Mesha of Moab in the Bible 480 × 360by Damien F. Mackey Does Mesha King of Moab tell us straight out in his stele inscription that he built Jericho – and with Israelite labour? HIEL OF BETHEL Joshua 6:26: “At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: "Cursed before the LORD is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates".” I Kings 16:34: “In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun”. A clear demonstration of what I have written somewhat earlier on: