Short Answer
The “wrath” or “indignation” in 2 Kings 3:27 is most likely not from God but from human sources—either the Moabites or even the Israelites themselves. The human sacrifice did not influence God, since Scripture clearly teaches that such acts are detestable to Him. Instead, it likely triggered fear, shock, or renewed aggression that caused Israel to withdraw.
The Overview
In 2 Kings 3:27, the king of Moab sacrifices his son on the city wall during a battle with Israel, and the text says that “great wrath” came against Israel. At first glance, this can be confusing, as it may seem like the sacrifice influenced God to act against Israel. However, this interpretation does not align with the rest of Scripture, which consistently condemns human sacrifice as detestable to God.
Because of this, the “wrath” mentioned in the passage is better understood as human anger rather than divine judgment. One possibility is that the Moabites, seeing this extreme act, became more aggressive and determined in battle. Another possibility is that the Israelites were so horrified by the sacrifice that they chose to withdraw rather than continue the fight.
It is important to interpret difficult passages in light of the whole Bible. God had already made it clear that human sacrifice is unacceptable, and He would not respond positively—or even neutrally—to such an act. Therefore, the idea that this sacrifice “worked” to turn God against Israel must be rejected.
Ultimately, this passage highlights the desperation and darkness of pagan practices, not the approval of God. The outcome of the battle was shaped by human reactions—fear, shock, or renewed hostility—rather than any change in God’s attitude toward Israel.
Key Takeaways
- The Wrath Is Likely Human, Not Divine
It does not explicitly say that God was angry with Israel. - Human Sacrifice Does Not Influence God
Scripture clearly condemns such practices as detestable. - Context Matters in Interpretation
Difficult passages must align with the broader teaching of the Bible. - Possible Explanations Include Fear or Aggression
The event may have shocked Israel or emboldened Moab. - God’s Character Remains Consistent
He would not respond positively to pagan rituals.
The Source — The Speaker Transcript
00:00:01
Yeah. Good afternoon, Pastor Mike. How you doing? >> I’m doing well. >> Yes. My question is on 2 Kings chapter 3 27. Um, Israel was at war with Moab. And scripture says that the king of Moab in order to be able to break free, had to sacrifice his son on the wall. And the Bible says that there was indignation against Israel. I wanted to find because I do understand that part of scripture. I want to find out. >> Was that im imigation against Israel from the Lord? >> What did it mean?
00:00:34
>> Yeah, this my question. >> I remember this passage and it certainly is a crazy text, right? Let me just read it for everyone. And uh verse 27, 2 Kings 3, uh he took his oldest son and uh who was to reign in his place and he 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. Now here’s the deal. God has expressly said that that offering a a person in a sacrifice, unless of course it’s the one human
00:01:10
sacrifice that can actually relieve us of our sin penalty. Uh even the picture of it in Genesis 22, right? God stops Isaac from being sacrificed by Abraham. So all of this including the practices of the Canaanites was a thing that God said is detestable to him. So doing this right was a desperate act to try and intervene because of the gods that required the human sacrifice which of course is not the god of the bible. And so the moabitete god here is trying to be appeased and it was done to where
00:01:45
everyone could see it in an attempt to try and get uh you know to deliver the moabites. Well, there was great indignation against Israel. And and to think, okay, why was there great indignation against Israel? Right? That’s really the question. H how in the world does it does it end up the way it does? Well, couple of options. Possibly this is God’s anger, right? But it’s unclear that he would act against Israel in response to a pagan sacrifice. That’s the problem, right? Why would that
00:02:15
happen? This is probably the anger. Uh it doesn’t say that this was was God’s anger, right? In this case, uh this could be the anger of human beings. Maybe the Moabites um responded with with with renewed passion to kill the Israelites. Or perhaps the Israelites, as some commentators have said, uh were so horrified by the sacrifice that they said, “We’re done. We’re out.” It’s a lot like when they were afraid that the ark during uh su uh Samuel’s day when Eli took the ark in or his sons
00:02:53
did out into battle. Now when God’s glory had left and the ark being used as a um as a a good luck charm, right? Like a rabbit’s foot. They took the ark out into battle hoping that they could defeat the enemy. And the enemy was scared because they said, “Oh, they’re bringing their gods out.” And so they were scared, but God had had left. In other words, he’s not using that ark. He he got it returned, obviously, but um if you know that story from from 1 Samuel 3, >> here’s the here’s the idea. Why did they
00:03:28
run away? Well, they ran away because they thought that the gods of the Israelites would would would hurt them, would would kill them. They overcome them in battle. In other words, the offering of the of the son did not do anything because it doesn’t do anything for God. In other words, God is not going to say, “Okay, see there, the sacrifice is accepted. Now God is angry with Israel.” So, they all left. The question is, why was there anger against Israel? And that’s what the word wrath
00:03:56
means. We often think wrath because in English, the word wrath, we always think of God’s wrath, but it could be human wrath in the sense that a lot of people were were mad at Israel. Maybe it was the the army that was upset and they said, “We’re done. We’re not going to do this.” They’re they’re offering their own kids in battle. Or maybe it was the Moabitete and they were they they had a re reinvigorated uh anger to kill the Israelites and therefore the Israelites fled. So I
00:04:23
think on a first blush reading we might think, “Wow, that that human sacrifice worked, right? It turned God against them.” That’s not what’s happening here. Everything else in scripture would not allow that interpretation of this passage. Do you follow what I’m saying? I have to look at an interpretation of this passage that’s consistent with all we know about God. God is not going to back down because some king killed his son. It’s not going to happen. It may make the the pagans uh fearless and bold
00:04:51
and intrepid in their battle or it could freak out the Israelites and they could run away. But the bottom line is someone was mad at Israel and they weren’t they ran away. And I don’t think it was God. Uh because God is not going to respond that way to some pagan ritual. He’s going to be mad at the not or the Moabites rather, not at the Israelites. Do you follow that? >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right, Kenneth. Great question. And uh yeah, remember reading that passage.
00:05:20
I mean, read it many, many times, but uh at first blush, you think, what in the world is going on here?
