Kir-haraseth: Built fortress, a city and fortress of Moab, the modern Kerak, a small
town on the brow of a steep hill about 6 miles from Rabbath-Moab
and 10 miles from the Dead Sea; called also Kir-haresh,
Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres
(Isaiah 16:7,11; Jeremiah 48:31,36) After the death of
Ahab, Mesha, king of Moab
(See MOABITE STONE)
threw off allegiance to the king of Israel, and fought successfully
for the independence of his kingdom. After this Jehoram, king of
Israel, in seeking to regain his supremacy over Moab, entered into an
alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and with the king of Edom.
The three kings led their armies against Mesha, who was driven back to
seek refuge in Kir-haraseth. The Moabites were driven to despair.
Mesha then took his eldest son, who would have reigned in his stead,
and offered him as a burnt-offering on the wall of the fortress in the
sight of the allied armies. "There was great indignation against
Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land."
The invaders evacuated the land of Moab, and Mesha achieved the
independence of his country
(2 Kings 3:20-27)
