EN/HEע/E

Mesha's Sacrifice and the Wrath on Israel

Sources

Melakhim II 3:4-26מלכים ב׳ ג׳:ד׳-כ״ו

(4) Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered unto the king of Israel the wool of a hundred thousand lambs, and of a hundred thousand rams. (5) But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. (6) And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel. (7) And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying: 'The king of Moab hath rebelled against me; wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle?' And he said: 'I will go up; I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.' (8) And he said: 'Which way shall we go up?' And he answered: 'The way of the wilderness of Edom.' (9) So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days' journey; and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them. (10) And the king of Israel said: 'Alas! for the Lord hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.' (11) But Jehoshaphat said: 'Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?' And one of the king ofIsrael's servants answered and said: 'Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.' (12) And Jehoshaphat said: 'The word of the Lord is with him.' So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. (13) And Elisha said unto the king of Israel: 'What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother.' And the king of Israel said unto him: 'Nay; for the Lord hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.' (14) And Elisha said: 'As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. (15) But now bring me a minstrel.' And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. (16) And he said: 'Thus saith the Lord: Make this valley full of trenches. (17) For thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water; and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts. (18) And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. (19) And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.' (20) And it came to pass in the morning, about the time of making the offering, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. (21) Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood on the border. (22) And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water some way off as red as blood; (23) and they said: 'This is blood: the kings have surely fought together, and they have smitten each man his fellow; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.' (24) And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them. And they smote the land, even Moab, mightily. (25) And they beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, and felled all the good trees; until there was left only Kir-hareseth with the stones of the wall thereof; so the slingers encompassed it, and smote it. (26) And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew sword, to break through unto the king of Edom; but they could not. (27) 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 came great wrath upon Israel; and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

(ד) וּמֵישַׁע מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב הָיָה נֹקֵד וְהֵשִׁיב לְמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאָה אֶלֶף כָּרִים וּמֵאָה אֶלֶף אֵילִים צָמֶר. (ה) וַיְהִי כְּמוֹת אַחְאָב וַיִּפְשַׁע מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב בְּמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל. (ו) וַיֵּצֵא הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוֹרָם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא מִשֹּׁמְרוֹן וַיִּפְקֹד אֶת כׇּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. (ז) וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶל יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה לֵאמֹר מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב פָּשַׁע בִּי הֲתֵלֵךְ אִתִּי אֶל מוֹאָב לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶעֱלֶה כָּמוֹנִי כָמוֹךָ כְּעַמִּי כְעַמֶּךָ כְּסוּסַי כְּסוּסֶיךָ. (ח) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵי זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ נַעֲלֶה וַיֹּאמֶר דֶּרֶךְ מִדְבַּר אֱדוֹם. (ט) וַיֵּלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה וּמֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם וַיָּסֹבּוּ דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וְלֹא הָיָה מַיִם לַמַּחֲנֶה וְלַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלֵיהֶם. (י) וַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲהָהּ כִּי קָרָא י"י לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה לָתֵת אוֹתָם בְּיַד מוֹאָב. (יא) וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט הַאֵין פֹּה נָבִיא לַי"י וְנִדְרְשָׁה אֶת י"י מֵאוֹתוֹ וַיַּעַן אֶחָד מֵעַבְדֵי מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר פֹּה אֱלִישָׁע בֶּן שָׁפָט אֲשֶׁר יָצַק מַיִם עַל יְדֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ. (יב) וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשָׁפָט יֵשׁ אוֹתוֹ דְּבַר י"י וַיֵּרְדוּ אֵלָיו מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוֹשָׁפָט וּמֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם. (יג) וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלִישָׁע אֶל מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַה לִּי וָלָךְ לֵךְ אֶל נְבִיאֵי אָבִיךָ וְאֶל נְבִיאֵי אִמֶּךָ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַל כִּי קָרָא י"י לִשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה לָתֵת אוֹתָם בְּיַד מוֹאָב. (יד) וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלִישָׁע חַי י"י צְבָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו כִּי לוּלֵי פְּנֵי יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה אֲנִי נֹשֵׂא אִם אַבִּיט אֵלֶיךָ וְאִם אֶרְאֶךָּ. (טו) וְעַתָּה קְחוּ לִי מְנַגֵּן וְהָיָה כְּנַגֵּן הַמְנַגֵּן וַתְּהִי עָלָיו יַד י"י. (טז) וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה אָמַר י"י עָשֹׂה הַנַּחַל הַזֶּה גֵּבִים גֵּבִים. (יז) כִּי כֹה אָמַר י"י לֹא תִרְאוּ רוּחַ וְלֹא תִרְאוּ גֶשֶׁם וְהַנַּחַל הַהוּא יִמָּלֵא מָיִם וּשְׁתִיתֶם אַתֶּם וּמִקְנֵיכֶם וּבְהֶמְתְּכֶם. (יח) וְנָקַל זֹאת בְּעֵינֵי י"י וְנָתַן אֶת מוֹאָב בְּיֶדְכֶם. (יט) וְהִכִּיתֶם כׇּל עִיר מִבְצָר וְכׇל עִיר מִבְחוֹר וְכׇל עֵץ טוֹב תַּפִּילוּ וְכׇל מַעְיְנֵי מַיִם תִּסְתֹּמוּ וְכֹל הַחֶלְקָה הַטּוֹבָה תַּכְאִבוּ בָּאֲבָנִים. (כ) וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר כַּעֲלוֹת הַמִּנְחָה וְהִנֵּה מַיִם בָּאִים מִדֶּרֶךְ אֱדוֹם וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ אֶת הַמָּיִם. (כא) וְכׇל מוֹאָב שָׁמְעוּ כִּי עָלוּ הַמְּלָכִים לְהִלָּחֶם בָּם וַיִּצָּעֲקוּ מִכֹּל חֹגֵר חֲגֹרָה וָמַעְלָה וַיַּעַמְדוּ עַל הַגְּבוּל. (כב) וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וְהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ זָרְחָה עַל הַמָּיִם וַיִּרְאוּ מוֹאָב מִנֶּגֶד אֶת הַמַּיִם אֲדֻמִּים כַּדָּם. (כג) וַיֹּאמְרוּ דָּם זֶה הׇחֳרֵב נֶחֶרְבוּ הַמְּלָכִים וַיַּכּוּ אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ וְעַתָּה לַשָּׁלָל מוֹאָב. (כד) וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּקֻמוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּכּוּ אֶת מוֹאָב וַיָּנֻסוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם [וַיַּכּוּ] (ויבו) בָהּ וְהַכּוֹת אֶת מוֹאָב. (כה) וְהֶעָרִים יַהֲרֹסוּ וְכׇל חֶלְקָה טוֹבָה יַשְׁלִיכוּ אִישׁ אַבְנוֹ וּמִלְאוּהָ וְכׇל מַעְיַן מַיִם יִסְתֹּמוּ וְכׇל עֵץ טוֹב יַפִּילוּ עַד הִשְׁאִיר אֲבָנֶיהָ בַּקִּיר חֲרָשֶׂת וַיָּסֹבּוּ הַקַּלָּעִים וַיַּכּוּהָ. (כו) וַיַּרְא מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב כִּי חָזַק מִמֶּנּוּ הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּקַּח אוֹתוֹ שְׁבַע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ שֹׁלֵף חֶרֶב לְהַבְקִיעַ אֶל מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם וְלֹא יָכֹלוּ. (כז) וַיִּקַּח אֶת בְּנוֹ הַבְּכוֹר אֲשֶׁר יִמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ עֹלָה עַל הַחֹמָה וַיְהִי קֶצֶף גָּדוֹל עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּסְעוּ מֵעָלָיו וַיָּשֻׁבוּ לָאָרֶץ.

Amos 2:1-3עמוס ב׳:א׳-ג׳

(1) Thus saith the Lord: For three transgressions of Moab, Yea, for four, I will not reverse it: Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime. (2) So will I send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; And Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting, and with the sound of the horn; (3) And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, And will slay all the princes thereof with him, Saith the Lord.

(א) כֹּה אָמַר י"י עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי מוֹאָב וְעַל אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ עַל שׇׂרְפוֹ עַצְמוֹת מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם לַשִּׂיד. (ב) וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי אֵשׁ בְּמוֹאָב וְאָכְלָה אַרְמְנוֹת הַקְּרִיּוֹת וּמֵת בְּשָׁאוֹן מוֹאָב בִּתְרוּעָה בְּקוֹל שׁוֹפָר. (ג) וְהִכְרַתִּי שׁוֹפֵט מִקִּרְבָּהּ וְכׇל שָׂרֶיהָ אֶהֱרוֹג עִמּוֹ אָמַר י"י.

Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 9 3:2יוספוס קדמוניות היהודים ט ג׳:ב׳

But the king of Moab, when he was pursued, endured a siege; and seeing his city in danger of being overthrown by force, made a sally, and went out with seven hundred men, in order to break through the enemy's camp with his horsemen, on that side where the watch seemed to be kept most negligently; and when, upon trial, he could not get away, for he lighted upon a place that was carefully watched, he returned into the city, and did a thing that showed despair and the utmost distress; for he took his eldest son, who was to reign after him, and lifting him up upon the wall, that he might be visible to all the enemies, he offered him as a whole burnt-offering to God, whom, when the kings saw, they commiserated the distress that was the occasion of it, and were so affected, in way of humanity and pity, that they raised the siege, and every one returned to his own house.

Bavli Taanit 4aבבלי תענית ד׳.

and drizzle [urpila] is even beneficial to a seed [partzida] under a clod of earth, as it can reach anywhere without causing any harm. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the word drizzle? The Gemara explains: It is a contraction of the phrase: Arise, furrows [uru pilei]. And the Gemara cites another saying in which Rava uses the same imagery. Rava said: This Torah scholar [tzurva] is like a seed under a clod of earth, as once he sprouts and begins to develop, he continues to sprout and his greatness increases. § And, incidentally, the Gemara relates that which Rava said: This Torah scholar who grows angry, it can be presumed that it is his Torah study that angers him. Therefore, he must be given the benefit of the doubt, as it is stated: “Is not my word like fire, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:29). And similarly, Rav Ashi said: Any Torah scholar who is not as hard as iron, but is indecisive and wavers, he is not a Torah scholar, as it is stated in the same verse: “And as a hammer that breaks rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 23:29). Rabbi Abba said to Rav Ashi: You learned the proof for this idea from that verse there; we learned it from here, as it is written: “A land whose stones [avaneha] are iron” (Deuteronomy 8:9). Do not read this phrase as “whose stones [avaneha],” rather, read it as whose builders [boneha], since Torah scholars build the land spiritually and are as tough as iron. With regard to these statements praising the toughness of a Torah scholar, Ravina said: And even so, one is required to teach himself to act gently, as it is stated: “And remove anger from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh” (Ecclesiastes 11:10). As a preamble to the statement of Rabbi Berekhya, below, the Gemara cites that which Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yonatan said: Three people entreated God in an unreasonable manner, i.e., in situations where their requests might have received an unfavorable answer. To two of them God responded reasonably, with a favorable response to their requests, and to one God responded unreasonably, i.e., unfavorably, in a manner befitting the unreasonable request. And they are: Eliezer, servant of Abraham; Saul, son of Kish; and Jephthah the Gileadite. The Gemara clarifies each of these cases in turn: With regard to Eliezer, servant of Abraham, he made a request when he prayed beside the well, as it is written: “That the maiden to whom I shall say: Please let down your pitcher that I may drink; and she shall say: Drink, and I will also give your camels to drink; that she be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac” (Genesis 24:14). Eliezer entreated God unreasonably, as his request allowed for the possibility that she might even be lame or even blind, and yet he had promised to take her to Isaac. Nevertheless, God responded to him reasonably and the eminently suitable Rebecca happened to come to him. With regard to Saul, son of Kish, he made an offer when Goliath the Philistine challenged the Jews, as it is written: “And it shall be that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter” (I Samuel 17:25). The man who killed Goliath might even have been a slave or a mamzer, one born from an incestuous or adulterous union, who would be unfit to marry his daughter. Nevertheless, God responded to him reasonably and David happened to come to him. By contrast, there is the case of Jephthah the Gileadite. Upon leaving for battle he issued a statement, as it is written: “Then it shall be that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace…it shall be to the Lord and I will bring it up for a burnt-offering” (Judges 11:31). This might even have been an impure, non-kosher animal, which he had committed himself to sacrifice. In this instance, God responded to him unreasonably, and his daughter happened to come to him. Regarding the incident of Jephthah, the Gemara remarks: And this is what the prophet said to the Jewish people: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not recovered?” (Jeremiah 8:22). This verse alludes to the fact that had he sought a means to do so, Jephthah could have had his vow annulled. And it is written, with regard to human sacrifice: “And they have also built the high places of the Ba’al, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt offerings to Ba’al, which I did not command, and I did not speak, nor did it come into My heart” (Jeremiah 19:5). The Gemara interprets each phrase of this verse: “Which I did not command,” this is referring to the son of Mesha, king of Moab. King Mesha sacrificed his son, as it is stated: “Then he took his firstborn son, who would reign after him, and he offered him as a burnt-offering” (II Kings 3:27). “And I did not speak,” this is referring to Jephthah, who sacrificed his daughter as an offering. “Nor did it come into my heart,” this is referring to Isaac, son of Abraham. Although God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, there was no intent in God’s heart that he should actually do so; it was merely a test. § In light of the above statement, the Gemara returns to the issue of rain. Rabbi Berekhya said: The Congregation of Israel also entreated God unreasonably, and yet the Holy One, Blessed be He, responded reasonably, as it is stated: “And let us know, eagerly strive to know the Lord. His going forth is sure as the morning, and He will come to us as the rain” (Hosea 6:3). They compared the revelation of God to the rain. In response, the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the Jewish people: My daughter, you request the manifestation of My Presence by comparing Me to a matter, rain, that is sometimes desired, but is sometimes undesired, e.g., during the summer. However, I will be to you like a matter that is always desired, dew, as it is stated: “I will be as the dew to Israel” (Hosea 14:6), since dew appears in all seasons and is invariably a blessing. And the Congregation of Israel further entreated God unreasonably in another context, saying before Him: Master of the Universe: “Set me as a seal upon Your heart, as a seal upon Your arm” (Song of Songs 8:6). The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to her: My daughter, you ask that I be manifest to you in a matter that is sometimes visible and sometimes not visible, as the heart and arm are not covered. However, I will act so that I manifest Myself for you like a matter that is always visible, as it is stated: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands, your walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:16). § The Gemara returns to the halakhot of the mishna: One requests rain only immediately preceding the rainy season. The Sages assumed that requesting and mentioning are one and the same thing, and consequently they asked: Who is the tanna who taught this halakha? The Gemara answers that Rava said: It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, who said that one mentions rain from the time of putting down the lulav, i.e., the Eighth Day of Assembly, which is indeed near the rainy season. Abaye said to him: Even if you say that it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who holds that one mentions rain from the first day of the festival of Sukkot, this ruling of the mishna can be explained by distinguishing between the two terms: Requesting is a discrete concept and mentioning is another discrete concept. In other words, even according to the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, one begins to request rain just before the rainy season, on the Eighth Day of Assembly, whereas one starts to mention rain already on the first day of Sukkot. And some say a different version of this discussion: Let us say

וכתיב {ירמיהו י״ט:ה׳} אשר לא צויתי ולא דברתי ולא עלתה על לבי אשר לא צויתי זה בנו של מישע מלך מואב שנאמר {מלכים ב ג׳:כ״ז} ויקח את בנו הבכור אשר ימלך תחתיו ויעלהו עולה ולא דברתי זה יפתח ולא עלתה על לבי זה יצחק בן אברהם

Bavli Sanhedrin 39bבבלי סנהדרין ל״ט:

“It is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9), teaching that where the verse mentions “the nations,” the Jewish people are not included. The Gemara cites a related statement: Rabbi Elazar raises a contradiction: It is written in one verse: “The Lord is good to all and His compassion is over all His works” (Psalms 145:9), and it is written in a different verse: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25). He explains: This can be compared to a person who has an orchard. When he waters it, he waters all of it. Perforce, the water reaches all parts of the orchard, and he cannot discriminate between trees. This is the meaning of the verse: “The Lord is good to all.” By contrast, when he hoes around the trees, he hoes only around the good trees among them. Similarly, when God bestows goodness to the world, all receive it. When He protects people from harm, not all are protected. § The mishna teaches: Therefore, since all humanity descends from one person, each and every person is obligated to say: The world was created for me. The mishna then teaches that the court says to the witnesses: And perhaps you will say: Why would we want to be responsible for the blood of this person? But be aware, as is it not already stated: “When the wicked perish, there is song” (Proverbs 11:10)? The Gemara teaches: A separate verse relates that after the evil king Ahab was killed: “And the song went throughout the camp” (I Kings 22:36). Rabbi Aḥa bar Ḥanina says: The fact that the verse states “the song,” and not a song, indicates that it is referring to a song mentioned elsewhere. Accordingly, the verse: “When the wicked perish, there is song,” alludes to this episode: When Ahab ben Omri perished, there was song. The Gemara asks: But is the Holy One, Blessed be He, gladdened by the downfall of the wicked? Isn’t it written in the verse describing the victory of the Jewish people in battle: “He appointed them that should sing unto the Lord, and praise in the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and say: Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (II Chronicles 20:21). And Rabbi Yonatan says: For what reason is it not stated in this praise: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever,” as is stated elsewhere, e.g., Psalms 118:1? This is because the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not gladdened by the downfall of the wicked. The Gemara comments: As Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman says that Rabbi Yonatan says: What is the meaning of that which is written in the passage describing the splitting of the Red Sea: “And the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:20)? At that time the ministering angels desired to recite a song before the Holy One, Blessed be He. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them: My handiwork, i.e., the Egyptians, are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me? Apparently, God is not gladdened by the downfall of the wicked. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina says: He, i.e., God, does not rejoice in their downfall, but He does cause others to feel joy. The Gemara comments: Accordingly, the language of the verse is also precise, as it is written: “And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will cause rejoicing [yasis] over you to cause you to perish” (Deuteronomy 28:63), and it is not written: Will have joy [yasus]. The term “yasis” connotes causing joy to others, not that God will experience joy Himself. The Gemara affirms: Conclude from this inference that it is so. Apropos the death of Ahab, the Gemara cites another verse from that passage. The verse states: “And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood; and the harlots also washed themselves there, according to the word of the Lord that He spoke” (I Kings 22:38). Rabbi Elazar says: “The harlots [hazzonot]” can be read as visions [ḥezyonot], and the verse means: To cleanse, i.e., to fulfill, two visions, one of Micaiah and one of Elijah. This fulfills a vision of Micaiah, as it is written: “If you return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me” (I Kings 22:28). Once Ahab died, Micaiah’s vision was fulfilled. This also fulfills a vision of Elijah, as it is written: “In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall the dogs lick your blood, even yours” (I Kings 21:19). Rava says: The verse is speaking of actual harlots. Ahab was a frigid man, who did not lust for women. And Jezebel, his wife, fashioned two forms of harlots for him in his chariot, in order that he see them while traveling and become aroused. Accordingly, one would understand the verse as stating that the harlots were washed, not that they washed themselves. The verse describing the death of Ahab states: “And a certain man drew a bow offhandedly [letummo] and smote the king of Israel” (I Kings 22:34). Rabbi Elazar says: “Letummo” should be understood as offhandedly [lefi tummo], without aiming for Ahab. Rava says: This alludes to the fact that the killing of Ahab served to make whole [letammem] two visions, one of Micaiah and one of Elijah. § Before continuing its discussion of Ahab, the Gemara records a mnemonic for the forthcoming statements: Called; and merited; of Edom. It is written: “And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household; now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly” (I Kings 18:3). The Gemara asks: What is the verse saying? What is the connection between Obadiah’s fear of the Lord and the call of Ahab? Rabbi Yitzḥak says that Ahab said to Obadiah: It is written with regard to Jacob: “And Laban said to him: If now I have found favor in your eyes, I have observed the signs, and the Lord has blessed me for your sake” (Genesis 30:27). It is written with regard to Joseph: “The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (Genesis 39:5). The house of that man, i.e., my house, was not blessed. Perhaps you do not fear God? Immediately, a Divine Voice emerged and said: “Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly,” but the house of Ahab is not fit for blessing like the houses of those masters. Rabbi Abba says: The praise that is stated with regard to Obadiah is greater than that which is stated with regard to Abraham. As with regard to Abraham the verse states: “For now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12), and the term “greatly” is not written, and about Obadiah the term “greatly” is written. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: For what reason did Obadiah merit prophecy? It is because he concealed one hundred prophets in a cave, as it is stated: “It was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them, fifty men in a cave, and fed them with bread and water” (I Kings 18:4). The Gemara asks: What is different, i.e., why did he decide, to conceal fifty men in each of two caves and not conceal them all together in one cave? Rabbi Elazar says: He learned from the behavior of Jacob to do so, as it is stated: “And he said: If Esau comes to the one camp and smites it, then the camp that is left shall escape” (Genesis 32:9). Obadiah learned from this to divide the prophets and thereby lessen the danger. Rabbi Abbahu says: It is because there is no cave big enough to contain more than fifty people. The verse states: “The vision of Obadiah. So says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a message from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the nations: Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle” (Obadiah 1:1). The Gemara asks: What is different, i.e., what is the reason, that specifically Obadiah prophesied concerning Edom? Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Let Obadiah come, who dwells among two wicked ones, Ahab and Jezebel, but did not learn from their actions; and he will prophesy concerning Esau the wicked, the progenitor of Edom, who dwelled among two righteous ones, Isaac and Rebekkah, but did not learn from their actions. Efrayim Miksha’a, a student of Rabbi Meir, said in the name of Rabbi Meir: Obadiah was an Edomite convert. Consequently, he prophesied with regard to Edom. And this is as people say: From and within the forest comes the ax to it, as the handle for the ax that chops the tree is from the forest itself. The verse states concerning King David: “And he smote Moab and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground and he measured two lines to put to death” (II Samuel 8:2). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: This is as people say: From and within the forest comes the ax to it, as King David was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite. When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael he stated something similar to this: A thigh rots from within, i.e., when a piece of meat rots, the rotting begins from the inner part of it. Here too, the punishment is administered by one descended from that very nation. § The Gemara cites a verse concerning the king of Moab: “Then he took his eldest son, who should have reigned in his stead, and sacrificed 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” (II Kings 3:27). Rav and Shmuel engage in a dispute concerning this. One says: The king sacrificed his son for the sake of Heaven, and one says: The king sacrificed his son for the sake of idol worship. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who says that he sacrificed him for the sake of Heaven, this is as it is written: “And there was great indignation against Israel,” as the gentile attempted to honor God according to his understanding, while the Jewish people were straying from worshipping God, leading to God’s anger against them. But according to the one who says that he sacrificed him for the sake of idol worship, why would the verse state: “And there was…indignation”? The Gemara answers: This can be understood in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. As Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi raises a contradiction: It is written concerning the Jewish people: “You have not walked in My statutes, neither have you kept My ordinances; nor have you done according to the statutes of the nations that are round about you” (Ezekiel 5:7), and it is also written: “You have done according to the statutes of the nations that are round about you” (Ezekiel 11:12). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi explains: You did not act like the proper ones among the nations, but you did act like the flawed ones among them. Here as well, the Jewish people learned from the king of Moab to engage in human sacrifice. The Gemara discusses the end of that verse: “And they departed from him and returned to their own land [la’aretz]” (II Kings 3:27). Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa says: At that time the enemies of the Jewish people, a euphemism for the Jewish people themselves, descended to the lowest level. He interprets “la’aretz” to mean: To the earth, teaching that the Jewish people were as low as the dust of the earth. The chapter closes with the explication of a verse stated with regard to Abishag, who attended King David before his death: “And the damsel was very fair [yafa ad me’od ]” (I Kings 1:4). Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa says: She still did not reach half the beauty of Sarah, as it is written: “Ad me’od,” which can be translated as “up to very fair,” but not including the praise of “very fair.” By contrast, it is written concerning Sarah: “She was very fair” (Genesis 12:14).

ויקח את בנו הבכור אשר ימלך תחתיו ויעלהו עולה על החומה רב ושמואל חד אמר לשם שמים וחד אמר לשם ע״ז בשלמא למאן דאמר לשם שמים היינו דכתיב {מלכים ב ג׳:כ״ז} ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל אלא למאן דאמר לשם ע״ז אמאי ויהי קצף כדר׳ יהושע בן לוי דריב״ל רמי כתיב {יחזקאל ה׳:ז׳} וכמשפטי הגוים אשר סביבותיכם לא עשיתם וכתיב {יחזקאל י״א:י״ב} וכמשפטי הגוים אשר סביבותיכם עשיתם כמתוקנין שבהם לא עשיתם כמקולקלין שבהם עשיתם

R. Hai Gaon, Responsaרב האי גאון, תשובות לבני קאבס, עמ׳ 153

ושאלת: בן מי היה הילד אשר בגללו היה הקצף על ישראל מהמעשה אשר עשה מלך מואב. ...מלך יהודה ומלך ישראל כאשר נקהלו על מלך מואב, לא יכלו לו, עד אשר נתחבר אליהם מלך אדום. קצף מלך מואב על מלך אדום וייסר אותו, מפני שעזר לישראל ויהודה...ויקשה בעיניו, כי נלוה מלך אדום אליהם והוא זר להם והיה... מלך אדום חזק יותר, וכאשר לא יכול לו – ויש אומרים כי בן מלך אדום שהיה עומד למלוך תחת אביו היה ערבון אצל מלך מואב, כי כן יהיו בני המלכים לערבון בידי המלכים אשר כערכם – וישרוף אותו מלך מואב לעין השמש לסיד, להעציב את מלך אדום ולהעציב גם את ישראל כי קרה כדבר הזה למי שהלך אתם ועזר להם, וזה הוא מה שאמר הכתוב "וירא מלך מואב כי חזק ממנו המלחמה, ויקח אתו שבע מאות איש שולף חרב להבקיע אל מלך אדום ולא יכלו, ויקח את בנו הבכור אשר ימלוך תחתיו" וגו'. ומה שנאמר "ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל" אין זה מאת הא-להים, ואל יפרשוהו המפרשים 'כעס', אלא יפרשוהו 'רעה גדולה', כי רע הדבר הזה בעיני ישראל מאד. ודע, כי האומות אשר מנה אותם עמוס, באמרו (עמוס א') "על שלשה פשעי דמשק", "על שלשה פשעי עזה", צור ושאר האומות, לא מנה להם אלא הרעות שהרעו לישראל. ומה שנאמר באדום, אין הכוונה אלא למה שהדאיב את ישראל.

Rashi Melakhim II 3:27רש״י מלכים ב׳ ג׳:כ״ז

ויקח את בנו הבכור – בפסיקתא דפרשת שקלים נדרש: ששאל את עבדיו מה טיבה של אומה זו שנעשה להם נסים כאלה, אמרו לו: אביהם אברהם בן יחיד היה לו, אמר לו הקב״ה הקריבהו לפני, ורצה להקריבו להקב״ה, אמר להם: אף אני בן בכור יש לי, אלך ואקריבנו לעבודה זרה. על החמה – חסר וא״ו, שהיה עובד לחמה. ויהי קצף גדול – שנזכרו עונותיהם, שאף הם עובדין לעבודה זרה, ואינן ראויין לנס.

Rashi Sanhedrin 39bרש״י סנהדרין ל״ט:

כמתוקנים שבהם לא עשיתם – כמו עגלון מלך מואב שהיה מכבד את השם כשאמר לו אהוד דבר אלהים לי אליך המלך מיד ויקם מעל הכסא (שופטים ג). כמקולקלין שבהם – כגון מישע מלך מואב שהקריב בנו לע״ז כך היו ישראל עושין ובאותה שעה נזכר להם אותו עון שהיו רגילים גם הם בו.

R. Yosef Kara Melakhim II 3:27ר׳ יוסף קרא מלכים ב׳ ג׳:כ״ז

ויקח את בנו הבכור אשר ימלך תחתיו ויעלהו עלה – מלך אדום הניח בנו בערבון ביד מלך מואב שלא יפשע בו כיון שראה מלך מואב שעלה עליו מלך אדום לעזור את ישראל להלחם בו לקח מלך מואב את בנו של מלך אדום שעתיד למלוך תחתיו והעלהו עולה על החומה כדי שיראהו מלך אדום. ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל – מלך אדום קצף על ישראל שאיבד את בנו בשבילם.

Radak Melakhim II 3:27רד״ק מלכים ב׳ ג׳:כ״ז

ויקח את בנו הבכור – פי׳ אדוני אבי ז״ל כי בן מלך אדום הראוי למלוך תחתיו היה ברשות מלך מואב ומפני זה בא עם שני המלכים כי חשב להוציא בעזרתם בנו מתחת יד מלך מואב וכשחשב מלך מואב להבקיע אל מלך אדום ולא יכול לקח בקצפו את בן מלך אדום והעלהו על החומה ושרפו לעיני אביו זהו ויעלהו עולה ששרפו כמו ששורפין העולה. ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל – ממלך אדום כי חשב כי בעזרתם יוציא בנו מתחת יד מלך מואב וזהו שאמר הכתוב על שרפו את עצמות מלך אדום לשיד. ורבי אחי ר׳ משה ז״ל פי׳ כי כאשר חשב להבקיע מלך מואב אל מלך אדום אז לקח בנו באותה המלחמה חטפו מהם והעלהו על החומה ושרפו לעיני אביו ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל ממלך אדום שלא עזרהו להצילו מידם. ובדרש ויעלהו עולה שאל מלך מואב מפני מה אומה זו ראויה לנסים האלה אמרו לו אברהם אביהם העלה את בנו עולה אמר להם אף אני אעשה כן והעלה את בנו עולה וחלקו בדבר זה מהם אמרו לשם שמים העלה אותו וזה שאמר ויהי קצף גדול על ישראל שנתקצף הקדוש ברוך הוא עליהם כי מלך מואב לא חמל על בנו כשחשב לעשות בו רצון האל וישראל היו מקציפים אותו בכל יום והוא חשב לעשות רצון האל ואינו כמו שאמרו אשר לא צויתי זה יפתח שהעלה את בתו ולא עלתה על לבי זה מישע מלך מואב שהעלה את בנו מהם אמרו כי לע״ג העלה ומפני זה חסר וי״ו החמה כי היה עובד לחמה והעלה את בנו לחמה ומה שאמר ויהי קצף גדול שנזכרו עונותיהן של ישראל באותה שעה שגם הם היו שורפים את בניהם לע״ג ולאשרה ואמר הכתוב וכמשפטי הגוים לא עשיתם ואמרו רז״ל כמתוקנים שבהם לא עשיתם כמקולקלים שבהם עשיתם. וישבו לארץ – כל אחד מהמלכים שב לארצו, ובדרש באותה שעה ירדו ישראל למדרגה התחתונה. וישבו – כתיב חסר כלומר ישבו לארץ כמו וישבו אתו לארץ.

Malbim Melakhim II 3:26מלבי״ם מלכים ב׳ ג׳:כ״ו

השאלות: למה היה קצף על ישראל על שהעלה מלך מואב את בנו על החומה מה חטאו ישראל בזה? וראה מלך מואב שהיה בפנים כי לא יוכל לנצח מן החומה כי חזק המלחמה ושיכבשו החומה ולכן לקח ושלף חרב (כי מן החומה לחמו בחצים וקשת) ורצה להבקיע אל מלך אדום שמלך אדום ומחנהו עמד בצד אחד והיה חלוש נגדו ורצה להבקיע לתפוס את המלך עצמו ולא יכלו לתפשו רק תפסו בנו הבכור, ולקחהו ויעלהו וישרפהו על החומה לנקום ממלך אדום (ועל זה אמר על שלשה פשעי מואב וכו׳ על שרפו עצמות מלך אדום לסיד) ומזה נתעורר קצף ממחנה אדום על ישראל, שחרה להם שישראל לא עזרוהו בעת נבקעו מן החומה ולחמו נגדו שהניחוהו ללחום לבדו, ועל ידי כן לא נסעו מעליו כי נעשה קצף בין שלשת המלכים זה לפי הפשט, ודברי חכמינו זכרונם לברכה ידועים.