Mesha (II)

II. MESHA, or Mesa, King of the 2 Kings iii. 4.Moabites. He fed a great Number of Flocks, and paid the King of Israel an hundred Thousand Lambs, and as many Rams, with their Fleeces. After the Death of Ahab, he revolted against Jehoram King of Israel¹, who therefore declared War against him. He called to his Assistance Jehoshaphat King of Judah, who brought with him also the King of Idumea, then in Subjection to him. These three Kings marched against Mesha, beat him, and forced him to retire to his Capital, which was Areopolis. Here they besieged him, and shut him up so close, that not being able to escape through the Camp of the Idumæans, which he thought the weakest; he took his own Son, the presumptive Heir to his Crown, brought him upon the Wall of the City, and was going to sacrifice him. But the Kings of Judah, Israel and Edom, seeing this, retired without taking the Town, and contented themselves with making a great Spoil in the Land of Moab. See JEHORAM and JEHOSHAPHAT.

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