Kir-Haraseth

Moab’s walled stronghold was Kir-haraseth, and Scripture mentions it only when Moab is under pressure. In 2 Kings 3:25 invaders strip the land of its wells, trees and good fields, yet “only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof”, and the slingers surrounded and struck it. Isaiah later grieves over the same city: “the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken” (Isaiah 16:7). His lament opens with Moab laid waste in a single night (Isaiah 15:1). Spellings vary in the KJV, but the city is the same. Isaiah 15 and 16 are the place to read.

4 verses

2 Kings

2 Kings 3:25

And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.

Isaiah

Isaiah 15:1

The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

Isaiah 16:7

Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

Isaiah 16:11

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Built fortress, a city and fortress of Moab, the modern Kerak, a small town on the brow of a steep hill about 6 miles from Rabbath-Moab and 10 miles from the Dead Sea; called also Kir-haresh, Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres (Isa. 16:7, 11; Jer. 48:31, 36). After the death of Ahab, Mesha, king of Moab (see MOABITE STONE), threw off allegiance to the king of Israel, and fought successfully for the independence of his kingdom. After this Jehoram, king of Israel, in seeking to regain his supremacy over Moab, entered into an alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and with the king of Edom. The three kings led their armies against Mesha, who was driven back to seek refuge in Kir-haraseth. The Moabites were driven to despair. Mesha then took his eldest son, who would have reigned in his stead, and offered him as a burnt-offering on the wall of the fortress in the sight of the allied armies. “There was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.” The invaders evacuated the land of Moab, and Mesha achieved the independence of his country (2 Kings 3:20-27).

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(brick fortress), (2 Kings 3:25) Kir-ha’resh, (Isaiah 16:11) Kir-har’es, (Jeremiah 48:31,36) These four names are all applied to one place, probably KIR OF MOAB OF MOAB, which see.