Mesha 1.
King of Moab. I (See tid=996 on his victorious campaign against Israel, and confirmation of Scripture.) Revolted at Ahab's death (2 Kings 1:1; 2 Kings 3:4-5). Being "sheepmasters" the Moabites had rendered tribute to Israel ever since David's days (2 Samuel 8:2) in flocks, 100,000 lambs, and 100,000 rams with the wool. Isaiah (Isaiah 16:1) counsels Moab to resume payment, "send the lamb to the ruler ... from Sela unto ... Zion." I (See tid=1971, JEHOSHAPHAT, ELISHA, ENGEDI, CHEMOSH, on the confederacy against Mesha and the superstitions indignation raised against Israel because of their reducing him to such desperation that he sacrificed his own son (Micah 6:7), so that the allies departed to their own land.)
2.Firstborn of Jerahmeel's brother Caleb; father, i.e. founder, of Ziph (1 Chronicles 2:42).
3.A descendant of Benjamin, born in Moab, son of Shaharaim and Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:8-9). 1 Chronicles 8:4. Joktan's descendants "dwelt from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the East." The western port of Arabia; Muss (Bothart), Mesene ("a fluviatile island") at the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates, near Bassora (Gesenius) (Genesis 10:30); Beishe in the N. of Yemen (Knobel).