The Moabites were a people descended from Moab, the son of Lot, who was the nephew of Abraham. The land of Moab was situated east of the Dead Sea, bordered by the Arnon River to the north and the Zered River to the south. This territory was known for its rugged terrain and fertile plains, which supported agriculture and livestock.

Biblical Context and Geography

The land of Moab is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in relation to the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. The Moabites were closely related to the Israelites, as both were descendants of Terah, Abraham's father. Despite this kinship, the relationship between the two peoples was often marked by tension and conflict.

Divine Instruction Regarding Moab

The Israelites, during their exodus from Egypt and subsequent wanderings in the wilderness, were explicitly instructed by God not to harass or contend with the Moabites for their land. This directive is recorded in Deuteronomy 2:9 : "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.'"

This command underscores the divine allocation of territories among the descendants of Abraham and Lot. The land of Moab was divinely appointed to the Moabites, and the Israelites were to respect this boundary as they journeyed toward the land promised to them.

Historical Interactions

Throughout the biblical narrative, the Moabites and Israelites had various interactions, ranging from peaceful coexistence to outright hostility. The Moabites are noted for their opposition to Israel during the time of the judges and the monarchy. One notable instance of conflict is recorded in the Book of Numbers, where Balak, the king of Moab, sought to curse the Israelites through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24).

Despite these hostilities, there were also periods of peace and intermarriage between the two groups. The Book of Ruth provides a poignant example of this, as Ruth, a Moabitess, becomes an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, of Jesus Christ.

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Moabites were known for their worship of Chemosh, a deity to whom they offered sacrifices, including human sacrifices in times of dire need. This idolatrous practice was a point of contention between the Moabites and the Israelites, who were commanded to worship Yahweh alone.

Prophetic Pronouncements

The prophets of Israel, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, pronounced judgments against Moab for their pride and idolatry. These prophecies often highlighted the eventual downfall of Moab as a consequence of their actions against Israel and their defiance of the God of Israel.

Legacy and Significance

The Moabites, while often adversaries of Israel, played a significant role in the biblical narrative. Their interactions with the Israelites serve as a testament to the complex relationships between neighboring nations in the ancient Near East. The divine command not to seize the land of Moab reflects God's sovereign distribution of lands and His overarching plan for the nations surrounding Israel.Deuteronomy 2:9,29
And the LORD said to me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give you of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.
Nave's Topical Index

The Israelites
... and the invasion of the Promised Land was postponed ... But the influence of Shiloh did
not extend far ... Moabites and Midianites, Ammonites and Bedawin, even the king ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Whether the Judicial Precepts Regarding Foreigners were Framed in ...
... had been hostile, such as the Ammonites and Moabites) were never ... be as that which
is born in the land." But in ... the death of these men who had not entered into ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the judicial precepts regarding.htm

Concerning Balaam the Prophet and what Kind of Man He Was.
... 2. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, who had from ... be contented with the possession
of the land of Canaan ... advised them to go home again, and not to persist ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning balaam the.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... on the east and southeast, the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites ... of the tribes and
thus preparing the land for a ... fact that God is for one does not preclude the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... to the settlement of the Ammonites and Moabites in the ... It was not until just before
the invasion of Palestine ... Midianite hosts had overrun the land of Moab as ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
... heathen neighbors, such as the Egyptians and the Moabites. ... Israelites themselves
were slaves in the land of Egypt ... that the command, "Thou shall not steal," may ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study x the foundations of.htm

2 Cor. xi. 21
... Israelites, since both the Ammonites and Moabites were Hebrews ... barbarians, among
Greeks, on every land, on every ... to the Corinthians; this one might not have been ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxv 2 cor xi.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... same passage, the command to exclude the Ammonites and Moabites is founded ... colony
was, upon the whole, very poor; they did not possess the land as a ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

The Historical Books.
... years of rest after the oppression of the Moabites. ... suppose, restricted to the
northeastern part of the land. ... was appropriately given; for he is not only the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... marched with their armies against the Moabites, who fled ... been proposed: "Omri conquered
the whole land of Medeba ... think of these and other gains, not the least ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

What is significance of Mount Seir? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of high places in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus