Who were the Moabites?
The Moabites were ancient people who were frequently mentioned in the Bible. They are primarily known as the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, through an incestuous union with his eldest daughter following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This origin story is detailed in the Book of Genesis.
Historically, the Moabites inhabited Moab, a region in what is now modern-day Jordan, particularly on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. This land was known for its fertile soil and rugged terrain.
The Moabites often had a contentious relationship with the Israelites in the biblical narrative. Throughout the Old Testament, they are depicted sometimes as enemies and occasionally as allies. Notably, the Moabite king Balak hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as they journey through the desert, as recounted in the Book of Numbers.
One of the most famous Moabites is Ruth, portrayed very positively in the Bible. After her husband's death, she remains loyal to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, and follows her to Bethlehem. Ruth's story is central to the Book of Ruth, and she is revered as a figure of faithfulness and virtue. Through her marriage to Boaz, she becomes the great-grandmother of King David, thus integrating the Moabite lineage into the genealogy of Jesus Christ according to Christian tradition.
The complex relationship between the Moabites and Israelites and notable figures like Ruth highlights the intertwining of hostility, kinship, and integration between these two ancient peoples.
Moab’s beginning was different from most, and the Moabites were part of Israel’s story, but most of the time, not in a good way. If you have never studied these people, here are eight things to know about the Moabites:
1. Moab was born through an incestuous relationship.
“So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today.” – Genesis 19:36-37
After Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, Lot’s daughters escape with Lot to Zoar. Because Lot was afraid to live there, they eventually left Zoar and went to live in a cave in the mountains. His daughters were worried because no men were around for them to marry and have children with. Because of this, they got their father drunk, and each slept with him for the purpose of getting pregnant. These pregnancies produced two children. One was Moab, the father of the Moabites, and the other was Ben-Ammi, the father of the Ammonites. If you put this in modern language, Moab was in a unique position that his father and grandfather were the same person. The Bible doesn’t record how this affected his life, so we wonder how it did.
2. Moabites were relatives of the Israelites.
When you consider what we know about the Moabites, it is essential to remember that Lot was Abraham’s nephew. This means the Moabites and the Israelites are technically cousins. As you learn more about the Moabites, you would never think they were related, but when you trace the history, they are most certainly. Though they were related, it is essential to note that the Moabites were not the children of the promise. The Israelites who came through the line of Isaac were the people of God’s promise.
3. The Moabites were given a land of their own.
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’” – Deuteronomy 2:9
Though the Moabites were not people of the promise, God still provided for them. Just as God gave Israel the land of Canaan, he also gave land to the Moabites. The land of Moab then is today found within modern-day Jordan.
4. The Moabites were idolatrous people.
“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.” – Numbers 25:1-3
One thing to know about the Moabites is they were idolatrous people. Their practices resembled nothing of the nation of Israel. Part of the idolatrous practices of the Moabites involved worship to Baal. This would often include sexual practices, which the Moabite women used to seduce the Israelite men into engaging with them.
In this particular instance not only did the women seduce the men of Israel, but they were also encouraged to do this by the prophet Balaam. Balak, the king of Moab, was afraid of Israel and wanted them to be cursed which is what he asked Balaam to do. Balaam however could not curse them because God would not allow him to because they were the people he had chosen to bless. Since Balaam could not curse Israel, he encouraged the women to seduce the Israelite men because Balaam knew this would anger God.
“'Have you allowed all the women to live?’ he asked them. ‘They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.’” – Numbers 31:15-16
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5. The Moabites were among the people who would lead Israel astray.
God was very familiar with the ways of the Moabites, and he warned the Israelites about engaging with them. Here is the instruction given to them.
“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” – Deuteronomy 7:3-4
The Moabites were like that friend your parents told you to stay away from because they are a bad influence on you. This is who the Moabites were. What is interesting to know about the Moabites is this influence remained a problem in Israel for many generations. This warning of the impact of the Moabites which began during the time of Moses, plagued Israel many years later. One of those influenced by the Moabites was King Solomon.
“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.” – 1 Kings 11:1-3
Solomon loved many foreign women, and the Moabites were among those women. I am not sure what it was about foreign women that captured Solomon’s heart but as God warned, the influence of the Moabites turned his heart away from God and towards other gods. The thing we know about the Moabites, even from very early on in Israel’s history, is when Israel violated what God instructed and intermingled with the Moabites, they turned their hearts astray.
6. The Moabites were enemies of the people of Israel.
Eventually, the Moabites became enemies of Israel. I don’t know precisely when this happened. Still, these descendants of Lot were considered not just enemies but foreigners, and as we noted earlier ones the Israelites should not intermarry with. Throughout Israel’s history, they battled with the Moabites. They were the perennial thorn in the flesh and, at various times, would wage war against the Israelites.
7. When the wall was rebuilt, the Moabites were not welcome.
In Nehemiah’s day, he was tasked with rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, which he did successfully. On the day of dedication, here is what they read.
"On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent." – Nehemiah 13:1-3
The Moabites were not welcome into the assembly of God or his people. It is interesting to note that the two descendants of Lot both became enemies of God’s people.
8. God eventually judged the Moabites.
In Isaiah 15, God pronounces judgment on the Moabites. God eventually dealt with this longtime nemesis of Israel. The Babylonians conquered the Moabites in 582 BC, which marked the end of the Moabite people.
"A prophecy against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night!" - Isaiah 15:1
If there is one thing to know from the Moabites and their history is that eventually, God will bring judgment on sin. I know we are living in the age of the grace of God. However, if we are going to be complete, God’s grace will eventually run out for those who continue in sin. The Moabites represented those people. If you are living a sinful lifestyle, then it’s time to repent and turn your heart fully to the Lord. We know from the Moabites it will not end well for those who continue in sin and refuse the grace of God. Don’t be one of those people.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Grace Cary
