2 Kings 3:27
Then hee tooke his eldest sonne that should haue reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering vpon the wall: and there was great indignation against Israel, and they departed from him, and returned to their owne land. 2 Kings 3:27 (KJV)
Context and Background: In this chapter, the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom joined forces to wage war against the rebellious king of Moab. The Israelite army, along with the armies of Judah and Edom, had been marching through the wilderness for seven days, but they found themselves without water for their troops and livestock.
Desperation and Consultation: Faced with the lack of water and the critical situation, King Jehoshaphat of Judah suggests seeking the counsel of a prophet. Elisha, the prophet of God, is summoned, and he agrees to inquire of the Lord on their behalf.
Elisha’s Prophecy: Elisha receives a word from the Lord and tells the kings that God will provide water in the form of a miraculous intervention. He predicts that the valley they are in will be filled with water, although no rain will fall.
The Miraculous Provision: True to Elisha’s prophecy, the next morning, the valley is filled with water. The Israelite army and their allies rejoice at the sight and move forward to attack the Moabites.
Moab’s Countermeasure: When the Moabites see the water, they mistake it for blood and assume the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom have turned against each other. In their minds, the water is a sign of the kings’ defeat and weakness. So the Moabites rush in to plunder the Israelite camp.
The Extreme Act: In the midst of this dire situation, the King of Moab, in an act of desperation, takes his eldest son, who was next in line to inherit the throne, and offers him as a burnt offering on the city wall. This act is seen as a sacrifice to his god, Chemosh, and an attempt to gain divine favour and victory against Israel.
The Outcome: The verse states that “there was great indignation against Israel, and they departed from him and returned to their own land.” The act of sacrificing the king’s son produces a sense of horror and outrage among the Israelite army. It leads to a cessation of the attack, and each army returns to their respective lands.
The consequences of disobedience: While the broader narrative of 2 Kings emphasizes Israel’s disobedience and divine judgment, this particular conflict began because Moab rebelled after the death of the Edomite king, prompting Israel, Judah, and Edom to intervene.
The power of God’s intervention: Elisha’s prophecy and the subsequent provision of water in the desert illustrate God’s power to intervene in desperate situations and provide for His people in miraculous ways.
The abhorrence of human sacrifice: The extreme act of sacrificing the king’s son on the city wall highlights the abomination of human sacrifice and the severity of the consequences it brings. It is important to approach this passage with sensitivity, recognising that human sacrifice was a practice in some ancient cultures but it was completely contrary to God’s commands. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly condemns such practices and calls the people to a higher standard of reverence and respect for life.
