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Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Vol. 32, No. 2, 139-162 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0309089207085880

King Mesha and the Tribe of Dibon

Eveline J. Van Der Steen

University of Liverpool, Department of Archaeology, Hartley Building, Brownlow Street, Liverpool L69 3GS, Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, Universiteit Gent, Sint-Pietersplein 6, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

Klaas A.D. Smelik

University of Liverpool, Department of Archaeology, Hartley Building, Brownlow Street, Liverpool L69 3GS, Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, Universiteit Gent, Sint-Pietersplein 6, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

The Mesha Inscription has attracted much attention and scholarly debate ever since its discovery. King Mesha of Moab, mentioned in the Bible, threw off the yoke of Omride supremacy and reigned from his capital of Dibon over a kingdom that extended both north and south of the Wadi Mujib (the river Arnon). The identification of modern-day Dhiban with Dibon has never been doubted. In this article, however, it is suggested that Dibon, mentioned in the inscription, was not Mesha's capital, but the tribe of which he was the leader. Mesha forged a tribal confederation into a tribal kingdom in Moab. The name of Mesha's capital was Carchoh, also mentioned in the inscription and located at present-day Dhiban. Biblical Kir-Hareseth is identified with this same Carchoh, and the heartland of Mesha's kingdom is north of the Wadi Mujib.

Key Words: Mesha • Moab • Dibon • Kir-Hareseth • Carchoh • tribes • state formation.


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