Which King Killed His Son for God?

The king who killed his son as a sacrifice was King Mesha of Moab.

The Desperate Act of King Mesha

King Mesha of Moab committed this act during a critical moment in his kingdom's history, as recorded in biblical accounts. When his capital city, Kir-Hareseth, was under siege by an alliance of Israel, Judah, and Edom, King Mesha, in an act of extreme desperation, offered his eldest son as a sacrifice.

Key details of this event include:

• The King: Mesha, the ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Moab.
• The Victim: His eldest son, who was also the crown prince and heir to the throne.
• The Deity: The sacrifice was made to Chemosh, the national god of Moab, believed to be a powerful deity associated with war and fertility. For more information on Chemosh, you can refer to Wikipedia's entry on Chemosh.
• The Circumstances: The act occurred during a brutal siege of Kir-Hareseth, Moab's capital. The Moabites were facing imminent defeat from the combined forces.
• The Method: The crown prince was offered as a burnt offering, a severe form of sacrifice common in some ancient Near Eastern cultures.
• The Location: This horrific event took place on top of the city wall, deliberately in full view of the enemy forces, likely intended to elicit a strong reaction or divine intervention.

This dramatic sacrifice is described in 2 Kings 3:26–27 of the Hebrew Bible, noting the profound impact it had on the besieging armies, leading to their withdrawal due to "great indignation."

Summary of the Sacrifice

The table below provides a concise overview of the key aspects of King Mesha's sacrifice: