If it is a 12 valve 1994-1998 the fuel shut off selinoid is a common problem about $170 from Piers Diesel or $400 from the dealer.
check the spark plugs. may not be catching fire.
Wait until the light turns off then start the car. Diesel engine?
Glow plugs nee changing!
They start screaming at you in Irish and their face turns red.
It will get heated and start to glow.
Like any other car The starter turns the crankshaft and that gets all the other stuff working to have the car start.
One battery is sufficient if it has enough capacity. You will not succeed in pull starting that truck because the fuel shut off solenoid only activates (turns the fuel on) when the starter is engaged.
Not sure if this will help ya or not but I use to work on hummers for the army. when our diesel's did that it was the glow plugs. So you might replace what ever part on there it is that makes the fuel ignight. I don't know much about regular diesel engines.
it might have a bad cam positioning sensor
defective fuel pump
start by checking fuel delivery,if you do have fuel delivery proceed by checking the timing setting.
Check the starter! It happened to my 2000 dodge durango too.