The ancient kingdom of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in present-day Jordan, was surrounded by several significant neighbors that played crucial roles in its history as recorded in the Bible. Understanding these neighbors provides insight into the geopolitical and cultural dynamics of the region during biblical times.

1. Ammon:

The Ammonites were closely related to the Moabites, both descending from Lot, Abraham's nephew (Genesis 19:36-38). The territory of Ammon lay to the north of Moab. The relationship between Moab and Ammon was complex, marked by both kinship and conflict. In Judges 11:12-28, Jephthah, the judge of Israel, recounts the historical disputes over land between Israel and the Ammonites, which also involved Moabite territories.

2. Edom:

To the south of Moab lay Edom, inhabited by the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother (Genesis 36:1). The Edomites and Moabites shared a border and occasionally found themselves in alliances against common enemies, such as Israel. In 2 Kings 3:9, the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom joined forces to fight against Moab. Despite their occasional alliances, Edom and Moab also had their share of hostilities, as seen in the prophetic judgments pronounced against Edom in Isaiah 34 and against Moab in Isaiah 15-16.

3. Israel:

To the west of Moab was the kingdom of Israel, across the Jordan River. The relationship between Moab and Israel was often contentious. The Moabite king Balak famously sought to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). Despite this, there were periods of peace and intermarriage, as exemplified by the account of Ruth, a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 1:4, 4:13-17).

4. Amorites:

The Amorites were a significant presence in the region before the Israelites' conquest of Canaan. The Amorite king Sihon captured territory from Moab, as recorded in Numbers 21:26: "For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon." This loss of land to the Amorites was a pivotal moment in Moabite history.

5. Midian:

The Midianites, though not immediate neighbors, were influential in the region and occasionally interacted with Moab. In Numbers 25, the Moabites and Midianites conspired to lead the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, resulting in God's judgment upon Israel. This alliance highlights the shared interests and occasional cooperation between Moab and Midian against Israel.

6. Philistines:

While not direct neighbors, the Philistines were a significant power in the region and occasionally interacted with Moab. The Philistines' influence extended into the Transjordan area, affecting the balance of power among the neighboring nations, including Moab.

The interactions between Moab and its neighbors were marked by a mix of kinship, conflict, and cooperation. These relationships were influenced by territorial disputes, political alliances, and shared cultural and religious practices. The biblical narrative provides a rich tapestry of these interactions, illustrating the complex dynamics of the ancient Near East.