Moabite
Stone
I
am Mesha, son of Kemoshmelek, the king of Moab, the Dibonite. My
father was king over Moab for thirty years, and I became king after my
father.
And
I made this high place for Kemosh in Qarhar . . . because of the
deliverance of Mesha, and because he has saved me from all the kings and
because he caused me to see [my desire] upon all who hated me. Omri,
king of Israel -- he oppressed Moab many days, because Chemosh was angry
with his land.
And
his son succeeded him, and he also said I will oppress Moab. In my day
he spoke according to this word, but I saw my desire upon him and upon
his house, and Israel utterly perished forever.
Now
Omri had possessed all the land of Medeba and dwelt in it his days and
half the days of his son, forty years, but Chemosh restored it in my
day. And I built Baal-meon and I made in it the reservoir and I built
Kiryathaim. And the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from
ofold and the king of Israel had built for himself Ataroth. And I foutht
against the city and took it, and I slew all the people of the city, a
sight pleasing to Chemosh and to Moab.
And
I brought back from there the altar-hearth of Duda and I dragged it
before Chemosh in Kiryoth. And I caused to dwell in it the men of Sharon
and the men of Meharoth (?).
And
Chemosh said to me: "Go take Nebo against Israel"; and I went
by night and fought against it from break of dawn till noon, and I took
it and slew all, seven thousand men, boys (?), and women, and girls, for
I had devoted it to Ashtar-Chemosh.
And
I took from there the altar-hearths of Yahweh, and I dragged them before
Chemosh. And the king of Israel built Jabaz and dwelt in it while
he fought with me and Chemosh drove him out from before me. And I took
from Moab two hundred men, all its chiefs, and I led them against Jahaz
and took it to add unto Dibon.
And
I built Qarhar (?), the wall of the forests and the wall of the hill;
and I built its gates and I built its towers, and I built the kings
house, and I made the sluices (?) for the reservoir of water in the
midst of the city.
And
there was no cistern in the midst of the city, in Qarhar (?); and I said
to all the people: "Make you each a cistern in his house;" and
I cut the cuttings for Qarhar (?) with the help of the prisoners of
Israel. I built Aroer and I made the highway by the Arnon. And I built
Beth-bamoth, for it had been destroyed. And I built Bezer, for it was in
ruins....(Chi) of Dibon wer fifty, for all Dibon was obedient. And I
ruled. And I ruled a hundred....in the cities which I had added to the
land. And I built [Mede]ba dnd Beth-diblathan. And [as for] Beth-baal-meon,
there I placed sheep-raisers....sheep of the land... And [as for]
Horonaim there dwelt in it....and.....Chemosh said unto me: "Go
down, fight against Horonaim," and I went down and....Chemosh in my
day, and from there.....and I.......
Source:
George A Barton, Archaeology and the Bible, Seventh Edition, p. 460-461 [SOURCE]
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