This verse demonstrates a total and unrelenting conquest of Moab’s resources.
“Thus they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it, so they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-hareseth only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it.” (2 Kings 3:25) This verse paints a vivid picture of a systematic campaign of destruction. The alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom was in the midst of war against Moab. They carried out a scorched-earth approach, cutting down resources and blocking water supplies, ensuring that Moab would be crippled in its ability to sustain itself. By highlighting that “they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land” (2 Kings 3:25), the text emphasizes the completeness of this devastation, leaving no fertile ground untouched.
One particularly notable location in this passage is “Kir-hareseth” (2 Kings 3:25), also known as Kir-hareseth or Kir-heres. Historically, this was one of the more fortified cities in Moab, located in a strategic region east of the Dead Sea—modern-day Jordan. Its defenses were strong, but according to the verse, the besieging forces reduced it to its foundational stones, and “only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it” (2 Kings 3:25). This demonstrates how, even amid physical defenses, the persistent tactics of the attacking armies took their toll. The king leading the Moabite forces at this time was Mesha (ca. 9th century BC), known from the Moabite Stone inscription, which corroborates the biblical account’s significance in regional power struggles.
Spiritually, the thorough destruction described in “so they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees” (2 Kings 3:25) can represent how devastating a hardened conflict can become when political and divine judgments intertwine, reminding readers that sin and rebellion lead to dire consequences (Romans 6:23). The totality of the destruction also foreshadows how, in later biblical narratives, only true repentance and reliance on God offer lasting security (Luke 13:3). The text stands as a lesson in humility, demonstrating that human might, even urged on by political alliances, remains under God’s sovereignty.
Set to dark mode
2 Kings 3:25 meaning
“Thus they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land and filled it, so they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-hareseth only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it.” (2 Kings 3:25) This verse paints a vivid picture of a systematic campaign of destruction. The alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom was in the midst of war against Moab. They carried out a scorched-earth approach, cutting down resources and blocking water supplies, ensuring that Moab would be crippled in its ability to sustain itself. By highlighting that “they destroyed the cities; and each one threw a stone on every piece of good land” (2 Kings 3:25), the text emphasizes the completeness of this devastation, leaving no fertile ground untouched.
One particularly notable location in this passage is “Kir-hareseth” (2 Kings 3:25), also known as Kir-hareseth or Kir-heres. Historically, this was one of the more fortified cities in Moab, located in a strategic region east of the Dead Sea—modern-day Jordan. Its defenses were strong, but according to the verse, the besieging forces reduced it to its foundational stones, and “only they left its stones; however, the slingers went about it and struck it” (2 Kings 3:25). This demonstrates how, even amid physical defenses, the persistent tactics of the attacking armies took their toll. The king leading the Moabite forces at this time was Mesha (ca. 9th century BC), known from the Moabite Stone inscription, which corroborates the biblical account’s significance in regional power struggles.
Spiritually, the thorough destruction described in “so they stopped all the springs of water and felled all the good trees” (2 Kings 3:25) can represent how devastating a hardened conflict can become when political and divine judgments intertwine, reminding readers that sin and rebellion lead to dire consequences (Romans 6:23). The totality of the destruction also foreshadows how, in later biblical narratives, only true repentance and reliance on God offer lasting security (Luke 13:3). The text stands as a lesson in humility, demonstrating that human might, even urged on by political alliances, remains under God’s sovereignty.