Original Word: קִיר חֶרֶשׂ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Qiyr Cheres
Pronunciation: keer kheh'-res or keer khar-eh'-seth
Phonetic Spelling: (keer kheh'-res)
KJV: Kir-haraseth, Kir-hareseth, Kir-haresh, Kir-heres
NASB: Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres
Word Origin: [from H7023 (קִיר קִר קִירָה - wall) and H2789 (חֶרֶשׂ - earthenware)]

1. fortress of earthenware
2. Kir-Cheres or Kir-Chareseth, a place in Moab

Kir-haraseth, Kir-hareseth, Kir-haresh, Kir-heres

Or (feminine of the latter word) Qiyr Chareseth {keer khar-eh'-seth}; from qiyr and cheres; fortress of earthenware; Kir-Cheres or Kir-Chareseth, a place in Moab -- Kir-haraseth, Kir-hareseth, Kir-haresh, Kir-heres.

see HEBREW qiyr

see HEBREW cheres

Word Origin
from qir and cheres
Definition
"wall of earthenware," a fortified city in Moab
NASB Translation
Kir-hareseth (3), Kir-heres (2).

Kir Hareseth

Historical and Geographical Setting

Kir Hareseth (also rendered Kir Heres or Kir Haraseth) was the principal stronghold of ancient Moab, situated high on a rocky spur overlooking the Arnon gorge east of the Dead Sea. Most scholars locate it at modern-day Kerak in Jordan, a site dominated by a plateau rising more than 900 meters above sea level and naturally protected on three sides by steep valleys. The city guarded the King’s Highway, controlled the fertile tableland famed for vineyards, and formed the defensive heart of Moabite power.

Strategic Importance

1. Natural fortifications: sheer cliffs made assault difficult apart from the western saddle.
2. Agricultural wealth: nearby vineyards and grain fields turned the city into a supply depot.
3. Political center: Mesha’s own inscription (the Moabite Stone) emphasizes its role as royal residence.
4. Spiritual symbolism: its lofty walls embodied Moab’s confidence in human strength, a theme challenged by the prophets.

Military Narrative: 2 Kings 3

The city first appears when Joram of Israel, Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom marched against Mesha.
• “They destroyed the cities, and each man threw stones into every good field until it was covered. They stopped up every spring of water and felled every good tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left…” (2 Kings 3:25).

Moab’s final refuge withstood siege until Mesha offered his firstborn on the wall. The resulting horror struck Israel’s coalition, which withdrew. The episode illustrates:

– The limits of human warfare when confronted with spiritual realities.

– The depth of Moab’s desperation and the tragic extremes of pagan religion.

– A reminder that outward victory can be nullified when God’s favor is absent.

Prophetic Laments in Isaiah

Isaiah 15–16 devotes two chapters to Moab’s downfall, with Kir Hareseth as the emotional center:
• “Therefore Moab wails over Moab—everyone wails. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken.” (Isaiah 16:7)
• “My heart laments like a harp for Moab, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth.” (Isaiah 16:11)

The prophet’s grief demonstrates the Lord’s compassion even while pronouncing judgment. The vineyard imagery hints at potential fruitfulness that pride squandered. God both disciplines and yearns for repentance.

Jeremiah’s Dirge over Moab

Jeremiah echoes Isaiah a century later:
• “Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; I moan for the men of Kir Heres.” (Jeremiah 48:31)
• “My heart laments for Moab like the flutes of lament; my heart laments for the men of Kir Heres like flutes.” (Jeremiah 48:36)

The repetition underscores the certainty of judgment yet maintains a tone of sorrow, revealing the divine balance of justice and mercy. Kir Hareseth’s musicians—once symbols of festivity—become mourners, foreshadowing the silencing of worldly joy apart from God.

Theological Themes

1. Human fortresses cannot withstand divine decree (Psalm 127:1).
2. Idolatry and child sacrifice provoke God’s wrath and repel His people.
3. Genuine compassion accompanies judgment; prophets weep for those they warn.
4. God’s patience extends generations, yet unrepentant pride ensures eventual ruin.

Archaeological and Historical Notes

• Pottery fragments and massive Iron-Age walls at Kerak fit the biblical timetable.
• The Moabite Stone (Mesha Stele) names “Qer-Haraseth,” corroborating Scripture.
• Later Crusader and Ottoman fortifications reused ancient walls, testifying to the site’s enduring strategic value.

Christological and Eschatological Resonance

Kir Hareseth foreshadows the tension between earthly security and ultimate deliverance:
• Moab’s stronghold anticipates end-time nations trusting in fortresses rather than Christ (Revelation 6:15-17).
• The prophets’ tears prefigure the Savior who wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), embodying divine sorrow over impending judgment.
• The collapse of Kir Hareseth points to the coming kingdom “that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28), secured not by walls of stone but by the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Ministry Applications

• Pastoral warning: congregations may rely on programs or heritage as “walls,” yet only obedience and faith secure blessing.
• Evangelistic compassion: like Isaiah and Jeremiah, believers must mourn as they warn, speaking truth seasoned with tears.
• Personal reflection: examine areas of self-reliance—career, wealth, intellect—that function as modern Kir Hareseth, and submit them to Christ’s lordship.

Summary

Kir Hareseth stands in Scripture as a monument to Moab’s pride, a theater of divine judgment, and a canvas for prophetic compassion. Its ruins caution every generation that no fortress, cultural or personal, can replace humble trust in the living God.

חֲרֶ֛שֶׂת חֲרָ֑שֶׂת חֶ֔רֶשׂ חֶ֖רֶשׂ חָֽרֶשׂ׃ חרש חרש׃ חרשת chaRaset Chares chaReset Cheres ḥă·rā·śeṯ ḥă·re·śeṯ ḥā·reś ḥărāśeṯ ḥāreś ḥăreśeṯ ḥe·reś ḥereśInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts