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"And I erected this stone to Chemosh at Kirtsha, a (stone of) salvation."
Here then is king Mesha's Ebenezer reared in gratitude to his god Chemosh. Does
Mesha's action rebuke our lack of gratitude?
JEHOVAH.--The name of the God of Israel is engraven on this stone and presents the
most ancient written example of the Hebrew word Jehovah yet discovered. The sacred
name is spelt exactly the same as it is found in the Hebrew Old Testament. The higher
criticism finds the spade of the excavator a remarkably powerful opponent.
MOAB.--The origin of Moab is recorded in Gen. 19: 37, and has been treated, like
much else in that book, by so called Higher Criticism as a "myth." The Moabite Stone
testifies to the fact that the Moabites spoke the same language and wrote with the same
characters.
The whole record reads like a chapter from the Old Testament, and "the language of
Moab differed less from that of the Israelites than does one English dialect from another."
TRANSLATION.--There have been some who, in their attacks upon the inspired
Word, have said that the Hebrew was originally written without any break between the
words, and therefore we are not certain that the division that is now accepted is true. We
know that the Greek originals had no separation between the words, and this has never
been a problem, except to the unlearned. The Moabite Stone, however, disposes of this
weak attack, for it contains a careful system of pointing. Each word is separated by a dot,
and each sentence by upright lines, as follows:--
I.MESHA.SON.OF.CHEMOSH-MELECH.KING.OF.MOAB.THE.DIBONITE |
MY.FATHER.REIGNED.OVER.MOAB.THIRTY.YEARS.AND.I.REIGNED.A
FTER.MY.FATHER | etc.
Israel, speaking a similar tongue and using a similar writing, would not be ignorant of
this system, nor fail to avail themselves of it, if indeed Moab did not take it with his
language from Israel.
IDOLATRY.--Chemosh is referred to as the God of Moab, but Ashtor-Chemosh and
Moloch also are mentioned. Seven thousand men, women and female slaves were killed
or devoted to Ashtor-Chemosh.
"The Arels (lion-like men?) were torn before Chemosh."
These words indicate the condition of the people who were closely akin to Israel, and
whose ways were continually having their dire effect upon them.
HISTORY.--Omri is spoken of as being king of Israel, and in his days Moab was
oppressed.