Gods of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites in Scripture
The primary deity of the Moabites was Chemosh, who is described as the national god of Moab [2, 5, 6]. Chemosh is also identified as a god of the Ammonites [2, 5]. The worship of Chemosh was introduced in Jerusalem by King Solomon and later abolished by King Josiah [2, 5, 6]. The "Moabite Stone" (Mesha Stela) attributes victories of Mesha, king of Moab, over Israel to Chemosh [6, 8].
While Chemosh is strongly associated with the Moabites, the Ammonites also worshipped Molech [10]. Rites associated with Molech included child sacrifice by fire [10].
The Moabites and Ammonites were closely related peoples, both descended from Lot. The Ammonites were descendants of Ben-ammi, Lot's son by his younger daughter, while the Moabites descended from Moab, Lot's son by his elder daughter [4, 7]. They are frequently mentioned together in scripture [4]. For example, Jeremiah 25:21 lists "Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites" as nations facing judgment [1, 7]. Zephaniah 2:8 also links Moab and the Ammonites, noting their abuse and reviling of God's nation [11].
Historically, the Ammonites inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea [3]. They were often seen as a predatory tribe, in contrast to the more settled Moabites [3]. Both tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel [3]. Despite their animosity towards Israel, some Jewish traditions hold that the Moabites and Ammonites were not to be utterly destroyed because virtuous individuals, such as Ruth the Moabite and Naamah the Ammonite (Solomon's wife), would descend from them, contributing to the Davidic dynasty [9].
Sources
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 25:21 (BSB) — Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Chemosh — (subduer), the national deity of the Moabites. (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7,13,46) In (Judges 11:24) he also appears as the god of the Ammonites. Solomon introduced, and Josiah abolished, the worship of Chemosh at Jerusalem. (1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:13) Also identified with Baal-peor, Baalzebub, Mars and Saturn.”
- 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: Ammon — (sons of renown, mountaineers), Am'monites, Children of Ammon, A people descended from Ben-ammi, the son of Lot by his younger daughter. (Genesis 19:38) comp Psal 83:7,8 The Ammonites are frequently mentioned with the Moabites (descendants of Ben-ammi's half-brother), and sometimes under the same name. Comp. (Judges 10:6; 2 Chronicles 20:1; Zephaniah 2:8) etc. The precise position of the territory of the Ammonites is not ascertainable. In the earliest mention of them, (2:20) they are said to have dwelt in their place, Jabbok being their border. (Numbers 21:24;”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H3645] H3645 = (H3645) — <BR> § Chemosh = "subduer"<br> the national deity of the Moabites and a god of the Ammonites<br> also identified with 'Baal-peor', 'Baal-zebub', 'Mars' and 'Saturn'<br>1b) worship of this god was introduced into Jerusalem by Solomon and abolished by king Josiah of Judah<br>”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Chemosh — The destroyer, subduer, or fish-god, the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46). The worship of this god, "the abomination of Moab," was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). On the "Moabite Stone" (q.v.), Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, "And Chemosh drove him before my sight."”
- 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”
- 1 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Kings 11:7: 11:7 The Moabite god Chemosh is mentioned on the Mesha Stela (Moabite Stone) detailing the Moabite-Israelite conflict (see 2 Kgs 3).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 38b.2: To counter this, the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: That which has entered your mind has not entered Mine, because I have two virtuous fledglings [ feridot ], i.e., girls, to extract from them: Ruth the Moabite, who will be the foremother of the dynasty of David, and Naamah the Ammonite, Solomon’s wife, from whom the continuation of that dynasty will emerge. For the sake of these women, the Moabites and Ammonites must not be destroyed.”
- 1 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Kings 11:5: 11:5 Ashtoreth, the Canaanite goddess of love and war, was widely worshiped in the ancient Near East under names such as Ishtar and Astarte. The cult practices associated with Astarte were transmitted to the Greek world in the worship of the goddess Aphrodite. • Rites in the worship of Molech, the god of the Ammonites, included sacrificing children by fire (11:7; see Lev 20:1-5; 2 Kgs 16:3; 23:5-10; Jer 7:30-33; 19:4-6; 32:35), which the writer properly denounces as detestable.”
- Zephaniah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Zephaniah 2:8: The judgment upon Joab and Ammon. - Zep 2:8. "I have heard the abuse of Moab, and the revilings of the sons of Ammon, who have abused my nation, and boasted against its boundary. Zep 2:9. Therefore, as I live, is the saying of Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Yea, Moab shall become like Sodom, and the sons of Ammon like Gomorrha, an inheritance of nettles and salt-pits, and desert for ever. The remnant of my nation will plunder them, the residue of my nation will inherit them. Zep 2:10. Such to them for their pride, that they have despised and boasted aga”