The Moabites were a people descended from Moab, the son of Lot and his elder daughter, as recorded in Genesis 19:37. They inhabited the region east of the Dead Sea, in what is now modern-day Jordan. The Moabites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in the context of their interactions and conflicts with the Israelites.

Historical Background

The Moabites and Israelites shared a complex relationship, marked by both kinship and conflict. As descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, the Moabites were related to the Israelites. Despite this familial connection, the two groups often found themselves at odds, primarily due to territorial disputes and differing religious practices.

Divine Command Regarding the Moabites

In Deuteronomy 2:9, the Israelites, during their wilderness journey, received a specific command from God concerning the Moabites: "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 directive highlights the divine recognition of the Moabites' right to their land, as it was allotted to them by God Himself.

Religious and Cultural 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 significant point of contention between the Moabites and the Israelites, who were commanded to worship Yahweh alone.

Interactions with Israel

Throughout the Old Testament, the Moabites are depicted in various interactions with Israel. During the period of the Judges, the Moabite king Eglon oppressed Israel for eighteen years until he was assassinated by Ehud, an Israelite judge (Judges 3:12-30). In the time of the monarchy, King David subjugated the Moabites, making them his servants and requiring them to bring tribute (2 Samuel 8:2).

Despite these conflicts, there were also instances of peaceful relations and intermarriage. The most notable example is the account of Ruth, a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David. Her account is a testament to the possibility of integration and acceptance of foreigners within Israel, as seen in the Book of Ruth.

Prophetic Pronouncements

The prophets of Israel often spoke against Moab, foretelling its downfall due to its pride and idolatry. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all contain oracles against Moab, predicting its destruction and desolation (Isaiah 15-16, Jeremiah 48, Ezekiel 25:8-11).

Legacy

The Moabites eventually faded from the historical record, likely assimilating into other cultures and peoples. Their legacy, however, remains in the biblical narrative as a reminder of the complex relationships between the nations surrounding Israel and the divine sovereignty over the lands and peoples of the ancient Near East.Deuteronomy 2:9
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

And ii.
... was conquered by the Edomites and Moabites in common ... in shape the lighthouse as seen
by people sailing up to ... symbol of the lofty elevation of Israel, the centre ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... not long since sojourn'd Among the Moabites, is now ... his father's sepulchre, When
he had judged Israel twenty year ... And people from all countries far and near To ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... possessed altars, He kept guard over His people, but His ... to the task of rewriting
the history of Israel, which, as ... 1), though, it is true, he does not add the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... the fortress of Aribua.** This stronghold commanded all the ... of Hamath and masters
of half Israel, were powerful ... to Nineveh amid the acclamations of his people. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... children of Ishmael and Edom, the Moabites and Ammonites ... prevailing tradition in
the kingdom of Israel, the latter ... of expansion and the diffusion of the people. ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

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