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The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land. <a href="/nlt/2_kings/3.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then the king of Moab took his oldest son, who would have been the next king, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelites withdrew and returned to their own land. <a href="/esv/2_kings/3.htm">English Standard Version</a> Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land. <a href="/kjv/2_kings/3.htm">King James Bible</a> Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/3.htm">New King James Version</a> Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then the king of Moab took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great anger came upon Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/nasb/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/lsb/2_kings/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So he took his oldest son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, and they set out from him and returned to their own land. <a href="/amp/2_kings/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then the king of Moab took his eldest son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him [publicly] as a burnt offering [to Chemosh] on the [city] wall [horrifying everyone]. And there was great wrath against Israel, and Israel’s allies [Judah and Edom] withdrew from King Jehoram and returned to their own land. <a href="/csb/2_kings/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So he took his firstborn son, who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land. <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So he took his firstborn son, who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land. <a href="/asv/2_kings/3.htm">American Standard Version</a> Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/cev/2_kings/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He then grabbed his oldest son who was to be the next king and sacrificed him as an offering on the city wall. The Israelite troops were so horrified that they left the city and went back home. <a href="/erv/2_kings/3.htm">English Revised Version</a> Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then he took his firstborn son, who would have succeeded him as king, and sacrificed him on the wall as a burnt offering. There was bitter anger against the Israelites. So they went home to their own country. <a href="/gnt/2_kings/3.htm">Good News Translation</a> So he took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country. <a href="/isv/2_kings/3.htm">International Standard Version</a> So he took his firstborn son, whom he intended to reign after him, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall. There subsequently came great anger against Israel, so they abandoned the attack and returned to their homeland. <a href="/msb/2_kings/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land. <a href="/net/2_kings/3.htm">NET Bible</a> So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him up as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. There was an outburst of divine anger against Israel, so they broke off the attack and returned to their homeland. <a href="/nheb/2_kings/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/wbt/2_kings/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then he took his eldest son that was to reign in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: And they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/web/2_kings/3.htm">World English Bible</a> Then he took his oldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and he takes his son, the firstborn who reigns in his stead, and causes him to ascend [as] a burnt-offering on the wall, and there is great wrath against Israel, and they journey from off him, and return to the land. <a href="/ylt/2_kings/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he taketh his son, the first-born who reigneth in his stead, and causeth him to ascend -- a burnt-offering on the wall, and there is great wrath against Israel, and they journey from off him, and turn back to the land. <a href="/slt/2_kings/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he will take his son, the firstborn, which shall reign in his stead, and bring him up a burnt-offering upon the wall: and there will be great anger against Israel, and they will remove from him and turn back to the land.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall: and there was great indignation in Israel, and presently they departed from him, and returned into their own country. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And taking his firstborn son, who would have reigned in his place, he offered him as a holocaust upon the wall. And there was great indignation in Israel. And they promptly withdrew from him, and they turned back to their own land. <a href="/nabre/2_kings/3.htm">New American Bible</a> So he took his firstborn, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall. The wrath against Israel was so great that they gave up the siege and returned to their own land. <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then he took his firstborn son who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then he took his eldest son who was to reign in his stead and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel; and kings departed from Moab and returned to their own country. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And he took his firstborn son, he who was to reign after him, and offered him up as a burnt offering on the wall, and there was great wrath against Israel. And they picked up from it and they returned to their land. <div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there came great wrath upon Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. <a href="/sep/2_kings/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he took his eldest son whom he had designed to reign in his stead, and offered him up for a whole-burnt-offering on the walls. And there was a great indignation against Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their land. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/3-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=898" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/3.htm">Joram Overcomes Moab's Rebellion</a> …26When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. 27<a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">So he took</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1060.htm" title="1060: hab·bə·ḵō·wr (Art:: N-ms) -- First-born. From bakar; firstborn; hence, chief.">his firstborn</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">son,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/4427.htm" title="4427: yim·lōḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence to take counsel.">was to succeed him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: taḥ·tāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: way·ya·‘ă·lê·hū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">and offered him</a> <a href="/hebrew/5930.htm" title="5930: ‘ō·lāh (N-fs) -- Whole burnt offering. Or mowlah; feminine active participle of alah; a step or; usually a holocaust.">as a burnt offering</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/2346.htm" title="2346: ha·ḥō·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- A wall. Feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection.">the city wall.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">And there was</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gā·ḏō·wl (Adj-ms) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">great</a> <a href="/hebrew/7110.htm" title="7110: qe·ṣep̄- (N-ms) -- A splinter, rage, strife. From qatsaph; a splinter; figuratively, rage or strife.">fury</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">the Israelites,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5265.htm" title="5265: way·yis·‘ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To pull out or up, set out, journey. A primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. Start on a journey.">so they withdrew</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: mê·‘ā·lāw (Prep-m:: 3ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: way·yā·šu·ḇū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">and returned</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: lā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-l, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">to their own land.</a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/judges/11-30.htm">Judges 11:30-31</a> Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” <a href="/judges/11-39.htm">Judges 11:39</a> After two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she had never had relations with a man. So it has become a custom in Israel <a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Micah 6:7</a> Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? <a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Leviticus 18:21</a> You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-31.htm">Deuteronomy 12:31</a> You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. <a href="/psalms/106-37.htm">Psalm 106:37-38</a> They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. / They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. <a href="/jeremiah/7-31.htm">Jeremiah 7:31</a> They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind. <a href="/jeremiah/19-5.htm">Jeremiah 19:5</a> They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. <a href="/ezekiel/16-20.htm">Ezekiel 16:20-21</a> You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? / You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols. <a href="/ezekiel/23-37.htm">Ezekiel 23:37</a> For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols. <a href="/amos/2-1.htm">Amos 2:1</a> This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king. <a href="/1_kings/11-7.htm">1 Kings 11:7</a> At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites. <a href="/1_kings/16-33.htm">1 Kings 16:33</a> Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him. <a href="/2_kings/16-3.htm">2 Kings 16:3</a> Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. <a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a> They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then he took his oldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.<a href="/genesis/22-2.htm">Genesis 22:2,13</a> And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of… <a href="/deuteronomy/12-31.htm">Deuteronomy 12:31</a> Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.<a href="/judges/11-31.htm">Judges 11:31,39</a> Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering… they departed<a href="/1_samuel/14-36.htm">1 Samuel 14:36-46</a> And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God… <a href="/1_kings/20-13.htm">1 Kings 20:13,28,43</a> And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/1-14.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-38.htm">Burnt-Offering</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-19.htm">City</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-3.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-28.htm">Eldest</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-34.htm">Firstborn</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-28.htm">Fury</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">Great</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-28.htm">Indignation</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-24.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-20.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-20.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">Oldest</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-1.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-1.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-20.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/2_kings/1-17.htm">Stead</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-22.htm">Succeed</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-23.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-17.htm">Withdrew</a> <a href="/1_kings/22-53.htm">Wrath</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/5-17.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-17.htm">Burnt-Offering</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-14.htm">City</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-5.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/22-1.htm">Eldest</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/1-13.htm">Firstborn</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-12.htm">Fury</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-3.htm">Great</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-1.htm">Indignation</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/7-18.htm">Offered</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-17.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/1-13.htm">Oldest</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-16.htm">Reign</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-15.htm">Reigned</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-17.htm">Sacrifice</a> <a href="/2_kings/8-15.htm">Stead</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-11.htm">Succeed</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-10.htm">Wall</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-8.htm">Withdrew</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-12.htm">Wrath</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 3</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/3-1.htm">Jehoram's reign</a> 4. <a href="/2_kings/3-4.htm">Mesha rebels</a> 6. <a href="/2_kings/3-6.htm">Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom, being distressed for want of water, </a> 13. <a href="/2_kings/3-13.htm">by Elisha obtains water, and promise of victory</a> 21. <a href="/2_kings/3-21.htm">The Moabites, deceived by the colour of the water, coming to spoil, are overcome</a> 26. <a href="/2_kings/3-26.htm">The king of Moab sacrifices his son, and raises the siege</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_kings/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him This phrase refers to the king of Moab, Mesha, who was in a desperate situation during the battle against Israel, Judah, and Edom. The firstborn son was the heir to the throne, highlighting the gravity of the king's actions. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the firstborn son held a place of prominence and was often seen as the future hope of the dynasty. This act underscores the king's desperation and the severe threat he perceived from the Israelite coalition.and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall Human sacrifice, though abhorrent to the Israelites, was practiced by some neighboring cultures, including the Moabites. The act of offering a burnt sacrifice on the city wall was likely intended to invoke the favor of the Moabite god Chemosh. This public display was meant to rally the Moabite people and possibly to invoke divine intervention. The city wall was a place of visibility, indicating the king's intent to make a dramatic statement both to his people and to the besieging forces.And there was great fury against the Israelites The "great fury" could be interpreted as divine wrath or the psychological impact of the king's drastic action on the Israelite forces. Some scholars suggest that the Israelites may have perceived this act as invoking a curse or divine intervention against them, leading to their retreat. This phrase highlights the turning point in the battle, where the psychological and spiritual dimensions of warfare in the ancient world come into play.so they withdrew and returned to their own land The withdrawal of the Israelite forces marks the end of the campaign against Moab. Despite their military advantage, the Israelites' retreat suggests a recognition of the power of the Moabite king's sacrifice, whether through fear, superstition, or a perceived divine mandate. This outcome reflects the complex interplay of faith, fear, and cultural practices in ancient warfare. The return to their own land signifies the cessation of hostilities and the limits of military power when confronted with spiritual and psychological factors.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/k/king_of_moab.htm">King of Moab (Mesha)</a> The ruler of Moab who, in desperation, sacrificed his firstborn son to appease his gods and turn the tide of battle. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The nation led by King Jehoram, allied with Judah and Edom, engaged in battle against Moab. 3. <a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a> The southern kingdom, allied with Israel in this military campaign. 4. <a href="/topical/e/edom.htm">Edom</a> A neighboring nation also allied with Israel and Judah in the conflict against Moab. 5. <a href="/topical/c/city_wall.htm">City Wall</a> The location where the king of Moab made the sacrifice, symbolizing a public and desperate act.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_desperation_of_idolatry.htm">The Desperation of Idolatry</a> The king of Moab's act of sacrificing his son illustrates the extreme measures people may take when relying on false gods. It serves as a warning against idolatry and the futility of trusting in anything other than the one true God. <a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a> The wrath against Israel following the sacrifice suggests that even when God's people are in the right, they can face consequences due to the actions of others. It reminds us to remain vigilant and faithful, understanding that sin has far-reaching effects. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> The Israelites' withdrawal can be seen as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands. Engaging in alliances or actions that lead to unintended consequences should prompt self-examination and a return to God's guidance. <a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence_and_compromise.htm">Cultural Influence and Compromise</a> The passage highlights the danger of cultural influence and compromise. Believers are called to be in the world but not of it, maintaining distinctiveness in faith and practice.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_kings_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 3</a> <a href="/q/why_does_2_chron._27_omit_jotham's_conflicts.htm">Why does 2 Chronicles 27 omit details about Jotham's conflicts found in 2 Kings, raising doubts about the reliability of both accounts?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_2_kings_3_with_other_records.htm">How do we reconcile this account with different details of the Moabite rebellion in other historical records (2 Kings 3)?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_for_2_kings_3_battle.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence to support this battle’s events and outcome (2 Kings 3)? </a> <a href="/q/did_the_moabite_king_sacrifice_his_son.htm">Did the Moabite king sacrifice his son?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) Then.--And.His eldest son--i.e., the despairing king of Moab took his own son and heir.Offered him for a burnt offering.--To Chemosh, without doubt, by way of appeasing that wrath of the god which seemed bent on his destruction. (Comp. the words of Mesha's inscription: "Chemosh was angry with his l?nd." Note, <a href="/2_kings/1-1.htm" title="Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.">2Kings 1:1</a>.) There is a reference to such hideous sacrifices in <a href="/micah/6-7.htm" title="Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?">Micah 6:7</a>, "Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions?" In dark times of national calamity the Hebrews were prone, like their neighbours, to seek help in the same dreadful rites. (Comp. the case of Manasseh, <a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm" title="And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.">2Chronicles 33:6</a>; see also <a href="/context/psalms/106-37.htm" title="Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,">Psalm 106:37-39</a>.) From the cuneiform records we learn that the sacrifice of children was also a Babylonian practice. (<a href="/amos/2-1.htm" title="Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:">Amos 2:1</a> refers to a totally different event from that recorded in the text.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 27. - Then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead - the throne of Moab being hereditary, and primogeniture the established law (cf. Moabite Stone, lines 2 and 3, "My father reigned over Moab thirty years, and I reigned after my father") - and offered him for a burnt offering. Human sacrifice was widely practiced by the idolatrous nations who bordered on Palestine, and by none more than by the Moabites. A former King of Moab, when in a sore strait, had asked, "Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (<a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Micah 6:7</a>); and there is reason to believe that a chief element in the worship of Chemosh was the sacrifice of young children by their unnatural parents. The practice rested on the idea that God was best pleased when men offered to him what was dearest and most precious to them; but it was in glaring contradiction to the character of God as revealed by his prophets, and it did violence to the best and holiest instincts of human nature. The Law condemned it in the strongest terms as a profanation of the Divine Name (<a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm">Leviticus 18:21</a>; <a href="/leviticus/20-1.htm">Leviticus 20:1-5</a>), and neither Jeroboam nor Ahab ventured to introduce it when they established their idolatrous systems. The King of Mesh, undoubtedly, offered the sacrifice to his god Chemosh (see Moabite Stone, lines 3, 4, 8, 12, etc.), hoping to propitiate him, and by his aid to escape from the peril in which he found himself placed. HIS motive for offering the sacrifice upon the wall is not so clear. It was evidently done to attract the notice of the besiegers, but with what further object is uncertain. Ewald thinks the king's intention was to" confound the enemy by the spectacle of the frightful deed to which they had forced him," and thus to "effect a change in their purposes" ('History of Israel,' vol. 4. p. 90); but perhaps it is as likely that he hoped to work upon their fears, and induce them to retire under the notion that, if they did not, Chemosh would do them some terrible injury. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed. It seems necessary to connect these clauses, and to regard them as assigning cause and effect. The deed done aroused an indignation against Israel, which led to the siege being raised. But an indignation on whose part? Keil thinks, on God's. But could God be angry with Israel for an act of the King of Moab, which they had no ground for anticipating, and which they could not possibly have pro-vented? especially when the Israelites had done nothing to cause the act, except by carrying out God's own command to them through his prophet, to "smite every fenced city and every choice city" (ver. 19). The indignation, therefore, must have been human. But who felt it? Probably the Moabites. The terrible act of their king, to which they considered that Israel had driven him, stirred up such a feeling of fury among the residue of the Moabite nation, that the confederates quailed before it, and came to the conclusion that they had best give up the siege and retire. They therefore departed from him - i.e. the King of Mesh - and returned to their own land; severally to Edom, Judea, and Samaria. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/3-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So he took וַיִּקַּח֩ (way·yiq·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> To take his firstborn הַבְּכ֜וֹר (hab·bə·ḵō·wr) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1060.htm">Strong's 1060: </a> Firstborn, chief son, בְּנ֨וֹ (bə·nōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son who אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that was to succeed him, יִמְלֹ֣ךְ (yim·lōḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4427.htm">Strong's 4427: </a> To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel and offered וַיַּעֲלֵ֤הוּ (way·ya·‘ă·lê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively him as a burnt offering עֹלָה֙ (‘ō·lāh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5930.htm">Strong's 5930: </a> Whole burnt offering on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the city wall. הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה (ha·ḥō·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2346.htm">Strong's 2346: </a> A wall of protection And there was וַיְהִ֥י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be great גָּד֖וֹל (gā·ḏō·wl) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> Great, older, insolent fury קֶצֶף־ (qe·ṣep̄-) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7110.htm">Strong's 7110: </a> A splinter, rage, strife against עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the Israelites, יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc so they withdrew וַיִּסְעוּ֙ (way·yis·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5265.htm">Strong's 5265: </a> To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey and returned וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (way·yā·šu·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again to [their own] land. לָאָֽרֶץ׃ (lā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/3-27.htm">2 Kings 3:27 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-27.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 3:27 Then he took his eldest son who (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/3-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 3:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 3:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/4-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 4:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 4:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>