2 Kings 3:27

2 Kings 3:27 in other versions

• 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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 2 Kings 3:27

25They destroyed the towns, covered their good land with stones, stopped up all the springs, and cut down all the good trees. Finally, only Kir-hareseth and its stone walls were left, but men with slings surrounded and attacked it. 26When the king of Moab saw that he was losing the battle, he led 700 of his swordsmen in a desperate attempt to break through the enemy lines near the king of Edom, but they failed. 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.

2 Kings 3:27 word by word

וַיִּקַּח֩ אֶת־בְּנ֨וֹ הַבְּכ֜וֹר אֲשֶׁר־יִמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֗יו וַיַּעֲלֵ֤הוּ עֹלָה֙ עַל־הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה וַיְהִ֥י קֶצֶף־גָּד֖וֹל עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵֽעָלָ֔יו וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ לָאָֽרֶץ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• his eldestבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• that should have reignedמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
• in his stead, and offeredעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
• a burnt offeringעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
• upon the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• And there was greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• indignationקֶ֫צֶףqetseph · wrathH7110
• against Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and they departedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
• from him, and returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for 2 Kings 3:27

• Genesis 22:2“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
• Deuteronomy 12:31You must not worship the Lord your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods every detestable act that the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.
• Judges 11:31I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
• Psalms 106:36They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.
• Ezekiel 16:20“Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough?
• Micah 6:7Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?
• 1 Samuel 14:36Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
• 1 Kings 20:13Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him, “This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Took 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27Compare 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-27Verses 20-27 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27there was great fury against the Israelites: The Hebrew phrase translated as intense anger is also used to describe the Lord’s fury against Israel for breaking their covenant (Jeremiah 21:5; 32:37; Zechariah 7:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering, &c.--By this deed of horror, to which the allied army drove the king of Moab, a divine judgment came upon Israel; that is, the besiegers feared the anger of God, which they had incurred by giving occasion to the human sacrifice forbidden in the law (Le 18:21; 20:3), and hastily raised the siege.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 3:27

• Blindness
• Idolatry
• Moabites
• Offerings

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Burnt offering
• Colour
• Compass
• Indignation
• Jehoshaphat
• Kirharaseth
• Mesha
• Moabite Stone
• Regard

Commentaries on 2 Kings 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings