scholars lean in one direction or the other but actually occupy the middle ground. In general, North American and Israeli scholars tend to be more willing to accept the identification of the biblical King David in the Mesha stele. The controversy over whether ancient inscriptions confirm the existence of the King David mentioned in the Bible usually focuses less on the Mesha stele and more on the Tel Dan stele.
Text edit
The text, in Moabite, transcribed into modern Hebrew letters:
1. אנכ. משע. בנ. כמש.. . מלכ. מאב. הד 2. יבני | אבי. מלכ. על. מאב. שלשנ. שת. ואנכ. מלכ 32. --------- אמר. לי. כמש. רד. הלתחמ. בחורננ | וארד 33. ---------[ויש]בה. כמש. בימי. ועל[...]. משמ. עש 34. -------------- שת. שדק | וא
Translation edit
I am Mesha, son of Kemosh[-yatti], the king of Moab, the Dibonite. My father was king over Moab
for thirty years, and I became king after my father. And I made this high-place for Kemosh in Qarcho (or Qeriho, a sanctuary)
. . . because he has delivered me from all kings, and because he has made me look down on all my