The Moabites were a people descended from Moab, the son of Lot and his elder daughter, as recorded in Genesis 19:37. This lineage places them as relatives of the Israelites, yet their relationship throughout biblical history is marked by conflict and tension. The Moabites settled in the region east of the Dead Sea, an area known for its fertile land and strategic location, which contributed to their wealth and confidence as a nation.

Geography and Economy

The land of Moab was characterized by its rich agricultural potential, with rolling hills and fertile plains that supported the cultivation of grain, olives, and grapes. This abundance is reflected in the prosperity of the Moabites, who were able to sustain a strong and independent kingdom. The region's natural resources and trade routes contributed to their economic strength, allowing them to exert influence over neighboring territories.

Religious Practices

The Moabites were known for their worship of Chemosh, their chief deity, to whom they offered sacrifices, including human sacrifices in times of dire need (2 Kings 3:27). This idolatrous worship was a significant point of contention with the Israelites, who were commanded to worship Yahweh alone. The Moabites' religious practices often led them into conflict with Israel, as seen in the narrative of Balaam, where Balak, the king of Moab, sought to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22-24).

Interactions with Israel

Throughout the Old Testament, the Moabites frequently appear as adversaries of Israel. During the period of the Judges, the Moabite king Eglon oppressed Israel for eighteen years until he was assassinated by Ehud, a judge of Israel (Judges 3:12-30). Despite these hostilities, there were also periods of peace and intermarriage, most notably illustrated in the account of Ruth, a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 1-4).

The Moabites' confidence in their wealth and military might is evident in their interactions with Israel. In Isaiah 16:6, the prophet speaks of Moab's pride: "We have heard of Moab’s pride, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty." This pride often led to their downfall, as they relied on their own strength rather than seeking the favor of the God of Israel.

Prophetic Judgments

The prophets of Israel frequently pronounced judgments against Moab for their arrogance and idolatry. Jeremiah 48 is a comprehensive oracle against Moab, highlighting their impending destruction due to their trust in wealth and false gods: "Moab has been at ease from his youth, settled like wine on its dregs, not poured from vessel to vessel. He has not gone into exile, so his flavor has remained unchanged, and his aroma is the same" (Jeremiah 48:11). This imagery underscores the complacency and self-assurance of the Moabites, which ultimately led to their judgment.

Legacy

The Moabites' legacy in biblical history is one of both enmity and kinship with Israel. Their account serves as a reminder of the dangers of pride and the consequences of turning away from the true God. Despite their wealth and confidence, the Moabites were subject to the sovereign plans of God, who used their interactions with Israel to fulfill His purposes in redemptive history.Jeremiah 48:7
For because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you shall also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Last Farewell in the Presence of the one Hundred and Fifty ...
... has preceded I am able to be confident, and recognize ... not in want, but though poor
are making many rich. ... Moreover, the Moabites and Ammonites must not even be ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xlii the last farewell.htm

Chapter xxv
... Cushites on the south; the Edomites, Moabites, etc., on ... Rebekah finds that Yahweh
is rich exceeding abundantly ... He was not fully confident of God's methods for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

V. ...
... Pope has enacted, in that they are so confident and shameless ... of the Lord, as Moses
says, and a rich mine of ... had come into the land of the Moabites, king Balak ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v 2.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... that sell them say, "Blessed be the Lord, for we are rich:" and their ... upon my flesh,
and will not allow me to be confident or to ... [2792] Moabites and Ammonites ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... into submission from the time of Shalmaneser I. We gather from the passages in which
it is mentioned that it was a hilly country, producing wine, rich in flocks ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

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