Topical Encyclopedia The Moabites were a people descended from Moab, the son of Lot, who was the nephew of Abraham. The Moabites settled in the region east of the Dead Sea, an area that is part of modern-day Jordan. Throughout biblical history, the Moabites had a complex and often adversarial relationship with the Israelites. The Moabites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, and their interactions with Israel are marked by conflict, alliances, and religious entanglements.One of the most notable and tragic events involving the Moabites is the account of the King of Moab sacrificing his son. This event is recorded in 2 Kings 3, during the reign of King Mesha of Moab. The narrative describes a coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom waging war against Moab. The coalition was initially successful, pushing the Moabites back to their fortified city. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the battle, King Mesha resorted to an extreme measure. According to 2 Kings 3:26-27 , "When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great indignation against Israel, so they withdrew and returned to their own land." This act of human sacrifice was intended to invoke the favor of the Moabite god Chemosh, demonstrating the depth of Mesha's desperation and the Moabites' adherence to their pagan religious practices. The sacrifice had a profound psychological impact on the Israelite coalition, leading to their withdrawal. The "great indignation" mentioned in the text has been interpreted by scholars as either divine wrath or a moral outrage that caused the Israelites to retreat. The sacrifice of Mesha's son highlights the stark contrast between the religious practices of the Moabites and the Israelites. While the Israelites were commanded by God to reject human sacrifice, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:31 , "You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods," the Moabites engaged in such practices as part of their devotion to Chemosh. This event underscores the spiritual and cultural chasm between the Israelites and their neighbors, serving as a reminder of the Israelites' call to be a distinct and holy people, set apart from the surrounding nations. The Moabite king's sacrifice of his son remains a poignant example of the lengths to which pagan nations would go in their religious fervor, contrasting sharply with the biblical mandate for the sanctity of life. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 3:27Then he took his oldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Iranian Conquest Resources What was Baal Peor in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Chemosh? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Ammonites? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Moabites are a Snare to the Israelites Moabites are Given To, As a Possession Moabites with Midian Send for Balaam to Curse Israel Moabites: Alarmed at the Number of Israel Moabites: Always Hostile to Israel Moabites: Benaiah Slew Two Champions of Moabites: Called the People of Chemosh Moabites: Called: Children of Lot Moabites: Called: People of Chemosh Moabites: Calls for Balaam to Curse Israel Moabites: Conquered by Israel and Judah Moabites: David Takes Refuge Among, from Saul Moabites: Deprived of a Large Part of Their Territories by the Amorites Moabites: Descendants of Lot Through his Son Moab Moabites: Excluded from the Congregation of Israel Forever Moabites: Expelled the Ancient Emims Moabites: Gave an Asylum to David's Family Moabites: Harassed and Subdued by Saul Moabites: Israel and Judah Joined Against Moabites: Israelites had War With Moabites: Israelites: Enticed to Idolatry By Moabites: Israelites: Forbidden to Make Leagues With Moabites: Israelites: Forbidden to Spoil Moabites: Israelites: Sometimes Intermarried With Moabites: Joined Babylon Against Judah Moabites: King of, Sacrificed his Son to Excite Animosity Against Moabites: Land of, not Given to the Israelites As a Possession Moabites: Made Tributary to David Moabites: Miraculously Deceived by the Colour of the Water Moabites: Paid Tribute of Sheep and Wool to the King of Israel Moabites: Possessed Many and Great Cities Moabites: Prophecies Concerning Judgments Upon Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Desolation and Grief Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Inability to Avert Destruction Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Restoration from Captivity Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Subjugation to Israel Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Subjugation to Messiah Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Terror on Account of Israel Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: Their Desolation As a Punishment for Their Hatred of Israel Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: To be Captives in Babylon Moabites: Prophesies Respecting: To Destroyed in Three Years Moabites: Prosperous and at Ease Moabites: Refuse Passage of Jephthah's Army Through Their Territory Moabites: Refused to Let Israel Pass Moabites: Revolted from Israel After the Death of Ahab Moabites: Separated from the Amorites by the River Arnon Moabites: The People of Israel Commanded not to Distress the Moabites Moabites: The Territory East of the Jordan River, Bounded on the North by the Arnon River Related Terms |
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