Chemosh

Chemosh is the national god of the Moabites, appearing in biblical and epigraphic sources as a war deity central to Moabite state religion. In the Hebrew Bible, Chemosh is described as the object of Moabite worship and as a deity invoked in times of conflict; he is also referred to as “the abomination of Moab” in places such as 1 Kings 11:7, reflecting Israelite condemnation of Moabite religion.

The most extensive independent evidence for Chemosh comes from the Mesha Stele (the Moabite Stone, dated to around 840 BCE), which presents Moab’s king Mesha attributing military successes to Chemosh and describing offerings to him. The inscription emphasizes Chemosh’s role as a national deity tied to warfare and royal legitimacy.

In biblical accounts, the cult is associated with ritual practices, though details are sparse. A notable narrative in 2 Kings 3:27 describes the Moabite king sacrificing his firstborn son to Chemosh in a time of crisis to secure deliverance, a portrayal used to illustrate the severity of the Moabite crisis and its religious dimensions. Overall, direct information about daily worship and specific rites is limited, and Moabite religion is understood largely in relation to broader Canaanite religious milieu.

Modern scholarship generally regards Chemosh as a war-related national deity of Moab, though the exact cult structure, pantheon relationships, and ritual practices remain uncertain. The etymology of the name is debated; the Moabite form is rendered as Kemosh or Chemosh, with possible roots connected to destruction or subjugation.

See also Moab, Mesha Stele.