The Louvre Museum in Paris is known for its vast collection of art and historical artifacts. However, one particular artifact has recently made headlines, not just for its age but for its connections to the Bible. Researchers at the Louvre Museum have verified that the Moabite Stone or Mesha Stele, is a reference to King David in the Bible.
Discovered in 1868 in Moab, Jordan, approximately 15 miles east of the Dead Sea, the Moabite Stone dates back to 840 BC. The stone, which was found fragmented, was made of black basalt and stood approximately three feet tall and two feet wide. The text inscribed on the stone, written in an extinct Moabite language, described the deeds of the Moabite King Mesha, including territorial battles against Judah, Israel, and Edom as noted in 2 Kings, Chapter 3.
However, the stone sustained damage in 1869, and the text became difficult to translate accurately. But with the help of newer technology, including digital photography enhancement techniques, researchers were able to verify that the text did indeed refer to King David.
The references to King David on the Moabite Stone are brief, including phrases such as “House of David” and “Altar of David.” The description of the House of David is only five letters, BTDWD, which in Hebrew refers to Beit (House) and DWD (David).
