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.).
 Mesha, burden; salvation