What do we know about the Moabites?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Moabites descended from Moab, son of Lot, born through an incestuous relationship. They originally lived southeast of the Dead Sea but lost territory to the Amorites. King Balak of Moab tried to curse the Israelites during their forty-year wilderness journey. The most notable Moabite story is that of Ruth, who married Boaz and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus. The Moabites exemplify how God can work through different groups for His purposes.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Moabites were a tribe of people who descended from Moab, one of the sons of Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:37). Moab was one of two sons born to Lot's daughters after they helped him to become drunk and then had children through him, seeing him as their only option to bear children. Moab was born first, with his name sounding like the Hebrew for "from father."
• Originally from the area on the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea, the Moabites eventually spread to the area east of the Jordan River. After a war with the Amorites, the Moabites lost territory and lived in the land south of the Arnon Valley according to Numbers 21:26–30.
• During this time period, the Israelites journeyed for forty years in the wilderness. They requested passage through the land of the Amorites, and were refused. Israel defeated the Amorites and took its land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, settling there for some time before moving toward Bashan (Numbers 21:21–33). The Israelites also defeated the king of Bashan and then occupied his land before moving into the plain of Moab (Numbers 21:33—22:1). The previous victories and the size of the Israelites worried the Moabite king Balak. He sought help from the Midianites (the people the wife of Moses had descended from) and together sought the assistance of a man named Balaam to curse the Jewish people (Numbers 22:2–6).
• The Israelites passed through an area called the plains of Moab just before crossing into the Promised Land. It was in this area that Moses ascended to the top of Mount Pisgah and viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 34:5–6).
• The Moabites are mentioned in the Mosaic Law as being prohibited from entering the assembly of the Lord due to their historical animosity towards Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-6). Additionally, their idolatrous practices led to Israel's sin and subsequent judgment, highlighting the importance of maintaining purity in worship (Numbers 25:1-3).
• In Nehemiah 13, it is stated that Moabites were excluded from the assembly of God because they hired Balaam to curse Israel and caused them to sin (Nehemiah 13:1-2).
• The Moabites are portrayed as enemies of Israel in the Bible, notably in Judges 3:12-14, where Eglon, the king of Moab, oppresses Israel for eighteen years. Additionally, in 2 Kings 3:4-5, the Moabites rebel against Israel following the death of King Ahab.
• Following this period, the most well-known account related to the Moabites is found in the book of Ruth. The account tells of Naomi moving to Moab from Israel with her husband and two sons. Both of her sons married Moabite women. Later her husband and both sons died. Naomi set out to return to Israel along with her daughters-in-law. However, a ways into the journey, Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their families. One daughter-in-law did, but Ruth stayed with Naomi and returned with her to Israel. By the end of the book, Ruth married Boaz and had a son named Obed. Obed would become the grandfather of David, the king of Israel, and ancestor of Jesus (Ruth 4).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Moabites are not mentioned in the New Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Moabites offer a powerful example of how God can work through a group of people for His purposes. Through the Moabite woman Ruth, we find King David, a leader in Israel from whom Jesus was descended. Ruth is even favored with being one of only four women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 1:5). God can work through anyone, regardless of their background or past mistakes, to fulfill His divine purposes. It encourages us to recognize and embrace the potential for transformation and purpose in our own lives and the lives of others, reminding us that God's grace can extend beyond cultural and historical boundaries.

UNDERSTAND

• The Moabites descended from Moab, the son of Lot, born through an incestuous relationship with his daughters.
• The Moabites lost territory to the Amorites and their king, Balak, unsuccessfully tried to curse the Israelites.
• Ruth, a Moabite, married Boaz and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus.

REFLECT

• How does the story of Ruth, a Moabite, challenge or change your perspective on how God can use people from any background for His purposes?
• Considering the Moabites' complex and troubled history, how do you see God's grace and redemption at work in your own life despite past mistakes or difficult circumstances?

ENGAGE

• In more recent times, one archaeological discovery related to the Moabites has been of important significance. In 1868, an inscription was discovered in Dibon from approximately 900 BC that mentioned Mesha's war with Jehoram from 2 Kings 3. It is considered one of the oldest written inscriptions ever discovered and provides a powerful confirmation of the accuracy of this aspect of the Old Testament.
• How does the inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite, in the genealogy of Jesus reflect on God's redemption?
• In what ways can the story of the Moabites, especially Ruth, inspire us to see potential and purpose in people regardless of their past or origin?