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.).

(freedom).

ME'SHA (deliverance). A king of Moab who refused to pay to Jehoram, king of Israel, the annual tribute which he had been accustomed to pay to his father Ahab. For this offence Jehoram determined to punish him; and calling to his aid Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and the king of the Edomites, he invaded the territory of Moab, signally defeated him, desolated the country, and at last the king and his army were closely besieged in a walled town. In this extremity Mesha attempted to cut his way through the enemy's ranks; but, failing in this, he made the horrible sacrifice of his eldest son to some idol-god, and it was done openly upon the wall, in sight of the camp of Israel, who, fearing to have incurred the anger of God by having given occasion to a human sacrifice, retreated to their own country. 2 Kgs 3:4-27. A most wonderful corroboration of the Scripture history is found in the famous Moabite Stone. See Dibon. A son of Caleb, and brother of Mareshah. 1 Chr 2:42. A Benjamite, son of Shaharaim. 1 Chr. 8:9.

ME'SHA (retreat), a place on the eastern border of the possessions of the Joktanites. Gen 10:30. Some regard it as Mesene or Meinan, at the mouth of the Pasitigris, where it empties into the Persian Gulf; others locate it in the Zomen range or Nej'd mountains of Arabia; and some place it in north-western Yunca, at Moosa, a port on the Red Sea. The first is the more probable location of Mesha.

burden; salvation

ME'SHA (retreat), a place on the eastern border of the possessions of the Joktanites. Gen 10:30. Some regard it as Mesene or Meinan, at the mouth of the Pasitigris, where it empties into the Persian Gulf; others locate it in the Zomen range or Nej'd mountains of Arabia; and some place it in north-western Yunca,

at Moosa, a port on the Red Sea. The first is the more probable location of Mesha.