab</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-35.htm">Neighbour</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-14.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-21.htm">Slaughtered</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-14.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-10.htm">Spoil</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-14.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-14.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-45.htm">That's</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/9-7.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-10.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-17.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-19.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-6.htm">Entirely</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-11.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Fought</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-7.htm">Goods</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-6.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Moab</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/6-22.htm">Neighbour</a> <a href="/2_kings/11-2.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Slaughtered</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-7.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-16.htm">Spoil</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-30.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-12.htm">That's</a> <a href="/2_kings/9-5.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-1.htm">Jehoram's reign</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-4.htm">Mesha rebels</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-6.htm">Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-13.htm">by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_kings/3-26.htm">The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>This is blood!</b><br>The Moabites, upon seeing the water appearing red like blood, mistakenly concluded that it was the result of a battle. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern context where omens and signs were often interpreted as divine messages. The reddish appearance of the water was due to the reflection of the sun, a natural phenomenon that God used to fulfill His purpose. This moment echoes other biblical instances where God uses natural events to achieve His plans, such as the parting of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21</a>).<p><b>they exclaimed.</b><br>The Moabites' reaction was immediate and unanimous, indicating a lack of discernment and haste in judgment. This reflects a broader biblical theme where human perception is often flawed without divine insight. Their exclamation shows their eagerness and desperation, as Moab was under significant pressure from Israel, Judah, and Edom.<p><b>The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another.</b><br>This assumption by the Moabites reveals their expectation of discord among the allied forces of Israel, Judah, and Edom. Historically, alliances in the ancient Near East were often fragile, and internal conflict was not uncommon. This misjudgment highlights the Moabites' underestimation of the unity and divine backing of the Israelite coalition, reminiscent of other biblical narratives where God confounds the enemies of His people (e.g., Gideon's victory in <a href="/judges/7.htm">Judges 7</a>).<p><b>Now to the plunder, Moab!</b><br>The Moabites' call to plunder reflects their opportunistic nature and the common practice of looting after a perceived victory. This phrase underscores their confidence in an easy victory, which ultimately leads to their downfall. The call to plunder is a recurring theme in biblical warfare narratives, where the spoils of war are seen as a reward for victory. However, in this instance, it becomes a trap, illustrating the biblical principle that pride and presumption often precede a fall (<a href="/proverbs/16-18.htm">Proverbs 16:18</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moabites.htm">Moabites</a></b><br>The Moabites were descendants of Lot and often in conflict with Israel. In this passage, they misinterpret the situation, thinking the Israelites and their allies have turned on each other.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Israel, led by King Jehoram, are part of the coalition against Moab. They are involved in a strategic military campaign.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jehoram.htm">Jehoram</a></b><br>The King of Israel at the time, who leads his people in alliance with Judah and Edom against Moab.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jehoshaphat.htm">Jehoshaphat</a></b><br>The King of Judah, who joins forces with Jehoram in the battle against Moab.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/edomites.htm">Edomites</a></b><br>Allies of Israel and Judah in this battle, contributing to the coalition against Moab.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_assumptions.htm">The Danger of Assumptions</a></b><br>The Moabites' assumption led to their downfall. We must be cautious about making assumptions without seeking truth and understanding.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_battle.htm">God's Sovereignty in Battle</a></b><br>This passage illustrates God's control over circumstances, even using confusion to achieve His purposes. Trust in God's sovereignty in our battles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_among_believers.htm">Unity Among Believers</a></b><br>The alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom shows the strength found in unity. Believers should seek unity in purpose and action.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_discernment.htm">The Importance of Discernment</a></b><br>The Moabites lacked discernment, leading to their defeat. We should pray for discernment to understand situations clearly and act wisely.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/relying_on_god's_guidance.htm">Relying on God's Guidance</a></b><br>Jehoshaphat's involvement reminds us of the importance of seeking God's guidance in our decisions and actions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_2_kings_3_battle.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence to support this battle's events and outcome (2 Kings 3)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'strike_the_shepherd'_mean.htm">Did the Moabite king sacrifice his son?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_moabites_see_water_as_blood.htm">Why did the Moabites mistake clear water for blood in broad daylight (2 Kings 3:22–23)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_2_kings_3_with_other_records.htm">How do we reconcile this account with different details of the Moabite rebellion in other historical records (2 Kings 3)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">The kings are surely slain.</span>--<span class= "ital">Have surely fought with</span> (or <span class= "ital">destroyed</span>) <span class= "ital">one another</span>. LXX., <span class= "greekheb">??????????</span>. The supposition was not improbable. Confederates of different races not seldom had been known to fall out among themselves (comp. <a href="/judges/7-22.htm" title="And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, to Tabbath.">Judges 7:22</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/20-23.htm" title="For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.">2Chronicles 20:23</a>, and Note), and in this case the old enmity of Edom towards Israel, and the suppressed jealousies between Israel and Judah, made such a result very likely. The Moabites would know also that the wady had been waterless, so that their mistake was natural. When once their instinct for plunder was aroused they did not stop to think, but with a wild cry of "Moab, to the spoil !" they rushed in disorder upon the Israelite camp.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And they said, This is blood.</span> Even Ewald recognizes here "a historical background for the narrative." The idea of such a mistake could scarcely have occurred to a romancer. <span class="cmt_word">The kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another.</span> There were rivalries and jealousies subsisting between Judah, Israel, and Edom, which made it quite possible that at any time open quarrel might break out among them. Edom especially was, it is probable, a reluctant member of the confederacy, forced to take her part in it by her suzerain, Jehoshaphat. The Moabites, moreover, had recently had personal experience how easily the swords of confederates might be turned against each other, since their last expedition against Judah (<a href="/2_chronicles/20-1.htm">2 Chronicles 20:1-25</a>) had completely failed through such a sudden disagreement and contention. <span class="cmt_word">Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.</span> If their supposition were correct, and the kings had come to blows, and the hosts destroyed each other, Moab would have nothing to do but to fly upon the spoil, to strip the slain, and plunder the camp of the confederates. A disorderly rush took place for this purpose (see Josephus, 'Ant. Jud.,' 9:3. § 2). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_kings/3-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“This</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is blood!”</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(dām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they exclaimed.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“The kings</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמְּלָכִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mə·lā·ḵîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have clashed swords</span><br /><span class="heb">נֶֽחֶרְבוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(ne·ḥer·ḇū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2717.htm">Strong's 2717: </a> </span><span class="str2">To parch, to desolate, destroy, kill</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and slaughtered</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּכּ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yak·kū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">each</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֣ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">other.</span><br /><span class="heb">רֵעֵ֑הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(rê·‘ê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7453.htm">Strong's 7453: </a> </span><span class="str2">Friend, companion, fellow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַתָּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the plunder,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַשָּׁלָ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(laš·šā·lāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7998.htm">Strong's 7998: </a> </span><span class="str2">A prey, spoil, plunder, booty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Moab!”</span><br /><span class="heb">מוֹאָֽב׃</span> <span class="translit">(mō·w·’āḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4124.htm">Strong's 4124: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_kings/3-23.htm">2 Kings 3:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_kings/3-23.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 3:23 And they said This is blood (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/3-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 3:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 3:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 3:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 3:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>