מלכים ב, פרק י״ד, פסוק י״ב

A major military conflict between the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel ends in a devastating reality for Judah. The campaign concludes with a total collapse of Judah's forces, leading the defeated soldiers to flee back to their homes in complete disarray.

The root cause of this crushing defeat goes far beyond military strategy or the physical strength of the opposing armies. Instead, the downfall serves as a direct punishment for a severe spiritual failure committed by the King of Judah. The king had brought back the foreign gods of the people of Seir and bowed down to worship them. Because of this blatant act of idolatry, God decreed destruction and loss upon him, sealing his ultimate defeat on the battlefield [רד״ק, חומת אנך].