But after Ahab’s death, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when Ahab was dead, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- KJV But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- BSB But after the death of Ahab, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- NKJV But it happened, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
- NASB However, when King Ahab died, the king of Moab broke with the king of Israel.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. The vassal seized the chance to break free under a weaker king.
Overview
This restates the rebellion noted in 1:1, now in its proper narrative place before the campaign. Ahab's death removed the strong hand that had kept Moab subdued. The rebellion sets in motion the alliance and battle that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Kgs 1:1Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
- 2 Chr 21:8–10In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
- 2 Kgs 8:20In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 3:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.