27
Then the king of Moab got his oldest son. He was the son who would become the next king after him. He offered his son as a sacrifice on the city wall. That shocked and terrified the men of Israel. So they pulled back. And they returned to their own land.
Reference
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: Môwʼâb
Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: πρέπω (prépō)
to tower up (be conspicuous), i.e. (by implication) to be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Greek: ὑπάρχω (hypárchō)
to begin under (quietly), i.e. come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, participle, adverb or preposition, or as an auxiliary to a principal (verb)
Hebrew: ʼăthar
a place; (adverb) after
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: θυσία (thysía)
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: dᵉbach
a sacrifice
Hebrew: ʼÔwn
On, an Israelite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: πόλις (pólis)
a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
Hebrew: qiryâʼ
{building; a city}
Greek: τοῖχος (toîchos)
a wall
Hebrew: ʼushsharnâʼ
a wall (from its uprightness)
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: Yisrᵉʼêlîy
a Jisreelite or descendant of Jisrael
Hebrew: kᵉnêmâʼ
so or thus
Greek: νῶτος (nōtos)
the back
Hebrew: gab
the back (as rounded); by analogy, the top or rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks, etc.
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: γνήσιος (gnḗsios)
legitimate (of birth), i.e. genuine
Kingdom
Amos 2:1
Parallel theme
Micah 6:7
Deuteronomy 12:31
References Israel
Judges 11:39
Sacrifice
Judges 11:31
Ezekiel 16:20
Genesis 22:13
Genesis 22:2
Verse Explanation
In desperation, King Mesha offers his firstborn son as a burnt sacrifice upon the city wall. The shocking act causes great distress among the allied forces, and they withdraw and return to their own land. The passage highlights the horrifying practices associated with pagan religion and contrasts them with the worship of the Lord, who forbids human sacrifice.
History
Human sacrifice was practiced by some neighboring nations, including the Moabites, but was strictly prohibited by God's law for Israel.