Dictionary Article

1. King of Moab in the ninth century BC whose name is derived from a root meaning “to save or deliver.” According to 2 Kings 3:4-5, Mesha was a sheep breeder who paid heavy tribute to Israel during the time of Ahab but rebelled after Ahab’s death (2 Kgs 1:1). Later, Jehoram the son of Ahab joined with Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom in an attempt to reestablish hegemony over Moab. When the battle went against the Moabites, Mesha took his eldest son and offered him as a human sacrifice upon the wall of the city to the Moabite god Chemosh (3:27).

Show passage in OET: KI2 3:4–5

OET-RV KI2 3:4

4 Now Moav’s (Moab) King Meysha was a sheep breeder, and he would pay an annual tribute to Yisrael’s king of a hundred thousand young rams, plus the wool of a hundred thousand rams.

OET-RV KI2 3:5

5 However, after King Ahav died, Moav’s king rebelled against Yisrael’s control over them.

OET-LV KI2 3:4

4 And_Mēyshaˊ the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ he _was a _sheep-breeder and_he _returned to_the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) one _hundred thousand lambs and_one _hundred thousand rams wool.

OET-LV KI2 3:5

5 And_he/it _was just_as _died _of ʼAḩʼāⱱ and_ the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ _he _rebelled against_the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: KI2 1:1

OET-RV KI2 1:1

1 ⇔After the death of Yisrael’s (Israel) King Ahav, Moav (Moab) rebelled against Yisrael.

OET-LV KI2 1:1

1 And_ Mōʼāⱱ _it _rebelled against_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) after the _death _of ʼAḩʼāⱱ.

Show passage in OET: KI2 3:27

OET-RV KI2 3:27

27 So he took his oldest son (who would have become the next king) and sacrificed him publicly on top of the city wall. This made their people crazy furious against Yisrael (Israel), so they left and returned home.

OET-LV KI2 3:27

27 And_he/it _took DOM his/its_son the_firstborn who he _will _reign in_place _of _him and_he_offered _him _up a _burnt _offering on the_wall and_ severe _anger great _he/it _was towards Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_they _set _out from_on_him and_they _returned to_land.

Jump to OET KI2 3:4–5 section.

Jump to OET KI2 1:1 section.

Jump to OET KI2 3:27 section.

2. Caleb’s son and the father of Ziph (1 Chr 2:42). In the Greek text the latter part of this verse appears to say that Mesha was the father of Hebron, though the Hebrew text here substitutes the name Mareshah for Mesha. The rsv (following the Septuagint) reads Mareshah in both places. See Mareshah (Person) #1.

Show passage in OET: CH1 2:42

OET-RV CH1 2:42

42 The oldest son of Yerahme’el’s brother Kalev (Caleb) was Meysha. Meysha was the father of Zif, and Zif was the father of Mareshah. Mareshah was the father of Hevron.

OET-LV CH1 2:42

42 And_the _sons of _Kālēⱱ/(Caleb) the _brother _of Yəraḩmə^ʼēl/(Jerahmeel) were_Mesha his/its_firstborn he was_the _father _of Zīf and_the _sons of _Marʼēshāh were_the _father _of Ḩeⱱrōn.

Jump to OET CH1 2:42 section.

3. Benjamite and one of the sons of Shaharaim born by Hodesh in the land of Moab (1 Chr 8:9).

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary