2 kings 3:27 - 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.
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What does "2 kings 3:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 3:27 is a disturbing and complex one. To understand it, we need to consider the context:
Background: The Moabites, formerly subject to Israel, had rebelled. King Joram of Israel, along with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the King of Edom, allied to suppress the rebellion. However, the allied army was running out of water. The prophet Elisha provided water, but also prophesied victory.
Desperation of Mesha: The Moabite king, Mesha, suffered heavy losses in battle. He was pushed back to his last stronghold, the city of Kir Hareseth (modern-day Kerak, Jordan).
The Sacrifice: In a desperate act, King Mesha took his oldest son, his heir to the throne, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering upon the city wall. This was a human sacrifice, a practice abhorrent to the Israelites and forbidden in their law.
"Great Wrath Against Israel": This is the most debated part of the verse. There are several interpretations:
Wrath of Chemosh: Many scholars believe that the "great wrath" refers to the anger of Chemosh, the Moabite national god, who was propitiated by the sacrifice. In the ancient Near East, it was believed that appeasing a god, especially in times of crisis, could bring victory. The Moabite sacrifice was meant to incite Chemosh to act against the Israelites.
Divine Wrath: Some interpret it as God's wrath against Israel. Perhaps because they were allied with an ungodly king (Edom) or because they had brought the war upon themselves. However, this is less likely given the context of Chemosh worship.
Psychological Effect: The gruesome sacrifice had a powerful psychological impact on the Israelite army. They might have been horrified, disgusted, or perhaps even superstitious, fearing that they had provoked the wrath of the Moabite god. Seeing such a display of religious fervor might have demoralized the invaders.
"They Departed from Him, and Returned to Their Own Land": This is the result of the "great wrath." Whether it was fear, disgust, or the belief that they had angered Chemosh, the allied army abandoned the siege and returned home. They failed to subdue Moab.
In Summary:
The verse describes a shocking act of human sacrifice by King Mesha. This act, likely intended to appease his god Chemosh, resulted in a powerful reaction – "great wrath" – which caused the Israelite-led army to abandon their campaign and return home. The precise nature of this "wrath" is debated, but it likely involved a combination of religious belief and psychological impact. The Moabites were able to successfully defended their land from foreign invaders.
2 kings 3:27 - 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.
What does "2 kings 3:27" mean?
This verse from 2 Kings 3:27 is a disturbing and complex one. To understand it, we need to consider the context:
Background: The Moabites, formerly subject to Israel, had rebelled. King Joram of Israel, along with King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the King of Edom, allied to suppress the rebellion. However, the allied army was running out of water. The prophet Elisha provided water, but also prophesied victory.
Desperation of Mesha: The Moabite king, Mesha, suffered heavy losses in battle. He was pushed back to his last stronghold, the city of Kir Hareseth (modern-day Kerak, Jordan).
The Sacrifice: In a desperate act, King Mesha took his oldest son, his heir to the throne, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering upon the city wall. This was a human sacrifice, a practice abhorrent to the Israelites and forbidden in their law.
"Great Wrath Against Israel": This is the most debated part of the verse. There are several interpretations:
Wrath of Chemosh: Many scholars believe that the "great wrath" refers to the anger of Chemosh, the Moabite national god, who was propitiated by the sacrifice. In the ancient Near East, it was believed that appeasing a god, especially in times of crisis, could bring victory. The Moabite sacrifice was meant to incite Chemosh to act against the Israelites.
Divine Wrath: Some interpret it as God's wrath against Israel. Perhaps because they were allied with an ungodly king (Edom) or because they had brought the war upon themselves. However, this is less likely given the context of Chemosh worship.
Psychological Effect: The gruesome sacrifice had a powerful psychological impact on the Israelite army. They might have been horrified, disgusted, or perhaps even superstitious, fearing that they had provoked the wrath of the Moabite god. Seeing such a display of religious fervor might have demoralized the invaders.
"They Departed from Him, and Returned to Their Own Land": This is the result of the "great wrath." Whether it was fear, disgust, or the belief that they had angered Chemosh, the allied army abandoned the siege and returned home. They failed to subdue Moab.
In Summary:
The verse describes a shocking act of human sacrifice by King Mesha. This act, likely intended to appease his god Chemosh, resulted in a powerful reaction – "great wrath" – which caused the Israelite-led army to abandon their campaign and return home. The precise nature of this "wrath" is debated, but it likely involved a combination of religious belief and psychological impact. The Moabites were able to successfully defended their land from foreign invaders.