Moabites
The Moabites were an ancient people who inhabited the region of Moab, a fertile land known for its agricultural production, particularly grains and livestock. Much of what is understood about the Moabites comes from biblical narratives, which portray them negatively, often highlighting their opposition to the Israelites during their journey to Canaan. This animosity is rooted in the biblical accounts of their origins and conflicts, with some stories suggesting that the Moabites descended from an incestuous union. Despite these negative portrayals, the Moabites have historical significance, as the genealogy of King David, a central figure in Jewish and Christian traditions, traces back to Moab through the story of Ruth. Archaeological findings, such as the Moabite sarcophagus and the Mesha inscription, provide additional context, illustrating the Moabites' interactions with neighboring civilizations, including the Egyptians and Assyrians. Over time, the Moabite territory faced conquest and assimilation by larger empires, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and eventually the Romans. Today, interest in the Moabites encompasses their historical, cultural, and religious impact in the ancient Near East.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Moabites
Related civilizations: Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Greece, Rome.
Date: c. 1200-c. 63 b.c.e.
Locale: The region immediately east of the Dead Sea
Moabites
What is known about Moab is found primarily in the Bible. There the term refers both to a place and to the people who inhabited it. It was a fertile land, famous for grain and livestock production as well as for being the burial place of Moses. References to the Moab in the Bible are extremely derogatory, depicting the nation as originating from an incestuous union and later as opposing the Israelites in their attempt to enter Canaan after the Exodus. Claim to northern Moab was the cause of disputes between the Israelites and the Moabites (MOH-ab-itz). Israel interpreted this animosity theologically, resulting in the denunciation of Moab throughout the Bible. Remarkably, King David’s genealogy is traced to Moab in the book of Ruth.
Outside the Bible, Moab is mentioned in Egyptian and Assyrian texts. A Moabite monument, the famous Mesha inscription, tells how Mesha, king of Moab, drove the Israelites from his territory in the ninth century b.c.e. Moab was defeated consecutively by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Greeks before being absorbed into the Roman Empire.
Bibliography
Dearman, Andrew, ed. Studies in the Mesha Inscription and Moab. Atlanta, Ga.: Scholars Press, 1989.
Hoerth, A. J., G. L. Mattingly, and E. M. Yamauchi, eds. Peoples of the Old Testament World. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1994.