2 Kings 3:21 Study Bible: Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.

◄ 2 Kings 3:21 ►

Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border.

Study Bible

Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them.
The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and had a tumultuous relationship with Israel. The context of this passage is a coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom coming against Moab after King Mesha of Moab rebelled against Israelite control. The Moabites hearing of the approaching kings indicates the spread of information and the urgency of the situation. Historically, Moab was located east of the Dead Sea, a region known for its rugged terrain and strategic importance. The Moabite Stone, an archaeological artifact, provides additional context to this period, detailing King Mesha's perspective on the conflict. This phrase highlights the tension and anticipation of impending warfare, a common theme in the Old Testament where nations often rose against each other.

So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border.
The summoning of all who could bear arms, regardless of age, underscores the desperation and determination of the Moabites to defend their land. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of mustering all available men for battle, emphasizing the communal responsibility in times of war. The mention of "young and old" suggests a total mobilization, indicating the severity of the threat perceived by Moab. Stationing at the border signifies a strategic defensive position, aiming to confront the enemy before they could penetrate deeper into Moabite territory. This mirrors other biblical accounts where nations prepared for battle at their borders, such as Israel's encounters with the Philistines. The readiness for battle can also be seen as a metaphor for spiritual preparedness, a theme echoed in the New Testament where believers are called to be vigilant and ready for spiritual warfare.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moabites
The people of Moab, descendants of Lot, who were often in conflict with Israel. In this context, they are preparing for battle against the coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom.

2. Kings
Refers to the coalition of three kings: Jehoram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom, who have united to fight against Moab.

3. Border
The strategic location where the Moabites gathered to defend their territory against the approaching coalition forces.

4. Jehoram
The king of Israel, who initiated the campaign against Moab after the Moabite king rebelled against Israelite control.

5. Jehoshaphat
The king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God, who joined the alliance to support Israel against Moab.

Teaching Points

Preparedness for Spiritual Battles
Just as the Moabites gathered to defend their land, Christians must be prepared to stand firm in spiritual battles, equipped with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Unity in Purpose
The coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom demonstrates the power of unity in achieving a common goal. Believers are called to work together in unity for the advancement of God's kingdom (Philippians 2:2).

The Consequences of Rebellion
Moab's rebellion against Israelite control serves as a reminder of the consequences of rebelling against God's established order. Submission to God's authority brings peace and blessing (Romans 13:1-2).

The Role of Leadership
The involvement of Jehoshaphat, a godly leader, highlights the importance of righteous leadership in guiding people through challenges. Leaders are called to seek God's wisdom and guidance (James 1:5).

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the preparation of the Moabites for battle reflect the importance of being spiritually prepared in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we, as believers, foster unity within our communities to face common challenges, as seen in the alliance of the three kings?

3. What lessons can we learn from the Moabites' rebellion about the importance of submitting to God's authority in our lives?

4. How does Jehoshaphat's involvement in this battle illustrate the impact of godly leadership, and how can we apply this in our roles today?

5. Reflecting on the historical enmity between Israel and Moab, how can we address and resolve conflicts in our own relationships in a way that honors God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Judges 3:12-30
This passage describes an earlier conflict between Israel and Moab, highlighting the ongoing tension and historical enmity between the two nations.

2 Chronicles 20
Chronicles another instance where Jehoshaphat faces a coalition of enemies, emphasizing his reliance on God for victory.

Genesis 19:36-37
Provides the origin of the Moabites, tracing their lineage back to Lot, Abraham's nephew, which sets the stage for their complex relationship with Israel.

Sermons

Aspects of a Godly Man	D. Thomas	2 Kings 3:13-27
The Valley Full of Ditches	C.H. Irwwin	2 Kings 3:16-25
The Defeat of Moab	J. Orr	2 Kings 3:18-27

People

Ahab, Aram, Elijah, Elisha, Israelites, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, Jeroboam, Mesha, Moabites, Nebat, Shaphat

Places

Edom, Kir-hareseth, Moab, Samaria

Topics

Able, Armor, Armour, Arms, Bear, Border, Drawn, Edge, Fight, Forward, Frontier, Gathered, Girding, Girdle, Got, Hearing, Kings, Moab, Moabites, Older, Oldest, Stand, Stationed, Stood, Summoned, Themselves, Upward, War, Youngest

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2 Kings 3:16-25

1416 miracles, nature of

2 Kings 3:21-23

4954 morning

2 Kings 3:21-27

5214 attack

Library

Sight and Blindness
'Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that them pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Minstrel
ELISHA needed that the Holy Spirit should come upon him to inspire him with prophetic utterances. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." We need that the hand of the Lord should be laid upon us, for we can never open our mouths in wisdom except we are under the divine touch. Now, the Spirit of God works according to his own will. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," and the Spirit of God operates as he chooseth. Elisha could not prophesy just when he liked; he must wait until …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 27: 1881

The Old Testament and Archeology
A century ago the student of the world's history found it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to paint for himself a clear picture of events antedating B.C. 400. Concerning earlier periods, he was, aside from the Old Testament, practically without records that could claim contemporaneousness with the events recorded. But, one hundred years ago, men had commenced to test every statement, be it historical, or scientific, or theological, by severe canons of criticism, and if it could not stand …
Frederick Carl Eiselen—The Christian View of the Old Testament

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's Answer, Briefly Considered.
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with, thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression; the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?--He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good: And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" As mankind are …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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