Moses and the Israelites' Conflict with Moab
The Moabites, descendants of Lot through his eldest daughter (Genesis 19:37), frequently engaged in conflict with the Israelites, particularly during the period of the Exodus and the Israelite monarchy [3, 4, 7]. Their territory, known as the "land of Moab," was situated east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, south of the Arnon River [5]. Originally, the Moabites inhabited the rich highlands east of the Dead Sea, extending north to Gilead, having expelled the Emims [3, 7]. However, they were later driven southward by the Amorites, who crossed the Jordan and occupied the region between the Arnon and the Jabbok, making Heshbon their capital [3, 4]. This left the Moabites confined to the area south of the Arnon [4].
The initial significant interaction between the Israelites and Moab occurred during the Exodus. As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, they encamped in the "Plains of Moab" opposite Jericho (Numbers 22:1) [5]. At this time, Balak, the king of Moab, became fearful of the numerous Israelites and sought to have the prophet Balaam curse them (Numbers 22:3-14) [5]. This event marked the beginning of a complex relationship, characterized by periods of hostility and, at times, more peaceful interactions.
A major point of contention arose from the Moabites' role in leading the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. After the plague that afflicted Israel due to their involvement with the daughters of Moab and Midian, Moses received instructions from the Lord [13]. This incident, recorded in Numbers 25, led to a divine command for Israel to treat the Midianites as enemies, though the Moabites' direct punishment is less explicitly detailed in this immediate context.
During the period of the Judges, the Moabites, under King Eglon, oppressed Israel for eighteen years before being overthrown by Ehud (Judges 3:12-30). This demonstrates a recurring pattern of Moabite aggression and Israelite subjugation followed by deliverance.
Later, under King David, the Moabites were subdued and made to pay tribute (2 Samuel 8:2) [11]. This subjugation continued into the divided monarchy, with Moab falling partly under the dominion of Israel and partly under Judah [11]. However, after the death of King Ahab of Israel, Moab rebelled against Israel (2 Kings 1:1) [1, 2, 11]. This rebellion is also recorded on the Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone), which details Israel's domination of northern Moab during the reigns of Omri and Ahab, and Moab's subsequent subservience to Ahaziah and Joram [9].
King Mesha of Moab, described as a man of great wealth in flocks and herds, initiated this rebellion by withholding the annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams with their wool that he had previously paid to the king of Israel (2 Kings 3:4) [6, 8, 9]. In response, King Jehoram of Israel, Ahab's successor, sought the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom to suppress the Moabite revolt (2 Kings 3:5-7) [6, 11]. This joint military expedition against Moab became the setting for one of the miracles performed by the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 3:4-27) [9]. Josephus also recounts this expedition, noting Joram's determination to campaign against Mesha [8].
The prophets frequently addressed Moab, often pronouncing judgment against them for their pride and hostility towards Israel. Isaiah 16:6 speaks of the "pride of Moab, the very haughty (pride), his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath" [12]. Rashi interprets Isaiah 16:12 as Moab's weariness in waging war on high places [14]. Ezekiel also prophesied against Moab, stating that because Moab said, "Behold, like all other nations is the house of Judah," God would open up Moab's shoulder from its cities and give it as a possession to the sons of the east and Ammon (Ezekiel 25:8-10) [10]. This prophecy indicates a divine judgment against Moab for its contempt towards Judah and its perceived equality with other nations, implying a lack of recognition for Judah's special status as God's chosen people.
The Moabites were known for their idolatry, particularly the worship of Chemosh (Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7; Jeremiah 48:46) [7]. They were also described as superstitious (Jeremiah 27:3, 9), rich and confident (Jeremiah 48:7), and prosperous and at ease (Jeremiah 48:11) [7]. Their cities were numerous and significant (Numbers 21:28, 30; Isaiah 15:1-4; Jeremiah 48:21-24), and they were governed by kings (Numbers 23:7; Joshua 24:9) [7]. The long history of conflict and the prophetic pronouncements against Moab underscore the persistent tension between the two peoples, often rooted in Moab's territorial ambitions, idolatry, and antagonism towards Israel.
Sources
- 2 Kings “Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. -- 2 Kings 1:1”
- II Kings “II Kings 1:1 (YLT) — And Moab transgresseth against Israel after the death of Ahab,”
- 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: 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 ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Moab — The seed of the father, or, according to others, the desirable land, the eldest son of Lot (Gen. 19:37), of incestuous birth. (2.) Used to denote the people of Moab (Num. 22:3-14; Judg. 3:30; 2 Sam. 8:2; Jer. 48:11, 13). (3.) The land of Moab (Jer. 48:24), called also the "country of Moab" (Ruth 1:2, 6; 2:6), on the east of Jordan and the Dead Sea, and south of the Arnon (Num. 21:13, 26). In a wider sense it included the whole region that had been occupied by the Amorites. It bears the modern name of Kerak. In the Plains of Moab, opposite Jericho (Num. 22:1; 2”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mesha — Middle district, Vulgate, Messa. (1.) A plain in that part of the boundaries of Arabia inhabited by the descendants of Joktan (Gen. 10:30). (2.) Heb. meysh'a, "deliverance," the eldest son of Caleb (1 Chr. 2:42), and brother of Jerahmeel. (3.) Heb. id, a king of Moab, the son of Chemosh-Gad, a man of great wealth in flocks and herds (2 Kings 3:4). After the death of Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, Mesha shook off the yoke of Israel; but on the ascension of Jehoram to the throne of Israel, that king sought the help of Jehoshaphat in an attempt to reduce the Moabites ag”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Moabites — Descended from Lot -- Ge 19:37. Called Children of Lot. -- De 2:9. People of Chemosh. -- Nu 21:29; Jer 48:46. Are given to, as a possession -- De 2:9. Separated from the Amorites by the river Arnon -- Nu 21:13. Expelled the ancient Emims -- De 2:9-11. Possessed many and great cities -- Nu 21:28,30; Isa 15:1-4; Jer 48:21-24. Governed by kings -- Nu 23:7; Jos 24:9. Described as Proud and arrogant. -- Isa 16:6; Jer 48:29. Idolatrous. -- 1Ki 11:7. Superstitious. -- Jer 27:3,9. Rich and confident. -- Jer 48:7. Prosperous and at ease. -- Jer 48:11. Mighty men of”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 3, section 1: . How Joram And Jehoshaphat Made An Expedition Against The Moabites; As Also Concerning The Wonders Of Elisha; And The Death Of Jehoshaphat. 1. When Joram had taken upon him the kingdom, he determined to make an expedition against the king of Moab, whose name was Mesha; for, as we told you before, he was departed from his obedience to his brother [Ahaziah], while he paid to his father Ahab two hundred thousand sheep, with their fleeces of wool. When therefore he had gathered his own army together, he sent also to Jehoshaphat, and”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 3:4: 3:4-27 The joint war of Israel and Judah against Moab was the setting for one of Elisha’s miracles. 3:4-5 The Moabite rebellion (see 1:1) began with the withholding of the annual tribute. The Moabite Stone (Mesha Stela) records details of Israel’s domination of northern Moab in the days of Omri and Ahab, a subservience that continued into the reigns of Ahaziah and Joram.”
- Ezekiel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Ezekiel 25:8: Against the Moabites Eze 25:8. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because Moab, like Seir, saith, Behold, like all other nations is the house of Judah: Eze 25:9. Therefore, behold, I will open the shoulder of Moab from the cities, from its cities even to the last, the ornament of the land, Beth-hayeshimoth, Baal-meon, and as far as Kiryathaim, Eze 25:10. To the sons of the east, together with the sons of Ammon, and will give it for a possession, that the sons of Ammon may no more be remembered among the nations. Eze 25:11. Upon Moab will I execute judgments; and the”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 1:1: Moab rebelled - The Moabites had been subdued by David, and laid under tribute, Kg2 3:4, and Sa2 8:2. After the division of the two kingdoms, the Moabites fell partly under the dominion of Israel, and partly under that of Judah, until the death of Ahab, when they arose and shook off this yoke. Jehoram confederated with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, in order to reduce them. See this war, Kg2 3:5.”
- Isaiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Isaiah 16:6: But if Moab does this, and the law of the history of Israel, which is that "a remnant shall return," is thus reflected in the history of Moab; Isa 16:6 cannot possibly contain the answer which Moab receives from Zion, as the more modern commentators assume according to an error that has almost become traditional. On the contrary, the prophecy enters here upon a new stage, commencing with Moab's sin, and depicting the fate of Moab in still more elegiac strains. "We have heard of the pride of Moab, the very haughty (pride), his haughtiness, and his pride, and his”
- Numbers (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Numbers 31:1: And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... After the plague upon Israel for their fornication and idolatry, into which they were drawn by the daughters of Moab and Midian, and after the sum of the people was taken in the plains of Moab, and various laws given or repeated, and a little before the death of Moses: saying; as follows.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Isaiah 16:12: that Moab has wearied on the high place to wage war on the high places of the towers.”