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What does 2 Samuel 17:13 mean?

'If he retreats into a city, all Israel will bring ropes and drag the city into the valley until not even a pebble is left.' 2 Samuel 17:13 - Modern Text Bible

(Hushai exaggerates to show that resistance would be pointless; the whole nation would crush any stronghold.)

No fortress is safe if enough people are determined to tear it down. This verse claims that, if the enemy retreats to a city, the whole army will pull it down stone by stone until nothing is left. The Hebrew word for "drag" or "pull" here is masakh (מָשַׁךְ), which means to draw out or drag away, emphasizing persistent effort.

This challenges the modern idea that some problems are just too big to solve. The verse insists that, with enough unity and determination, even the strongest walls can be dismantled. It’s not about brute force, but about everyone working together toward a single goal.

If you’ve ever faced a challenge that seemed impossible—like debt, addiction, or a broken relationship—this verse suggests that collective effort, step by step, can bring down even the toughest barriers. No problem is truly unbreakable if you don’t face it alone.