Edomite and Moabite Lineage in Genesis

The lineages of the Edomites and Moabites are traced in the biblical narrative to key figures in the early history of Israel, specifically Esau and Lot, respectively. These nations, along with the Ammonites, are frequently mentioned together in the Old Testament as neighboring peoples with complex relationships to the Israelites ^{[1, 6, 9]}.

The Edomites are identified as the descendants of Esau, the elder twin brother of Jacob. Esau was given the name Edom, meaning "red," after he sold his birthright for a meal of red lentil pottage (Genesis 25:30) ^[5]. The territory that the Lord later gave to Esau was consequently called "the country of Edom" (Genesis 32:3), and his descendants became known as Edomites ^[5]. This region was primarily mountainous, extending about 100 miles long and 20 miles wide along the eastern side of the Arabah, from the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba ^[5]. The Edomites inhabited Mount Seir, and their territory included cities like Elath and Ezion-geber ^{[5, 12]}. Despite their later animosity, Moses referred to the Edomites as "our brethren, the children of Esau," acknowledging their shared ancestry with Israel ^{[7, 11]}. The Israelites were even commanded not to molest the Edomites during their wilderness wanderings ^[7]. However, the Edomites refused Israel passage through their country, leading to a circuitous route for the Israelites ^{[7, 11]}.

The Moabites originated from Moab, the son of Lot's eldest daughter (Genesis 19:37) ^{[2, 3, 6]}. Lot was Abraham's nephew, making the Moabites distant relatives of the Israelites ^[9]. Zoar is identified as the cradle of the Moabite race, from which they spread over the region east of the Jordan River ^{[2, 3]}. Initially, the Moabites inhabited the rich highlands on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, extending north towards Gilead, having expelled the Emims, the original inhabitants ^[3]. However, they were later driven southward by the warlike Amorites, who crossed the Jordan and occupied the region between the Arnon and the Jabbok, making Heshbon their capital ^{[2, 3]}. This confined the Moabites to the area south of the Arnon ^[2]. The Moabites are mentioned among the conquests of Rameses II ^[2]. Like the Edomites, the Israelites were divinely commanded not to molest the Moabites ^[12].

Closely associated with the Moabites were the Ammonites, who descended from Ammon, Lot's younger son by his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38) ^{[4, 6]}. The Ammonites inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea, having expelled the Zamzummim ^[4]. While the Moabites were more settled, the Ammonites were likely a more predatory, nomadic tribe ^[4]. Both the Moabites and Ammonites were known for their enmity towards Israel, hiring Balaam to curse them (Deuteronomy 23:4) ^{[4, 6]}.

The shared lineage of these nations through Esau and Lot meant they were considered "brethren" to Israel, though their relationships were often marked by conflict and hostility ^{[7, 11]}. Prophecies of destruction were pronounced against Edom, Moab, and Ammon, highlighting their consistent opposition to Israel ^{[6, 10]}. Some interpretations suggest that nations like the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites might be included in the broader list of nations promised as an inheritance to Israel in future times ^[8].

Sources

Jeremiah “Jeremiah 25:21 (BSB) — Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Moabite — The designation of a tribe descended from Moab, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:37). From Zoar, the cradle of this tribe, on the south-eastern border of the Dead Sea, they gradually spread over the region on the east of Jordan. Rameses II., the Pharaoh of the Oppression, enumerates Moab (Muab) among his conquests. Shortly before the Exodus, the warlike Amorites crossed the Jordan under Sihon their king and drove the Moabites (Num. 21:26-30) out of the region between the Arnon and the Jabbok, and occupied it, making Heshbon their capital. They were then confined to ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Moab — (of his father), Mo'abites. Moab was the son of the Lot's eldest daughter, the progenitor of the Moabites. Zoar was the cradle of the race of Lot. From this centre the brother tribes spread themselves. The Moabites first inhabited the rich highlands which crown the eastern side of the chasm of the Dead Sea, extending as far north as the mountain of Gilead, from which country they expelled the Emims, the original inhabitants, (2:11) but they themselves were afterward driven southward by the warlike Amorites, who had crossed the Jordan, and were confined to the c”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ammonite — The usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:38). From the very beginning (Deut. 2:16-20) of their history till they are lost sight of (Judg. 5:2), this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites (Judg. 10:11; 2 Chr. 20:1; Zeph. 2:8). Both of these tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deut. 23:4). The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place to place, while the Moabites were more settled. They inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea, from which they had expelled the Z”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Edom, Idumaea Or Idumea — (red). The name Edom was given to Esau, the first-born son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, when he sold his birthright to the latter for a meal of lentil pottage. The country which the Lord subsequently gave to Esau was hence called "the country of Edom," (Genesis 32:3) and his descendants were called Edomites. Edom was called Mount Seir and Idumea also. Edom was wholly a mountainous country. It embraced the narrow mountainous tract (about 100 miles long by 20 broad) extending along the eastern side of the Arabah from the northern end of ”
Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 25:21: Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon. All well known and implacable enemies of Israel. The Edomites descended from Esau; and the Moabites and Ammonites from Moab and Ammon, the two sons of Lot by his daughters. Their destruction is prophesied of in the forty eighth and forty ninth chapters. Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon. All well known and implacable enemies of Israel. The Edomites descended from Esau; and the Moabites and Ammonites from Moab and Ammon, the two sons of Lot by his daughters. Their destruction is prophesied of in the forty eighth an”
Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 2:8: It is observable here that Moses, speaking of the Edomites (Deu 2:8), calls them, "our brethren, the children of Esau." Though they had been unkind to Israel, in refusing them a peaceable passage through their country, yet he calls them brethren. For, though our relations fail in their duty to us, we must retain a sense of the relation, and not be wanting in our duty to them, as there is occasion. Now in these verses we have, I. The account which Moses gives of the origin of the nations of which he had here occasion to speak, the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammoni”
Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 15:18: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites. In this and the following verses ten nations are reckoned as occupying the land of Canaan at this time, whereas only seven are mentioned in the times of Moses and Joshua; and these three are not among them, and seem before those times to have been extinct, or were mixed with the other nations, and were no more distinct ones; though Aben Ezra thinks these people had two names, and Jarchi interprets them of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, who shall be the inheritance of the children of Israel in future times,”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 83:6: 83:6-7 The Edomites, descendants of Esau, were located to the southeast of Judah (see Gen 25:30; 32:3; 36:1-8). • Ishmaelites were desert-dwelling descendants of Hagar. • Moabites and Ammonites descended from Lot; both were located to the east of Israel and Judah. • The Hagrites were possibly located north of the Ammonites (1 Chr 5:10).”
Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 25:8: Thus saith the Lord God,.... By his servant the prophet, to whom the word of the Lord came; as concerning the Ammonites, so likewise concerning the Moabites, as follows: because that Moab and Seir do say; that is, the Moabites, and the Edomites, which latter are meant by Seir, that being the seat of them; these lived near one another, and bore a like enmity to the Israelites and Jews, and had the same sentiments concerning them, and said the same things of them: only Moab is mentioned in the Septuagint and Arabic versions: the Moabites are first prophesied of, and ”
Numbers (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Numbers 20:14: Moses sent messengers . . . to the king of Edom--The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, through which the Israelites would have had an easy passage across the Arabah by Wady-el-Ghuweir, so that they could have continued their course around Moab, and approached Palestine from the east [ROBERTS]. The Edomites, being the descendants of Esau and tracing their line of descent from Abraham as their common stock, were recognized by the Israelites as brethren, and a very brotherly message was sent to them.”
Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 2:8: we passed . . . through the way of the plain--the Arabah or great valley, from Elath ("trees") (the Ailah of the Greeks and Romans). The site of it is marked by extensive mounds of rubbish. Ezion-geber--now Akaba, both were within the territory of Edom; and after making a circuit of its southeastern boundary, the Israelites reached the border of Moab on the southeast of the Salt Sea. They had been forbidden by divine command to molest the Moabites in any way; and this special honor was conferred on that people not on their own account, for they w”

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