We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

King Mesha of Moab

Figure Analysis

This guy leads a revolt against Israel and Judah, re-establishing his dominance over Moab, which had been conquered earlier by Omri. He makes good headway at first, but ultimately provokes the Israelites to destroy his kingdom—almost the point of annihilation.

However, when he sacrifices his first-born son to the god Chemosh, it somehow repels the Israelite invasion. Some sort of "wrath" falls on the Israelites and they leave. The Biblical narrators probably considered this to be a kind of repugnance at the actions of Mesha, rather than the actual wrath of Chemosh (who in their view, probably wasn't real).