2 Kings 3:27

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Took his eldest son - The rabbins account for this horrible sacrifice in the following way: -

When the king of Moab found himself so harassed, and the royal city on the point of being taken, he called a council of his servants, and asked them how it was these Israelites could perform such prodigies, and that such miracles were wrought for them? His servants answered, that it was owing to their progenitor Abraham, who, having an only son, was commanded by Jehovah to offer him in sacrifice. Abraham instantly obeyed, and offered his only son for a burnt-offering; and the Israelites being his descendants, through his merits the holy blessed God wrought such miracles in their behalf. The king of Moab answered, I also have an only son, and I will go and offer him to my God. Then he offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall.

Upon the wall - החמה על al hachamah . Rab. Sol. Jarchi says that the letter ו vau is wanting in this word, as it should be written חומה chomah, to signify a wall; but חמה chammah signifies the sun, and this was the god of the king of Moab: "And he offered his first-born son for a burnt-offering unto the sun." This is not very solid.

There was great indignation - The Lord was displeased with them for driving things to such an extremity: or the surrounding nations held them in abomination on the account; and they were so terrified themselves at this most horrid sacrifice, that they immediately raised the siege and departed. In cases of great extremity it was customary in various heathen nations to offer human sacrifices, or to devote to the infernal gods the most precious or excellent thing or person they possessed. This was frequent among the Phoenicians, Romans, and Greeks; and it was the natural fruit of a religious system which had for the objects of its worship cruel and merciless divinities. How different the Christian system! "Wilt thou that we shall bring down fire from heaven and destroy them? Ye know not what manner of spirits ye are of; the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Compare the marginal reference. Mesha, when his sally failed, took, as a last resource, his first born son, and offered him as a burnt-offering to appease the manifest anger of his god Chemosh, and obtain his aid against his enemies. This act was thoroughly in accordance with Moabitish notions.

And there was great indignation against Israel - Either the Israelites were indignant with themselves, or the men of Judah and the Edomites were indignant at the Israelites for having caused the pollution of this sacrifice, and the siege was relinquished.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

It is a blessing to be favoured with the company of those who have power with God, and can prevail by their prayers. A kingdom may be upheld and prosper, in consequence of the fervent prayers of those who are dear to God. May we place our highest regard upon such as are most precious in his account. When sinners are saying Peace, peace, destruction comes upon them: despair will follow their mad presumption. In Satan's service and at his suggestion, such horrid deeds have been done, as cause the natural feelings of the heart to shudder; like the king of Moab's sacrificing his son. It is well not to urge the worst of men to extremities; we should rather leave them to the judgment of God.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

27. Offered him. The heir apparent was offered as a pagan sacrifice, undoubtedly in an endeavor to appease the national god, Chemosh (Kemosh; see on v. 5). By this sacrifice it was hoped to secure the favor of Chemosh and his aid against the attackers. Human sacrifice was one of the abominations of the Palestinian religions.

Upon the wall. Probably in full view of the besiegers, in the hope of striking terror into their hearts. The Moabites evidently hoped, by this sacrifice, which they felt Chemosh could not resist, to play upon the superstitious fears of the attackers.

Indignation. Heb. qeá¹£eph. Generally, though not always, used of an act of God (see Num. 1:53; 18:5; Joshua 9:20; 22:20; 1 Chron. 27:24; 2 Chron. 19:10; 24:18; etc.), but hardly to be so understood here, for there is no mention of any specific guilt on the part of Israel. But qeá¹£eph and its related verb qaá¹£aph are also employed to indicate human anger (Gen. 40:2; Ex. 16:20; 1 Sam. 29:4; 2 Kings 5:11; Esther 1:12, 18). The exact nature of this indignation against Israel is not described, and the details of the manner in which it operated against them are not revealed. Whether the siege was raised because of increased resistance on the part of the defenders, inspired by the extreme sacrifice on the part of their king, or whether the great indignation made itself felt in some other way, we cannot know with certainty. The LXX reads metamelos, “regret.”

They departed. The besiegers relinquished their efforts to take the city, leaving it to the king and its defenders, while they returned to their own lands without having attained their full objective, and yet with the reward of a considerable victory.

chapter 4

1 Elisha multiplieth the widow’s oil. 8 He giveth a son to the good Shunammite. 18 He raiseth again her dead son. 38 At Gilgal he healeth the deadly pottage. 42 He satisfieth an hundred men with twenty loaves.

1. Of the wives. This is an important revelation concerning the nature of the “sons of the prophets.” They were not young, unmarried men, living lives of seclusion in monastic establishments; they were men of the people. They were of the people, lived with the people, and labored for the people. Instead of being interested only in themselves, living together in ascetic communities and seeking there to attain unto holiness, they lived for the good of the nation, seeking not their own material gain but the common good of all about them.

Fear the Lord. This man was a faithful worshiper of Jehovah. The influence of Elijah and Elisha had done much to promote the worship of the true God throughout the kingdom of Israel.

The creditor is come. The law of Moses recognized servitude for debt, not as a “bondservant” but “as an hired servant, and as a sojourner,” and required that the individual thus sold serve only till the year of jubilee (Lev. 25:39-42). In the present instance it would seem that the creditor had not enforced his right over the sons during the lifetime of the debtor, but on his death made claim upon their services, that the obligation of the father might be fulfilled.

Was this helpful?

The Omride Dynasty

The Golden Ages of the 9th & 8th centuries BCE

BibleTools.info

Bible Verse Explanations and Resources

2 Kings 3:27