Lexical Summary Moab: Moab Original Word: מוֹאָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Moab From a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m- and 'ab; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants -- Moab. see HEBREW 'ab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a prefixed syllable and ab Definition a son of Lot,also his desc. and the territory where they settled NASB Translation Moab (168), Moab's (1), Moabites (12). Brown-Driver-Briggs מוֺאָב, מֹאָב180 proper name, of a people and territory Moab (MI1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 20 מאב; Assyrian Ma°aba, Ma°bu, Mu°âba, etc., SchrCOT Glossary, and on Genesis 19:37 DlPar. 294 f., 296; — on etymology compare LagBN 90 Anm., NeSK 1892, 573, GrayProp.N.25); — ׳מו Genesis 19:37 178t.; מֹאָב 2 Samuel 8:12; ᵐ5 Μωαβ; — 1 Moab as son of Lot by his elder daughter according to Genesis 19:37. 2 Moab: a. = nation of which Lot's son is represented as ancestor Genesis 19:37; Numbers 21:29; Numbers 22:3 (twice in verse); Amos 2:1,2; Jeremiah 48:1,230t. Jeremiah 4:8 + often; having a king, Numbers 21:26; Numbers 22:4,10; Judges 3:12; 1 Samuel 12:9 +. b. = territory of Moab Numbers 21:11,13 (twice in verse); Numbers 21:15 +; ׳שְׂדֵת מ Genesis 36:25; Numbers 15:20; Ruth 1:1,2,6 (twice in verse); Ruth 1:22; Ruth 2:6; Ruth 4:3; 1 Chronicles 1:46; 1 Chronicles 8:8; ׳אֶרֶץ מ Deuteronomy 1:5; Deuteronomy 28:69; Deuteronomy 32:49; Deuteronomy 34:5,6; Judges 11:15,18 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 48:24,33; ׳מִדְבַּר מ Deuteronomy 2:8; ׳עַרְבוֺת מ Numbers 22:1; Numbers 26:3,63; Numbers 31:12; Numbers 33:48,49,50; Numbers 35:1; Numbers 36:13; Deuteronomy 34:1,8; Joshua 13:32. Topical Lexicon Origin and Ancestral Lineage Genesis 19:36-37 records the shameful birth of Moab from the incestuous union of Lot and his elder daughter: “Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter gave birth to a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today”. From the outset the nation bore the memory of its compromised beginnings, a background that Scripture repeatedly recalls (Deuteronomy 2:9; Psalm 60:8). Land and Geography Moab occupied the high, fertile plateau east of the Dead Sea, bounded by the Arnon River on the north and extending southward toward the Zered. Principal towns included Ar (Numbers 21:15), Dibon (Numbers 21:30), Kir-hareseth (2 Kings 3:25), Medeba (Joshua 13:9), and Heshbon (Isaiah 15:4). Control of northern cities such as Heshbon fluctuated between Moab and the Amorites and later Israel, while the more secure southern strongholds formed “the plains of Moab” opposite Jericho (Numbers 22:1). The King’s Highway skirted its eastern edge, positioning Moab for both trade and conflict. Early Encounters with Israel 1. Refusal of Passage: When Israel neared Canaan, Moab denied hospitality (Deuteronomy 23:3-4), hiring Balaam to curse the people (Numbers 22–24). The Period of the Judges Moab dominated Israel for eighteen years under King Eglon until Ehud’s daring deliverance (Judges 3:12-30). The narrative highlights God’s sovereignty over oppressors and His readiness to raise up unlikely saviors. The Book of Ruth During a Bethlehem famine, Elimelech’s family sojourned “to live for a while in the land of Moab” (Ruth 1:1). Ruth the Moabitess abandoned her people and gods, confessing, “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Her faith led to marriage with Boaz and placement in Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:5). Ruth stands as a striking counter-example to the national hostility of Moab, showing that grace transcends ancestry. United and Divided Kingdoms • Saul fought the Moabites (1 Samuel 14:47). Prophetic Oracles 1. Isaiah 15–16: Swift devastation of Moab’s cities and a lament over its pride; yet a plea to send tribute to Zion anticipates future refuge under David’s throne (Isaiah 16:5). Moab in Later Scripture During the exile, Moab’s fortunes declined under Babylonian expansion. Post-exilic references (Nehemiah 13:1-3) revisit Deuteronomy’s ban when intermarriage resurfaces, illustrating Israel’s struggle to maintain covenant distinctiveness. Archaeological Notes The Mesha Stele (discovered 1868) recounts Moab’s revolt against Israel and dedication of spoils to Chemosh, paralleling 2 Kings 3. Place-names and the divine title YHWH appear on the stele, corroborating biblical geography and the historical interplay of Moab and Israel. Theological and Redemptive Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Nations: God raises, disciplines, and judges nations according to His righteous standards (Jeremiah 48:10-11). Ministry Applications • Mission: Ruth motivates outreach, showing that even those from hostile backgrounds can become devoted worshipers of the true God. Key References for Study Genesis 19:30-38; Numbers 21:13-15, 22–25; Deuteronomy 2:8-9; Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Judges 3:12-30; Ruth 1–4; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:2; 2 Kings 3; Isaiah 15–16; Jeremiah 48; Ezekiel 25:8-11; Amos 2:1-3; Zephaniah 2:8-11. Moab’s 181 scriptural appearances trace a trajectory from inglorious origin through seasons of power, opposition, judgment, and promised restoration—each stage illuminating God’s justice, mercy, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan culminating in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations בְּמוֹאָ֔ב בְּמוֹאָ֣ב ׀ במואב וּבְמוֹאָ֖ב וּלְמוֹאָ֥ב וּמִמּוֹאָב֙ וּמוֹאָ֔ב וּמוֹאָ֛ב וּמוֹאָ֜ב וּמוֹאָב֙ ובמואב ולמואב ומואב וממואב לְמוֹאָ֔ב לְמוֹאָ֖ב לְמוֹאָ֡ב לְמוֹאָ֣ב לְמוֹאָב֙ למואב מוֹאָ֑ב מוֹאָ֔ב מוֹאָ֖ב מוֹאָ֗ב מוֹאָ֛ב מוֹאָ֜ב מוֹאָ֞ב מוֹאָ֣ב מוֹאָ֤ב ׀ מוֹאָ֥ב מוֹאָ֧ב מוֹאָֽב׃ מוֹאָב֒ מוֹאָב֙ מוֹאָב֩ מואב מואב׃ bə·mō·w·’āḇ bemoAv bəmōw’āḇ lə·mō·w·’āḇ lemoAv ləmōw’āḇ mō·w·’āḇ moAv mōw’āḇ ū·ḇə·mō·w·’āḇ ū·lə·mō·w·’āḇ ū·mim·mō·w·’āḇ ū·mō·w·’āḇ ūḇəmōw’āḇ ulemoAv ūləmōw’āḇ ūmimmōw’āḇ umimoAv umoAv ūmōw’āḇ uvemoAvLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:37 HEB: וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ מוֹאָ֑ב ה֥וּא אֲבִֽי־ NAS: his name Moab; he is the father KJV: his name Moab: the same INT: and called his name Moab the same is the father Genesis 19:37 Genesis 36:35 Exodus 15:15 Numbers 21:11 Numbers 21:13 Numbers 21:13 Numbers 21:15 Numbers 21:20 Numbers 21:26 Numbers 21:28 Numbers 21:29 Numbers 22:1 Numbers 22:3 Numbers 22:3 Numbers 22:4 Numbers 22:4 Numbers 22:7 Numbers 22:8 Numbers 22:10 Numbers 22:14 Numbers 22:21 Numbers 22:36 Numbers 23:6 Numbers 23:7 181 Occurrences |
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