מלכים ב, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ״א

Facing an approaching coalition of kings, the Moabite nation prepared for an all-out defensive war by drafting every available force. The exact timing of this mobilization presents two distinct views. One perspective suggests that the organization began the moment they heard the news of the advancing kings [מצודת דוד]. Conversely, another view indicates that the Moabites had received the news earlier and had already managed to take up their defensive positions in advance [מלבי״ם].

The mobilization was initiated through a widespread alarm, calling the masses to assemble [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The scope of this draft was absolute, encompassing all levels of fighters. It included any person physically capable of strapping on a sword to go to battle [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The ranks also extended to elite warriors, heroes, and highly experienced military men, ensuring that not a single capable individual was absent from the campaign [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].

Once gathered, these massive forces were stationed at the very edge of the country [רש״י]. Their objective was to guard their homeland and block the enemy forces, preventing them from crossing the border and entering Moabite territory [רד״ק, רלב״ג].