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Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone)

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description Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone) Overview

The Mesha Stele, also known as the Moabite Stone, is a basalt slab inscribed with King Mesha’s account of his military campaigns in the 9th century BCE. This artifact provides invaluable insight into Moabite history and religion. It documents Mesha's conquests and notably includes one of the earliest known references to the Israelite deity Yahweh, offering a crucial perspective on interactions between the kingdoms of Israel and Moab. Scholars study it for its historical and religious significance, particularly concerning the early development of Judeo-Christian narratives.

help Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone) FAQ

What does the Mesha Stele say about Israel and Moab?

King Mesha says that Moab had been oppressed by Omri, king of Israel, before Mesha recovered towns and territory. The account presents those victories as the work of Chemosh, Moab's national god.

Does the Mesha Stele mention the same Mesha found in the Bible?

It is generally understood to concern King Mesha of Moab, who also appears in 2 Kings 3. The two accounts describe conflict involving Moab and Israel from opposing perspectives, so their emphases and sequence are not identical.

Why does the Moabite Stone look reconstructed?

The basalt monument was broken into pieces after its discovery at Dhiban in the 19th century. The Louvre display combines surviving fragments with reconstructed sections informed by a paper impression made before the stone was destroyed.

Where is the Mesha Stele now, and how much text survives?

The reconstructed stele is held by the Louvre's Department of Near Eastern Antiquities in Paris. Its Moabite inscription contains 34 surviving lines written in a script closely related to ancient Hebrew and Phoenician writing.

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