2 Kings 3:19

19 et percutietis omnem civitatem munitam et omnem urbem electam et universum lignum fructiferum succidetis cunctosque fontes aquarum obturabitis et omnem agrum egregium operietis lapidibus

2 Kings 3:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 3:19

And ye shall smite every fenced city and every choice city,
&c.] That is, the inhabitants of them with the sword, and demolish them also, ( 2 Kings 3:25 ) , and shall fell every good tree; which seems contrary to the law in ( Deuteronomy 20:19 ) , but that may respect trees belonging to a city when besieged only, or only to Canaanitish cities; or the law was now dispensed with, and that for this time only, to make the punishment of Moab the greater, for their rebellion and other sins:

and stop all wells of water;
which must be very distressing to those that survived the calamity of the sword:

and mar every good piece of land with stones;
as that it could not be ploughed and sowed, nor anything spring up and grow upon it.

2 Kings 3:19 In-Context

17 haec enim dicit Dominus non videbitis ventum neque pluviam et alveus iste replebitur aquis et bibetis vos et familiae vestrae et iumenta vestra
18 parumque hoc est in conspectu Domini insuper tradet etiam Moab in manu vestra
19 et percutietis omnem civitatem munitam et omnem urbem electam et universum lignum fructiferum succidetis cunctosque fontes aquarum obturabitis et omnem agrum egregium operietis lapidibus
20 factum est igitur mane quando sacrificium offerri solet et ecce aquae veniebant per viam Edom et repleta est terra aquis
21 universi autem Moabitae audientes quod ascendissent reges ut pugnarent adversum eos convocaverunt omnes qui accincti erant balteo desuper et steterunt in terminis
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.