Who was Mesha in the Bible?

King living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Mesha, as mentioned in 2 Kings 3:4, was a king of Moab living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. Moab was a neighboring nation to Israel and Judah, located east of the Dead Sea. Mesha’s story is recorded in the Bible in the context of a military conflict between Moab and the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom.

From a biblical perspective, Mesha is portrayed as a historical figure who played a role in the biblical narrative. The Bible does not provide extensive details about Mesha outside of this specific event, but his mention serves to highlight the geopolitical dynamics of the region during that time.

The account in 2 Kings 3:4 mentions Mesha in the context of a tribute that he paid to the king of Israel. This tribute consisted of a large number of sheep and wool of 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. However, after the death of Ahab, king of Israel, Mesha rebelled against the king of Israel, leading to a military campaign by the coalition of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab.

The Bible does not provide a comprehensive biography of Mesha, but his mention underscores the historical interactions between the nations in the ancient Near East during the Divided Monarchy period. The biblical account of Mesha serves to demonstrate the political alliances, conflicts, and power struggles that characterized the region at that time.

In conclusion, Mesha, as recorded in 2 Kings 3:4, was a king of Moab during the Divided Monarchy period, known for his tribute to the king of Israel and subsequent rebellion. His story, while brief in the biblical narrative, sheds light on the historical context of the time and the interactions between neighboring nations.