{"id":15209,"date":"2016-08-18T01:47:44","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T06:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/meshaking-of-moab\/"},"modified":"2016-08-18T01:47:44","modified_gmt":"2016-08-18T06:47:44","slug":"meshaking-of-moab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/meshaking-of-moab\/","title":{"rendered":"MESHA,\nKING OF MOAB"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'><b>Bryant G. Wood<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>Background of the Inscription<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>\u201cI am Mesha, son Chemosh[\u00eet], king of Moab, the Dibonite.\u201d1 So begins one of the most extraordinary ancient documents ever found. (For the unusual circumstances surrounding its discovery, see <i>Archaeology and Biblical Research<\/i>, Winter 1991: 2\u20133). Mesha was ruler of the small kingdom of Moab, east of the Dead Sea, in the mid-ninth century BC. He was a contemporary of Jehoshaphat, king of the southern kingdom of Judah (870\u2013848 BC), and Joram, king of the northern kingdom of Israel (852\u2013841 BC). Everything we know about Mesha from the Bible is recorded in 2 Kings 3. But we know a lot more about him from a record he left us, referred to as the Mesha Inscription, or Moabite Stone. It was discovered in Dhiban, Jordan, in 1868 by a French Anglican medical missionary by the name of F.A. Klein.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Both documents, 2 Kings 3 and the Mesha Inscription, describe the same event, the revolt of Mesha, but from entirely different perspectives. Mesha made his record of the event on a stone slab, or stela, 3 ft high and 2 ft wide. Unfortunately the stone was broken into pieces by the local Bedouin before it could be acquired by the authorities. About two-thirds of the pieces were recovered and those, along with an impression made before the stela was destroyed, allowed all but the last line to be reconstructed. There are a total of 34 lines, written in Moabite, a language almost identical to Hebrew. It <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 56<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>The Mesha inscription, now in the Louvre in Paris.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>is the longest monumental inscription yet found in Palestine.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The heartland of Moab was the territory east of the southern half of the Dead Sea, from the great Arnon Gorge in the north to the Zered River in the south. North of the Arnon River, to about the northern end of the Dead Sea, was a disputed area called the \u201cland of Medeba\u201d in the Mesha Inscription (line 8). Medeba was a major city in the region some 18 mi north of the Arnon. The area was sometimes under the control of Moab, sometimes under the control of others. At the time of the Conquest at the end of the 15th century BC, the region was occupied by the Amorites, who had earlier taken it from the Moabites (Nm 21:26). The Israelites then captured the area (Nm 21:24; Dt 2:24, 36; 3:8, 16), with the tribe of Reuben taking possession (Jos 13:16). The area seesawed back and forth for the next several centuries, passing to the Moabites (Jgs 3:12), Israelites (Jgs 3:30), Ammonites (Jgs 11:13, 32\u201333), and back to Israel (Jgs 11:32\u201333). In the mid-ninth century BC, Mesha was successful in throwing off the yoke of Israel and bringing the area once again under the authority of Moab (1 Kgs 3:5; Mesha Inscription).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>2 Kings 3 recounts how Joram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom combined forces to attempt to bring Moab back under Israelite control. They attacked from the south and were successful in routing the Moabite forces and destroying many towns (2 Kgs 3:24\u201325). But when the coalition tried to dislodge Mesha from Kir Hareseth (modern Kerak), they were unsuccessful. After Mesha sacrificed his oldest son on the ramparts of the city, \u201cthe fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 57<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>Kerak, ancient Kir Hareseth, where Mesha sought refuge <br \/> when the forces of Judah and Israel come against him.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>their own land\u201d (2 Kgs 3:27). The campaign must have taken place between 848 and 841 BC, the only time when Joram and Jehoshaphat were both on the throne. Although the campaign met with some success, it appears that Moab retained its independence. This is confirmed by the Mesha Inscription.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The Mesha Inscription gives us \u201cthe rest of the story.\u201d It reads, in fact, like a chapter from the Old Testament. Its language, terminology and phraseology are exactly the same as what we find in the Bible. Mesha credits his successful revolt and recapture of Moabite territory, as well as other accomplishments, to Chemosh, national god of Moab. He does not, of course, record his defeat in the south at the hands of the coalition armies. Similarly, although the Bible records Mesha\u2019s revolt, it gives no details on his successes. So each record, accurate in its own way, records events from a different perspective.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>Chronology of the Revolt of Mesha<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The main problem in correlating the Mesha Inscription with the Bible has to do with synchronizing the chronology of the two sources. 2 Kings 3:5 (cf. 1:1) simply states, \u201cBut after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.\u201d Ahab, father of Joram, died in ca. 853 BC, so Mesha\u2019s revolt must have taken place some time after 853 BC. According to the Mesha Inscription,<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>Omri had taken possession of the land of Medeba. And he dwelt in it in his days and half2 the days of his son3 : 40 years; but Chemosh restored it in my days (lines 7\u20139).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The Mesha Inscription not only <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 58<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>mentions Mesha, king of Moab, known in the Bible, but also Omri, one of the most powerful kings of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kgs 16:21\u201328), who ruled 885\u2013873 BC.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Omri established a dynasty which lasted until his grandson Joram was assassinated by Jehu in 841 BC. The term \u201cson\u201d in the inscription simply means descendent, as we know from the Bible and other ancient Near Eastern texts. Adding the years of Omri (12, 1 Kgs 16:23), the years of his son Ahab (22, 1 Kgs 16:29), the years of Ahab\u2019s son Ahaziah (2, 1 Kgs 22:52) and half the years of Joram, brother of Ahaziah, (6, 2 Kgs 3:1), we obtain a span of 42 years. Some of the reigns of these kings could be common years, making the true span 40 years, or, the 40 year figure simply could be a round number. Thiele gives absolute years for the period from the beginning of the reign of Omri to the sixth year of Joram as 885 to 846 BC, or 40 years (1983:217). Thus, it appears that Mesha revolted in the sixth year of Joram, ca. 846 BC. The Bible indicates that the retaliation by Joram recorded in 2 Kings 3 took place immediately upon Mesha\u2019s revolt (verses 5\u20137), or 846 BC. This date falls within the time period of 848\u2013841 BC when both Joram and Jehoshaphat were ruling.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>The Gods of Israel and Moab<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>In describing his victories over Israel, Mesha tells of defeating the town of Nebo. Among the spoils he acquired were the \u201caltar-hearths? of <i>Yahweh<\/i>\u201d (lines 17\u201318). This is the earliest mention of <i>Yahweh<\/i>, God of the Israelites, outside the Bible.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The Bible records the names of many deities worshipped by the nations around Israel. One of those gods is Chemosh. He is mentioned eight times in the Old Testament (Nu 21:29; Jgs 11:24; 1 Kgs 11:7, 33; 2 Kgs 23:13; Jer 48:7, 13, 46), always (with the exception of Jgs 11:24) as the national god of the Moabites. The Mesha Inscription verifies that this indeed was the case. Chemosh is mentioned some 11 times in the inscription:<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mesha made a high place for Chemosh, since Chemosh gave Mesha victory over his enemies (line 3)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because Chemosh was angry with Moab, Omri oppressed Moab (line 5)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chemosh gave Moab back her territory (line 9)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mesha slew the people of Ata-roth to satisfy Chemosh (lines 11\u201312)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mesha dragg-ed the altar-hearth(?) of Ataroth before Chemosh (lines 12\u201313)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chemosh directed Mesha to attack the town of Nebo (line 14)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mesha devoted the inhabitants of Nebo to Chemosh (line 17)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The altar-hearths(?) of <i>Yahweh<\/i> from Nebo were dragged before Chemosh (lines 17\u201318)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chemosh drove the king of Israel out of Jahaz (lines 18\u201319)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chemosh directed Mesha to fight against Horanaim (line 32)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chemosh gave Mesha victory over Horanaim (line 33)<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>The Cities of Northern Moab<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Most of the inscription is taken up with Mesha\u2019s success in regaining the land of Medeba, the disputed territory north of the Arnon Gorge. He claims to have added 100 towns to his territory <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 59<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>by means of his faithful army from Dibon:<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>[And] the men of Dibon were <i>fitted out for war<\/i> because all Dibon was obedient. And I ruled [<i>over a<\/i>] hundred of towns that I added to the land (lines 28\u201329).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Some 12 towns in the land of Medeba are mentioned, all of them known from the Old Testament.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cI am Mesha. .. the Dibonite\u201d (line 1)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Later on in the inscription he says,<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>I built Qerih\u00f4: the wall of the parkland and the wall of the acropolis; and I built its gates, and I built its towers; and I built the king\u2019s house; and I made banks for the water reservoir inside the town; and there was no cistern inside the town, in Qerih\u00f4, and I said to all the people: \u201cMake yourself each a cistern in his house\u201d; and I dug the <i>ditches<\/i> for Qerih\u00f4 with prisoners of Israel (lines 21\u201326).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Since Mesha erected his stela to honor Chemosh in \u201cthis high place for Chemosh in Qerih\u00f4,\u201d and since the stela was found at Dhiban, identified as ancient Dibon, most scholars beieve that Qerih\u00f4 was the name of the royal citadel at Dibon. Note that Israelite captives were used to cut the timber used to construct Qerih\u00f4.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Dibon was captured from the Amorites by Israel (Nm 21:21\u201325, 31) and assigned to the tribe of Reuben (Jos 13:17). But evidently it was reassigned to the tribe of Gad, since Gad built the city (Nu 32:34) and it was called \u201cDibon of Gad\u201d (Nu 33:45, 46). The site of Dhiban was excavated 1950\u20131956 and 1965. A city wall and gateway were found, as well as a large podium which the excavators believe supported the royal quarter constructed by Mesha. In addition, a text from around the time of Mesha was found which refers to the \u201ctemple of Che[mosh],\u201d and nearly 100 cisterns were found on the site and in the surrounding area, possibly made in response <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>Bedouin tents at Dhibon, ancient Dibon.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 60<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>to Mesha\u2019s directive to \u201cmake yourself each a cistern in his house\u201d (lines 24\u201325).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>In his prophecy against Moab, Isaiah states, \u201cDibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep\u201d (15:2, NIV). Jeremiah predicted that the fortified cities of Dibon would be ruined (48:18; cf. 48:21\u201322).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I built Baal Meon, and made a reservoir in it\u201d (line 9)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Baal Meon was allotted to the Reubenites (Jos 13:17, where it is called Beth Baal Meon), and built by them (Nm 32:38). An eighth century BC ostracon from Samaria (no. 27) contains a reference to \u201cBaala the Baalmeonite.\u201d Jeremiah predicted that the judgment of God would come upon the city (48:23, where it is called Beth Meon). Ezekiel said God would expose the flank of Moab, beginning with its frontier towns, including Baal Meon (25:9). It is thought to be located at Kh. Ma\u2019in, 5 mi southwest of modern Madaba, which has not been excavated.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Toward the end of the inscription, Baal Meon is mentioned again when Mesha records,<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>And I built. .. the temple of Baal Meon; and I established there [&#8230;] the sheep of the land\u201d (lines 29\u201331).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The reference to sheep is significant, as it reflects the main occupation of the people of Moab, in agreement with the Bible. 2 Kings 3:4 tells us,<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to supply the king of Israel with 100,000 lambs and with the wool of 100,000 rams.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I built Kiriathaim\u201d (lines 9\u201310)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Kiriathaim was another city allotted to the Reubenites and built by them (Jos 13:19; Nm 32:37). Jeremiah predicted that the city would be disgraced and captured (48:1), and Ezekiel said God would expose the flank of Moab, beginning with its frontier towns, including Kiriathaim (25:9). It is possibly located at al Qureiye, 6 minutes northwest of Madaba.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from of old\u201d (line 10)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Mesha devoted 3 1\/2 lines of his memorial to a description of his operation against Ataroth. Although mentioned only twice in the Old Testament, the city seems to have been an important place. The name means \u201ccrowns\u201d and was said by the Reubenites and Gadites to be a good place for livestock (Nm 32:3\u20134). The Gadites built up Ataroth as a fortified city, and built pens there for their flocks (Nm 32:34\u201336). This agrees with Mesha\u2019s inscription which says that the men of Gad had lived there \u201cfrom of old.\u201d Ataroth is most likely located at Kh. \u2018Attarus, unexcavated, 8 minutes northwest of Dhiban.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The entire section dealing with Ataroth reads as follows:<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>And the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from of old, and the king of Israel built Ataroth for himself, but I fought against the town and took it, and I slew all the people: the town belonged to Chemosh and to Moab. And I brought thence the altar-hearth of his Beloved, and I dragged it before Chemosh in Kerioth\/my town. And I settled in it the men of Sharon and the men of Maharath (lines 10\u201314).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 61<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I brought thence the altar-hearth of his Beloved, and I dragged it before Chemosh in Kerioth\/my town\u201d (lines 12\u201313)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Kerioth was judged by God (Jer 48:24), with the town being captured and its strongholds taken (Jer 48:41). Its location is uncertain. If \u201cmy town\u201d is the correct reading in line 13, then the text refers to Dibon, Mesha\u2019s capi-tal.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd Chemosh said to me: \u2018Go! Take Nebo against Israel\u2019\u201d (line 14)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Mesha\u2019s assault of Nebo is detailed in 4 1\/2 lines, the most of any of the cities mentioned in the stela. Nebo is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament, being one of the cities built by the tribe of Reuben (Nm 32:38). In his prophecy against Moab, Isaiah wrote that Moab would wail over Nebo (15:2, NIV). Similarly, Jeremiah said that judgment would come upon her and she would be laid waste (48:1, 22).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Mesha\u2019s nighttime foray against Nebo is reported as follows:<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>And Chemosh said to me: \u201cGo! Take Nebo against Israel.\u201d And I went by night and fought against it from break of dawn till noon. And I took it and slew all: 7,000 men, boys, women, girls, and pregnant women, because I had devoted it to Ashtar-Chemosh. And I took thence the <i>altar-hearths<\/i> of YHWH and I dragged them before Chemosh (lines 14\u201318).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>Text of the Mesha Inscription.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>It appears that there was a worship center for <i>Yahweh<\/i> at Nebo since among the spoils were \u201caltar hearths(?) of <i>Yahweh<\/i>.\u201d It is perhaps for this reason that Mesha devoted the inhabitants to his god(s) Ashtar-Chemosh. The word used for \u201cdevoted\u201d is the same as the <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 62<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>Hebrew word <i>harem<\/i> used in the Old Testa- ment for offering a city completely to <i>Yahweh,<\/i> such as Jericho (Jos 6:17, 21). Nebo is most likely Kh. al Muhaiyat, northwest of Madaba and just south of Mt. Nebo.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd the king of Israel had built Jahaz\u201d (lines 18\u201319)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Jahaz is the town where the Israelites fought and defeated Sihon and his Amorite army as they first approached the promised land (Nm 21:21\u201331; Dt 2:31\u201336; Jgs 11:19\u201322). It was included in the Reubenite allotment (Jos 13:18), and later transferred to the Levites (Jos 21:36; 1 Chr 6:78). Jeremiah predicted doom for the city as part of God\u2019s judgment against Moab (48:21, 34). Mesha goes on to say,<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>And the king of Israel had built Jahaz, and dwelt therein while he fought against me; but Chemosh drove him out from before me, and I took from Moab 200 men, all the <i>chiefs<\/i> thereof, and I <i>established<\/i> them in Jahaz; and I took it to add it to Dibon (lines 18\u201321).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Here, Mesha refers to a northern campaign by the king of Israel which is not recorded in the Old Testament. In order to achieve victory, Mesha had to marshal the best of his forces, 200 chiefs. Once captured, Jahaz became a daughter city of Dibon. The location of Jahaz is uncertain, although Kh. Medeineyeh 10 mi southeast of Madaba is a likely candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cI built Aroer, and made the highway through the Arnon\u201d (line 26)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The name Aroer means \u201ccrest of a mountain,\u201d and that certainly describes this site. It was a border fortress located at Kh. `Ara`ir on the northern rim of the Arnon river gorge. Three <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>View south across the Arnon gorge, the \u201cGrand Canyon\u201d of the Middle East.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 63<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>seasons of excavation were carried out there between 1964 and 1966. Remnants of the fortress constructed by the king of Israel were found, as well as a substantial new fortress constructed by Mesha over the earlier one. In addition, a reservoir to store rainwater was built on the northwest side of the fortress.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Aroer marked the southern boundary of the Transjordanian territory originally captured by the Israelites (Dt 2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Jos 12:2; 13:9, 16, 25). It was occupied and fortified by the Gadites (Nm 32:34). Later, the prophet Jeremiah said that the inhabitants of Aroer would witness fleeing refugees as God poured out His wrath on the cities of Moab (48:19\u201320).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cI built Beth Bamoth, for it was destroyed\u201d (line 27)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The Beth Bamoth of the Mesha Stela is most likely the same as the Bamoth Baal of the Old Testament. It was here that God met with Balaam (Nm 22:41\u201323:5); the town was later given to the tribe of Reuben (Jos 13:17). The location of the place is uncertain.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I built Bezer, for it was in ruins\u201d (line 27)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Under the Israelites, Bezer was a Levitical city and a city of refuge (Dt 4:43; Jos 20:8; 21:36; 1 Chr 6:78). It may be the same as Bozrah in Jer 48:24, a Moabite city judged by God. Its location is uncertain.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I built [the temple of Mede]ba\u201d (lines 29\u201330)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>The city of Medeba was conquered and occupied by Israel (Nu 21:30; Jos 13:9, 16). It suffered under the hand of God when He poured out His judgment on Moab (Is 15:2). The ancient site is located at modern Madaba, and remains unexcavated.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd I built. .. the temple of Diblaten\u201d (lines 29\u201330)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Diblaten is mentioned in Jeremiah\u2019s oracle against Moab as Beth Diblathaim (48:22) and is possibly the same as Almon Diblathaim, a stopping place for the Israelites as they approached the promised land (Nu 33:46\u201347). It is perhaps located at Deleitat esh-Sherqiyeh 10 mi north-northeast of Dhiban, but that location is far from certain.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:normal'><b>The House of David and Southern Moab<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b><i>\u201cAnd the house [of Da]vid dwelt in Horanaim (line 31)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Line 31 is perhaps the most significant line in the entire inscription. In 1993 a stela was discovered at Tel Dan in northern Israel mentioning the \u201cHouse of David\u201d (<i>Bible and Spade<\/i>, Autumn 1993: 119\u2013121). This midninth century BC inscription provided the first mention of David in a contemporary text outside the Bible. The find is especially significant since in recent years several scholars have questioned the existence of David. At about the same time the Dan stela was found, French scholar Andre Lemaire was working on the Mesha Inscription and determined that the same phrase appeared there in line 31 (<i>Bible and Spade<\/i>, Summer 1995: 91\u201392). Lemaire was able to identify a previously indistinguishable letter as a \u201cd\u201d in the phrase <\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:right; line-height:normal'><i>BSP<\/i> 9:2 (Spring 1996) p. 64<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'>\u201cHouse of David.\u201d This phrase is used a number of times in the Old Testament for the Davidic dynasty.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>From this point on in Mesha\u2019s record it appears that he is describing victories south of the Arnon river, an area previously controlled by Judah. Although there are only three lines left in the surviving portion, Lemaire believes we only have about half of the original memorial (1994: 37). The missing half would have told how Mesha regained the southern half of Moab from Judah. The complete text regarding Horanaim reads as follows:<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:normal'>And the <i>house[of Da]vid<\/i> dwelt in Horanaim [&#8230;] and Chemosh said to me: \u201cGo down! Fight against Horanaim.\u201d And I went down, and [<i>I fought against the town, and I took it; and<\/i>] Chemosh [resto]red it in my days (lines 31\u201333).<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;text-indent:18.0pt;line-height: normal'>Horanaim is mentioned in Isaiah\u2019s prophecy against Moab (15:5). He says that fugitives would lament their destruction as they travelled the road to Horanaim. Jeremiah says much the same in 48:3, 5, and 48. The town is located south of the Arnon, but exactly where is a matter of conjecture.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:normal'><b>References<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>Dearman, A., ed.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>1989 <i>Studies in the Mesha Inscription and Moab<\/i>. Atlanta: Scholars Press.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>Lemaire, A.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>1994 House of David Restored in Moabite Inscription. <i>Biblical Archaeology Review<\/i> 20\/3: 30\u201337.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>Thiele, E.R.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal'>1983 <i>The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings<\/i>. Grand Rapids MI: Zondervan.<\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'><b>Bible and Spade 9:3 (Summer 1996)<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bryant G. Wood Background of the Inscription \u201cI am Mesha, son Chemosh[\u00eet], king of Moab, the Dibonite.\u201d1 So begins one of the most extraordinary ancient documents ever found. (For the unusual circumstances surrounding its discovery, see Archaeology and Biblical Research, Winter 1991: 2\u20133). Mesha was ruler of the small kingdom of Moab, east of the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/meshaking-of-moab\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;MESHA,<br \/>\nKING OF MOAB&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15209\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}