Mesha in Easton's Bible Dictionary
middle district, Vulgate, Messa. (1.) A plain in that part
of
the boundaries of Arabia inhabited by the
descendants of Joktan
(Gen. 10:30).
(2.) Heb. meysh'a, "deliverance," the eldest son of
Caleb (1
Chr. 2:42), and brother of Jerahmeel.
(3.) Heb. id, a king of Moab, the son of Chemosh-
Gad, a man of
great wealth in flocks and herds (2 Kings 3:4).
After the death
of Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, Mesha shook off the yoke
of Israel;
but on the ascension of Jehoram to the throne of
Israel, that
king sought the help of Jehoshaphat in an attempt to
reduce the
Moabites again to their former condition. The united
armies of
the two kings came unexpectedly on the army of the
Moabites, and
gained over them an easy victory. The whole land was
devastated
by the conquering armies, and Mesha sought refuge in
his last
stronghold, Kir-harasheth (q.v.). Reduced to
despair, he
ascended the wall of the city, and there, in the
sight of the
allied armies, offered his first-born son a
sacrifice to
Chemosh, the fire-god of the Moabites. This fearful
spectacle
filled the beholders with horror, and they retired
from before
the besieged city, and recrossed the Jordan laden
with spoil (2
Kings 3:25-27).
The exploits of Mesha are recorded in the Phoenician
inscription on a block of black basalt found at
Dibon, in Moab,
usually called the "Moabite stone" (q.v.).
Read More about Mesha in Easton's Bible Dictionary
