The Definition of the word Mesha

Mesha

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.)."