2 Kings 3:26

26 And when the king of Moab had seen this, that is, that the enemies had the mastery, he took with him seven hundred men drawing out swords, that they should break (through) into the king of Edom; and they might not. (And when the king of Moab had seen this, that is, that the enemies had the mastery, he took with him seven hundred men drawing out swords, to try to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not do so.)

2 Kings 3:26 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:26

And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for
him
The siege was so close, the slingers or engineers did so much execution, that he saw the city would soon be taken, and he be obliged to deliver it up:

he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords;
men expert in war, bold and daring:

to break through even unto the king of Edom;
through his quarters, and so escape, he lying nearest to the city, and perhaps the weakest body of men with him; or he might think he was not so hearty in the cause of the kings, and would make but a feeble resistance, and let him pass:

but they could not;
break through they met with a greater opposition than was expected perhaps the Edomites remembered how they had lately used them, which made them fight more desperately against them, see ( 2 Chronicles 20:23 ) .

2 Kings 3:26 In-Context

24 And they went into the castles of Israel; forsooth Israel rose, and smote Moab, and they fled before the men of Israel. Then they that had over-come, came, and smote Moab, (And they went to the tents, or to the camp, of the Israelites; but Israel rose up, and struck down the Moabites, and they fled before the men of Israel. Then the Israelites came forth, and entered, and struck down the Moabites in their own land,)

25 and destroyed their cities; and all men sending stones filled each best field, and stopped all the wells of waters, and cut down all the trees bearing fruit, so that only [the] earthen walls were left; and the city was compassed of men setting engines, and it was smitten by great part thereof. (and destroyed their cities; and all the men threw stones, and filled up each best field, and they stopped, or closed up, all the water wells, or all the springs, and cut down all the fruit-bearing trees, so that only the walls in Kirhareseth were left; and the city was encompassed, or surrounded, with men setting up engines, or bulwarks, and a great part of it was struck down.)

26 And when the king of Moab had seen this, that is, that the enemies had the mastery, he took with him seven hundred men drawing out swords, that they should break (through) into the king of Edom; and they might not. (And when the king of Moab had seen this, that is, that the enemies had the mastery, he took with him seven hundred men drawing out swords, to try to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not do so.)

27 And he took his first engendered son, that should reign for him, and offered him (as) a burnt sacrifice on the wall; and great indignation was made in Israel; and anon they went away from him, and turned again into their land. (And so he took his first-born son, who would reign for him, and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the wall; and great indignation was felt by all the Israelites; and at once they went away from him, and returned to their own land.)