Reference: Moab
Easton
the seed of the father, or, according to others, the desirable land, the eldest son of Lot (Ge 19:37), of incestuous birth.
(2.) Used to denote the people of Moab (Nu 22:3-14; Jg 3:30; 2Sa 8:2; Jer 48:11,13).
(3.) The land of Moab (Jer 48:24), called also the "country of Moab" (Ru 1:2,6; 2:6), on the east of Jordan and the Dead Sea, and south of the Arnon (Nu 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 (Nu 22:1; 26:63; Jos 13:32), the children of Israel had their last encampment before they entered the land of Canaan. It was at that time in the possession of the Amorites (Nu 21:22). "Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah," and "died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord" (De 34:5-6). "Surely if we had nothing else to interest us in the land of Moab, the fact that it was from the top of Pisgah, its noblest height, this mightiest of the prophets looked out with eye undimmed upon the Promised Land; that it was here on Nebo, its loftiest mountain, that he died his solitary death; that it was here, in the valley over against Beth-peor, he found his mysterious sepulchre, we have enough to enshrine the memory in our hearts."
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the elder bare a son and called him Moab, which is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
And they departed thence and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which river is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
"Let us go through thy land; We will not turn into thy fields nor into thy vineyards, neither drink of the water of the wells: but we will go along by the common way, until we be past thy country."
For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites which Sihon had fought before with the king of the Moabites, and had taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.
And the children of Israel removed, and pitched in the fields of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho.
and the Moabites were sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and abhorred the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, "Now this company hath licked up all that are round about us, as an ox licketh up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. read more. And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter, which dwelt upon the river of the land of the children of his folk; to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt which covereth the face of the earth and lie even hard by me. Come now a fellowship, and curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, so peradventure I might be able to smite them and to drive them out of the land. For I know that whom thou blessest shall be blessed, and whom thou cursest shall be cursed." And the elders of Moab went with the elders of Midian, and the reward of the soothsaying in their hands. And they came unto Balaam and told him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, "Tarry here all night and I will bring you word, even as the LORD shall say unto me." And the lords of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What men are these which are with thee?" And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 'Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt and covereth the face of the earth: come now therefore and curse me them, that so peradventure I may be able to overcome them in battle, and to drive them out.'" And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them, neither curse the people: for they are blessed." And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the lords of Balak, "Get you unto your land, for the LORD will not suffer me to go with you." And the lords of Moab rose up and went unto Balak and said, "Balaam would not come with us."
These are the numbers of the children of Israel which Moses and Eleazar the priest numbered in the fields of Moab, fast by Jordan nigh to Jericho.
So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab at the commandment of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab beside Bethpeor: but no man wist of his sepulchre unto this day.
These are they to which Moses gave inheritance in the fields of Moab, on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward.
and so the Moabites were subdued that day, under the hands of Israel: and the land had rest eighty years.
The name of the man was Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion and they were Ephraimites, out of Bethlehem Judah. And when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
Then she stood up with her daughters-in-law and returned from the country of Moab: for she had heard say, being in the country of Moab, how that the LORD hath visited his people and given them food.
And the young man that was set to oversee the harvest men answered and said, "It is the Moabitish damsel that came with Naomi out of the country of Moab,
Moab hath ever been rich and careless from her youth up, she hath sitten and taken her ease with her treasure. She was never yet put out of one vessel into another, that is, she never went away into captivity, therefore her taste remaineth, and her savour is not yet changed.
And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, like as Israel was ashamed of Bethel, wherein she put her trust.
and Kerioth, upon Bozrah and all the cities of the land of Moab, whether they lie far or near.
Fausets
("from father"), i.e. the incestuous offspring of Lot's older daughter, near Zoar, S.E. of the Dead Sea (Ge 19:37). Originally the Moabites dwelt due E. of the Dead Sea, from whence they expelled the Emims. Their territory was 40 miles long, 12 wide, the modern Belka or Kerak (De 2:10-11). Afterward, Sihon king of the Amorites drove them S. of the river Amon, now wady el Mojib (Nu 21:13,26-30; Jg 11:13,18), which thenceforward was their northern boundary. Israel was forbidden to meddle with them (Jg 11:9,19) on account of the tie of blood through Lot, Abraham's nephew, for Jehovah gave Ar unto the children of Lot, having dispossessed the giant Emims. It was only when Moab seduced Israel to idolatry and impurity (Numbers 25), and hired Balaam to curse them, that they were excluded from Jehovah's congregation to the tenth generation (De 23:3-4). Ammon was more roving than Moab and occupied the pastures to the N.E. outside the mountains.
Moab was more settled in habits, and remained nearer the original seat Zoar. Its territory after the Amorite conquest was circumscribed, but well fortified by nature (Nu 21:20, margin); called "the field of Moab" (Ru 1, and "the corner of Moab" (Nu 24:17; Jer 48:45). The country N. of Arnon, opposite Jericho reaching to Gilead, was more open; vast prairie-like plains broken by rocky prominences; "the land of Moab" (De 1:5; 32:49). Besides there was the Arboth Moab, "plains (rather deep valley) of Moab," the dry sunken valley of Jordan (Nu 22:1). Outside of the hills enclosing Moab proper on the S.E. are the uncultivated pastures called midbar, "wilderness," facing Moab (Nu 21:11). Through it Israel advanced. The song (Ex 15:15) at the Red Sea first mentions the nation, "trembling shall take hold upon ... the mighty men of Moab."
Israel's request for a passage through Edom and Moab, and liberty to purchase bread and water, was refused (Jg 11:17; Nu 20:14-21). In Israel's circuitous march round the two kingdoms they at last, when it suited their own selfish ends and when they could not prevent Israel's march, sold them bread and water (De 2:28-29; 23:3-4). The exclusion of a Moabite from the congregation only forbade his naturalization, not his dwelling in Israel nor an Israelite marrying a Moabitess. Ruth married Naomi's son, but became a proselyte. The law of exclusion it is clear could never have been written after David's time, whose great grandmother was a Moabitess. Israel was occupying the country N. of Arnon which Moab had just lost to Sihon, and which Israel in turn had wrested from him, and with its main force had descended from the upper level to the Shittim plains, the Arboth Moab, in the Jordan valley, when Balak, alarmed for his already diminished territory, induced the Midianite "elders" to join him and hired Balak; virtually, though never actually, "warring against Israel" (Jos 24:9; Jg 11:25).
The daughters of Moab, mentioned in Nu 25:1, were those with whom Israel "began whoredom," but the main guilt was Midian's, and on Midian fell the vengeance (Nu 25:16-18; 31:1-18). Moab's licentious rites furnished the occasion, but Midian was the active agent in corrupting the people. Balak (contrast, "the former king of Moab," Nu 21:26) was probably not hereditary king but a Midianite; the Midianites taking advantage of Moab's weakness after Sihon's victories to impose a Midianite king. Zippor ("bird"), his father, reminds us of other Midianite names, Oreb "crow," Zeeb "wolf"; Sihon may have imposed him on Moab. The five "princes" or "kings" of Midian were vassal "dukes of Sihon dwelling in the country" (Jos 13:21; Nu 31:8). The licentiousness of the neighboring cities of the plain and Moab's origin accord with the more than common licentiousness attributed to Moab and Midian in Numbers 25. Eglon king of Moab, with Ammon and Amalek, smote Israel and occupied Jericho, but was slain by the Benjamite Ehud (Jg 3:12-30). (See EGLON.)
Saul fought Moab successfully, himself also a Benjamite (1Sa 14:47). David moved away to Moab the land of his ancestry, fleeing from Saul, his and Moab's enemy, and committed to the king his father and mother (1Sa 22:3-4). Probably some act of perfidy of Moab, as the murder or treacherous delivering of his parents to Saul, caused David 20 years afterward to slay two thirds of the people, and make bondmen and tributaries of the rest (2Sa 8:2; in this war Benaiah slew two lion-like men, 2Sa 23:20; compare also Ps 60:8, "Moab is my washpot"; yet among David's heroes was "Ithmah the Moabite," 1Ch 11:22,46), fulfilling Balaam's prophecy, Nu 24:17,19; "out of Jacob shall come he that shall destroy him that remaineth of Ar" (Hebrew, namely, of Moab). Among Solomon's foreign concubines were Moabitish women, to whose god Chemosh he built "a high place on the hill before (facing) Jerusalem" (1Ki 11:1,7,33), where it remained until Josiah defiled it four centuries afterward (2Ki 23:13).
At the severance of Israel from Judah Moab was under Israel, because the Jordan fords lay within Benjamin which in part adhered to the northern kingdom. At Ahab's death Mesh and Dibon, who had paid for the time the enormous tribute, 100,000; lambs and 100,000 rams with the wool, revolted (2Ki 1:1; 3:4-5). (See MESH; DIBON.) His first, step was, he secured the cooperation of Ammon and others enumerated in Ps 83:7-8, in an invasion of Judah, which was before Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahaziah (2Ch 20:1-35), therefore still earlier than the invasion of Moab by the confederate kings of Edom, Israel (Jehoram, Ahaziah's son), and Judah (2 Kings 3). (See JEHOSHAPHAT; JEHORAM; ELISHA; EDOM.) Mutual dissension, under God, destroyed this heterogeneous mass. Then followed the joint invasion of Moab by Jehoshaphat of Judah, Jehoram of Israel, and the king of Edom (2 Kings 3).
The Septuagint states that the Moabite king assembled all old enough to bear a sword girdle. His mistaking the water glowing red with the morning sun for the mutually shed blood of the invaders (which observe he remembered had happened to his own and the allied forces attacking Jehoshaphat) caused Moab to rush forward for spoil, only to be slaughtered by the allies. At Kirhareseth or Kerak his immolation of his own son struck superstitious fear into the besiegers so that they retired (2Ki 3:27; compare Mic 6:5-8); and then followed all the conquests which Mesha records on the Moabite stone. Then too Moah, indignant at his former ally Edom having joined Israel against him, when Israel and Judah retired, burned the king of Edom alive, reducing his bones to lime; or, as Hebrew tradition represents, tore his body after death from the grave and burned it (Am 2:1). Moabite marauding "bands" thenceforward at intervals invaded Israel, as under Jehoahaz (2Ki 13:20).
A century and a half later, in Isaiah's "burden of Moab" (Isaiah 15-16) Moab appears possessing places which it had held in the beginning N. of Arnon, and which had been vacated by Reuben's removal to Assyria (1Ch 5:25-26). Compare also Jeremiah 48, a century later, about 600 B.C. Isaiah (Isa 16:14) foretells, "within three years, as the years of an hireling (who has a fixed term of engagement, so Moab's time of doom is fixed) ... the glory of Moab shall be contemned." Fulfilled by Shalmaneser or Sargon, who destroyed Samaria and ravaged the whole E. of Jordan (725-723 B.C.). As Ammon, so Moab probably, put itself under Judah's king, Uzziah's protection, to which Isaiah (Isa 16:1, "send ye the lamb (the customary tribute) to the ruler ... unto ... Zion") refers (2Ch 26:8; 2Sa 8:2; 2Ki 3:4). Moab contrasts with Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Amalek, Midian, as wealthy, abounding in vineyards, fruitful fields, and gardens, and civilized to a degree next Israel.
Hence flowed "pride (he is exceeding proud), loftiness, arrogance, and haughtiness of heart" (Jer 48:26,29; Isa 16:6-7). This sin is what brought on Moab destruction, "for he magnified himself against the Lord," boasting against God's people that whereas Israel was fallen Moab remained flourishing (Jas 5:6). In Isa 25:10-12 Moab is the representative of Israel's and the church's foes, especially antichrist, the last enemy. Jehovah, as a "swimmer," strikes out ri
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the elder bare a son and called him Moab, which is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Then the dukes of the Edomites were amazed, and trembling came upon the mightiest of the Moabites, and all the inhabiters of Canaan waxed faint-hearted.
and yet show mercy unto thousands among them that love me and keep my commandments.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, "Thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath happened us, how our fathers went down into Egypt, and how we have dwelt in Egypt a long time, and, how the Egyptians vexed both us and our fathers. read more. Then we cried unto the LORD and he heard our voices, and sent an angel and hath fetched us out of Egypt. And behold, we are in Kadesh, a city hard by the borders of thy country: let us go a good fellowship through thy country: we will not go through the fields nor through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the fountains: but we will go by the highway and neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left, until we be past thy country." And Edom answered him, "See thou come not by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword." And the children of Israel said unto him, "We will go by the beaten way: and if either we or our cattle drink of thy water, we will pay for it, we will do no more but pass through by foot only." And he said, "Ye shall not go through." And Edom came out against him with much people and with a mighty power. And thus Edom denied to give Israel passage through his country; And Israel turned away from him.
And they departed from Oboth and lay at Iyeabarim in the wilderness, which is before Moab on the east side.
And they departed thence and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which river is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab in the top of Pisgah which boweth toward the wilderness.
For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites which Sihon had fought before with the king of the Moabites, and had taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.
For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites which Sihon had fought before with the king of the Moabites, and had taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say: "Go to Heshbon and let the city of Sihon be built and made ready! read more. For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites and the men of the hills of Arnon! Woe be to thee, Moab! O people of Chemosh, ye are forlorn! His sons are put to flight and his daughters brought captive unto Sihon, king of the Amorites! Their light is out, from Heshbon unto Dibon! And we made a wilderness even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba!"
And the children of Israel removed, and pitched in the fields of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho.
I see him but not now, I behold him but not nigh. There shall come a star of Jacob and rise a scepter of Israel, which shall smite the coasts of Moab and undermine all the children of Seth.
I see him but not now, I behold him but not nigh. There shall come a star of Jacob and rise a scepter of Israel, which shall smite the coasts of Moab and undermine all the children of Seth.
And out of Jacob shall come he that shall destroy the remnant of the cities."
And Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab,
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Vex the Midianites and smite them, read more. for they have troubled you with their wiles with thee, which they have beguiled you, through Peor and through their sister Cozbi the daughter of a lord in Midian, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake."
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, and afterward be gathered unto thy people." read more. And Moses spake unto the folk, saying, "Harness some of you unto war, and let them go upon the Midianites and avenge the LORD of the Midianites. Ye shall send unto the war a thousand of every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel." And there were taken, out of the thousands of Israel, twelve thousand prepared unto war: of every tribe a thousand. And Moses sent them - a thousand of every tribe, with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest - to war, and the holy vessels and the trumpets to blow with, in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian among other that were slain; Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba: five kings of Midian. And they slew Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
And they slew the kings of Midian among other that were slain; Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba: five kings of Midian. And they slew Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian prisoners, and their children; and spoiled all their cattle, their substance and their goods. read more. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their castles, with fire. And they took all the spoil and all they could catch, both of men and beasts. And they brought the captives, and that which they had taken, and all the spoil, unto Moses and Eleazar the priest; and unto the company of the children of Israel, even unto the host in the fields of Moab by Jordan nigh to Jericho. And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the lords of the congregation went out of the host against them. And Moses was angry with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands and over hundreds, which came from war and battle, and said unto them, "Have ye saved the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD by the reason of Peor: and there followed a plague among the congregation of the LORD. Now, therefore, slay all the men-children and the women that have lain with men, fleshly. But all the women-children that have not lain with men, keep alive for yourselves.
On the other side Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying,
The Emims dwelt therein in times past; which were a great strong people, and high of stature as the Anakims. Which also were taken for Giants, like as the Anakims: And the Moabites called them Emims.
Sell me meat, for money, for to eat; and give me drink, for money, for to drink: I will go through by foot only - as the children of Esau did unto me, which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar - until I be come over Jordan, into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.'
The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the LORD; no, not in the tenth generation, no they shall never come in to the congregation of the LORD,
The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the LORD; no, not in the tenth generation, no they shall never come in to the congregation of the LORD, because they met you not with bread and water in the way when ye came out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
because they met you not with bread and water in the way when ye came out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
"Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho: and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel to possess.
and all the cities in the plain. And all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the lords of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the lords of Sihon, and the inhabiters of the country.
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor for to curse you.
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD. And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees. read more. And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of the Moabites eighteen years. And then they cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver, Ehud the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, a man that could do nothing handsomely with his right hand. And when the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two-edged dagger of a span long, and girded it under his garment upon his right thigh; and brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, and he himself turned back from the idols at Gilgal, and caused to say thus: "I have a secret thing to tell thee, O king." And the king commanded to keep silence, and all they that stood about him went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him in a summer parlor, of which he had several unto himself alone, and said, "I have a message unto thee from God." And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly, so that the hilt went in also, and the fat closed upon the hilt: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly. And filthiness departed from him. But Ehud gat him out at the back door, and put to the door after him, and locked it. When he was gone out, his servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the parlor were locked. And they said, "Ah, he is doing of his easement in his summer chamber." And when they had tarried till they were ashamed, for no man did the doors of the parlor open: then they took a key and opened them. And behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth. But Ehud escaped while they tarried, and was gone beyond the idols and escaped into Seirah. And when he was come, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel went down with him off the hill and he before them. And he said unto them, "Follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites into your hands." And they descended after him and took the passages of Jordan from the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of the Moabites, the same time, upon a ten thousand men, all nobles, and men of might: that there escaped not a man, and so the Moabites were subdued that day, under the hands of Israel: and the land had rest eighty years.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, "If ye bring me home again, to fight with the children of Ammon, then if the LORD deliver them before me, I shall be your head."
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when they came out of Egypt, even from Arnon unto Jabbok and from thence unto Jordan, now therefore restore those lands again with fair means."
and sent messengers unto the king of Edom saying, 'Let us, we pray thee, go through thy land.' But the king of Edom would not agree thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab, but he would not consent. And so Israel abode still in Kadesh. And then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came along by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of the river of Arnon, and came not within the coasts of the Moabites: for Arnon was their utmost border. read more. And then Israel sent messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorites, and king of Heshbon, and said unto him, 'Let us pass through thy land unto our own country.'
And thereto art thou better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? Did he strive with Israel or fight against thee,
And so Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side: against the Moabites; against the children of Ammon; against the Edomites; against the kings of Zobah; and against the Philistines.
And David went thence to Mizpeh in the land of Moab, and said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and mother, I pray thee, have their abiding with you, till I know what God will do with me." And he left them with the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David kept himself in holds.
And he beat the Moabites and measured them with a line, making them lie along the earth; so that he brought two parts of them to death, and let one part live. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and paid tribute.
Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of a lusty man valiant in acts of Kabzeel, he slew two lions of Moab. He went down and slew a lion in a pit in time of snow.
But king Solomon loved many outlandish women: the daughter of Pharaoh, and of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites,
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon.
because they have forsaken me, and have bowed themselves unto Ashtaroth the God of the Sidonians, and to Chemosh the God of the Moabites and to Milcom the God of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that pleaseth me, and mine ordinances and customs, as David his father.
And the Moabites rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
And Mesha king of Moab - which was rich of sheep, and was wont to render unto the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and as many rams, with the wool - rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab.
And then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the walls. And there came so great wrath upon Israel, that they departed from him and returned to their own land.
When Elisha was dead and buried the soldiers of the Moabites came into the land, the year following.
And the hill altars that were before Jerusalem on the righthand of the mount Nashith, which Solomon king of Israel built to Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians and to Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and to Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king defiled:
And the LORD sent upon him men of war out of Chaldea, out of Syria, out of the Moabites, and from the children of Ammon: and sent them into Judah to destroy it, according to the saying of the LORD which he spake by his servants the Prophets.
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the kindreds of the households of them that wrought bysse in the house of Ashbea. And Jokim and the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, which were inhabited in Moab, but returned to Lehem and to Debarim-Aikim. read more. These were potters and dwelt among trees and hedges and were in the king's work and dwelt even there.
But when they had transgressed against the God of their fathers and had gone awhoring after the gods of the people of the land, which God destroyed before them, God stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, and carried away the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, Habor, Hara and to the River Gozan, where they remain unto this day.
And he begat Shaharaim in the country of Moab after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives. And he begat of Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, read more. Jeuz, Sachia and Mirmah. These are his sons being ancient heads.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of a strong man that had done great deeds and was of Kabzeel: he slew two strong lions of Moab, and went down and slew a Lion in a pit in time of snow.
Eliel a Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam and Ithmah a Moabite;
After that came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them the Amanim, against Jehoshaphat to battle. And there came that told Jehoshaphat, saying, "There cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Syria. And see, they be in Hazazontamar," which is Engedi. read more. And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed fasting throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask counsel of the LORD. And thereto there came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court and said, "LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee. Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover forever? And they dwelt therein and have built thee a temple therein unto thy name, and said, 'When evil cometh upon us, as the sword of judgment, pestilence or hunger: then if we stand before this house and before thee - for thy name is in this house - and shall cry unto thee in our tribulation, thou shalt hear and help.' And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, by which thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of Egypt: but they departed from them and destroyed them not. And see, how they reward us, to come for to cast us out of thy possession which thou hast possessed us with all. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee." And as all Judah stood before the LORD with their young ones, their wives and their children: the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation. And he said, "Hearken all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem, and also king Jehoshaphat! Thus sayeth the LORD unto you: 'Be not afeard or faint hearted by reason of this great multitude. For the war is not yours, but God's. "And tomorrow ye shall go down to them: see, they come up at Ziz, and ye shall meet them in the flags of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. Moreover, it belongeth not to you for to fight this quarrel: but step forth and stand and behold the help of the LORD which is with you: fear not, nor let your heart fail you, O ye of Judah and of Jerusalem. Tomorrow go out to them: for the LORD is with you." And Jehoshaphat bowed himself with his face to the city, and all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, to bow themselves unto the LORD. And the Levites and the children of the Kohathites and of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And so they arose early in the morning and gat them out unto the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and so shall ye continue: and believe his prophets and so shall ye prosper." And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the LORD and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say, "Praise the LORD for his mercy lasteth ever." And what time they began to laud and praise, then the LORD set layers await against the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, to destroy them utterly and to wipe them out. And when they had made an end of the inhabiters of Seir, then they helped to destroy each other. And when Judah came to Mizphah in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude. And behold, they were dead carcasses fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And Jehoshaphat and his people went to rob away the spoil of them and found among them abundance of goods and raiment and of pleasant Jewels, and caught from them more than they could carry away: so that they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. And the fourth day they assembled in the valley of blessing, for there they blessed the LORD. And therefore they called the name of the said place the valley of blessing unto this day. And so all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned and Jehoshaphat among the thickest of them, for to go again to Jerusalem with gladness: for the LORD had made them to rejoice of their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets, even unto the house of the LORD. And the fear of God fell in the kingdoms of all lands, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. And so the realm of Jehoshaphat was in tranquility: for his God had given him rest on every side. And Jehoshaphat reigned upon Judah, and was thirty five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom, to do that was pleasant in the sight of the LORD. Howbeit, they put not down the hill altars, neither did the people yet prepare their hearts unto the God of their fathers. The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, are written in the works of Jehu the son of Hanani, which noted them in the book of the kings of Israel. After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer.
And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad even to Egypt: for he played the man and exceeded.
The children of Pahathmoab among the children of Jeshua Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve;
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant of the Ammonites, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, "What is this that ye do? Will ye fall away again from the king?"
But when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth and took great indignation and mocked the Jews
And when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the others of our enemies heard that I had builded the wall, and that there were no more gaps therein - howbeit at the same time had I not hanged the doors upon the gates -
Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I stretch out my shoe; Philistia shall be glad of me.
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek: the Philistines with them that dwell at Tyre. Assyria also is joined unto them, and have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
but they both together shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the West: and spoil them together that dwell toward the East. The Edomites and the Moabites shall let their hands fall, and the Ammonites shall be obedient unto them.
Send the Lord of the world a lamb, from the rock that lieth toward the desert, unto the hill of the daughter Zion.
We have heard of the pride of Moab: it is well known. He is very proud, presumptuous, arrogant, and full of indignation, and vain are his lies. Therefore shall Moab make lamentation because of the Moabites that shall be slain: yea, they shall wail all together. Because of the foundations of the city of brick shall ye complain, even ye lame people that are left only behind.
But now the LORD sayeth thus: In three years, which shall be as the years of a hired servant, shall the glory of Moab be turned into confusion throughout all his multitude, which is very great. And as for the remnant of them, they shall be small and feeble.
For the hand of the LORD ceaseth upon this hill. But Moab shall be threshed down under him, like as the straw is trodden under feet in a dunghill. For he shall stretch out his hand in the midst of them, like as a swimmer doth to swim. And with the strength of his hands shall he bring down their pride. read more. The stronghold also, and defense of thy walls hath he overthrown and cast down: and brought them to the ground, even into the dust.
Lo, I will send out, and call for all the people that dwell in the North, sayeth the LORD, and will prepare Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon my servant, and will bring them upon this land, and upon all that dwell therein, and upon all the people that are about them, and will utterly root them out. I will make of them a wilderness, a mockage, and a continual desert. Moreover, I will take from them the voice of gladness and solace, the voice of the bridegroom and the bride, the voice of the anointed, with the cressets: read more. and this whole land shall become a wilderness, and they shall serve the said people and the king of Babylon, three score years and ten. When the seventy years are expired, I will visit also the wickedness of the king of Babylon and his people sayeth the LORD: yea, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it a perpetual wilderness, and will fulfill all my words upon that land which I have devised against it - yea, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied of all people - so that they also shall be subdued unto divers nations and great kings, for I will recompense them according to their deeds and works of their own hands.' "For thus hath the LORD God of Israel spoken unto me, 'Take this wine cup of indignation from my hand, that thou mayest cause all the people, to whom I send thee, for to drink of it: that when they have drunken thereof, they may be mad, and out of their wits, when the sword cometh that I will send among them.' Then took I the cup from the LORD's hand, and made all the people drink thereof, unto whom the LORD had sent me. But first the city of Jerusalem, and all the cities of Judah, their kings and princes: to make them desolate, waste, despised and cursed according as it is come to pass this day. Yea, and Pharaoh the king of Egypt, his servants, his princes and his people altogether one with another; and all kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistine's land - Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod - the Edomites, the Moabites, and the Ammonites;
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, which spake thus unto me, "Make thee bonds and chains, and put them about thy neck, read more. and send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon: and that by the messengers, which shall come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah the king of Judah, and bid them say unto their masters, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel, speak thus unto your masters: I am he that made the earth, the men, and the cattle that are upon the ground, with my great power and outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it pleased me. And now will I deliver all these lands into the power of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant. The beasts also of the field shall I give him to do him service. And all people shall serve him, and his son, and his child's children, until the time of the same land be come also: Yea, many people and great kings shall serve him. Moreover, that people and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar, and that will not put their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, the same people will I visit with the sword, with hunger, and with pestilence, until I have consumed them in his hands, sayeth the LORD.
For they preach you lies, to bring you far from your land, and that I might cast you out, and destroy you. But the people that put their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those I will let remain still in their own land, sayeth the LORD, and they shall occupy it, and dwell therein.'"
Make her drunken, for she magnified herself above the LORD, that men may clap their hands at her vomit, and that she also may be laughed into scorn.
As for Moab's pride, we have heard of it, she is very high-minded. I know her stoutness, her boasting, her arrogance, and the pride of her stomach, sayeth the LORD.
They that are able to flee, shall stand under the shadow of Heshbon. For there shall go a fire out of Heshbon, and a flame from Zion, and shall burn up that proud people of Moab, both before and behind.
As concerning the Ammonites, thus the LORD sayeth, "Hath Israel no children, or is he without a heir? Why hath your king then taken Gad in? Wherefore doth his people dwell in his cities?
"'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as Moab and Seir do say, 'As for the house of Judah, it is but like as all other Gentiles be,' Therefore, behold, I will make the cities of Moab weaponless, and take away their strength, their cities, and chief coasts of their land which are the pleasures of the country: As namely. Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim. read more. These will I open unto them of the east, that they may fall upon the Ammonites: and will give it them in possession: so that the Ammonites shall no more be had in remembrance among the Heathen. Even thus will I punish Moab also, that they may know how that I am the LORD.
he shall enter also into the fair pleasant land. Many cities and countries shall decay, except Edom, Moab and the best of the children of Ammon, which shall escape from his hand.
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Moab, I will not spare him: because he burnt the bones of the king of Edom to ashes.
Remember, O my people, what Balak the king of Moab had imagined against thee, and what answer that Balaam the son of Beor gave him, from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the loving-kindness of the LORD. "What acceptable thing shall I offer unto the LORD? Shall I bow my knee to the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, and with calves of a year old? read more. Hath the LORD a pleasure in many thousand rams, or innumerable streams of oil? Or shall I give my firstborn for mine offenses, and the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" I will show thee, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requireth of thee: Namely, to do right, to have pleasure in loving-kindness, to be lowly, and to walk with thy God.
I have heard the despite of Moab, and the blasphemies of the children of Ammon: how they have shamefully intreated my people, and magnified themselves within the borders of their land.
Ye have condemned and have killed the just, and he hath not resisted you.
Morish
Mo'ab Moabites. Mo'abites
Son of Lot and his eldest daughter; his descendants; and the land which they inhabited. Ge 19:37. No account is given of Moab personally. The territory of his descendants was on the east of the Salt Sea. When the tribe of Reuben obtained their possession, their boundary on the south was the river Arnon, which river was the northern boundary of the Moabites, for they had been driven south by the Amorites before the arrival of Israel. Nu 21:11-30. When the Israelites approached the promised land they were directed not to distress nor contend with Moab, De 2:9, so they passed to the east of them. The Moabites were however filled with terror when they heard that the Amorites had been smitten, and Balak their king hired Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam was compelled by God to bless them instead of cursing them, but he gave to Balak the fatal advice to try to weaken them by seductive alliances (which would cause them to fall under the Lord's discipline), and this, alas, was only too successful: cf. Re 2:14. It was in a valley in the land of Moab that Moses was secretly buried. De 34:6.
In the time of the judges God used Eglon king of Moab to punish Israel, and they served the Moabites eighteen years; but when they cried unto the Lord, He delivered them, and ten thousand of the Moabites were slain. Jg 3:12-30. The relations of Israel with the Moabites were varied. In the prophecy of Isaiah 16 Moab is characteristic of the world in which outcast Israel is hidden: Elimelech and Naomi fled thither from the famine, and David, when Saul was persecuting him, entrusted to their king his father and mother. During his subsequent reign David defeated them and made them tributary. 1Sa 22:3-4; 2Sa 8:2; 1Ch 18:2.
In the time of Jehoshaphat the children of Moab, Ammon and mount Seir attacked Judah, but God made the battle His own and caused them to attack one another. 2Ch 20:1-23. During Ahab's reign they were again tributary, but at his death they threw off their allegiance, but were completely subdued by the united forces of Israel, Judah and Edom. In desperation the king of Moab offered up his eldest son as a sacrifice. 2Ki 3:4-27. They revived to some extent, but were again subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. Jer 27:1-11.
Ruth was a MOABITESS, and so also were some of Solomon's wives, for whom he introduced into Jerusalem the worship of Chemosh the idol of Moab. 2Ki 23:13. The Moabites were not allowed to be received into the congregation of the Lord for ever. De 23:3. The numerous ruins extant in the country of the Moabites show that it was once populously occupied, and it must have been wealthy to have annually paid Israel 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams with the wool.
Moab is denounced in the prophets: it had reproached God's people, and He declared that it should be as Sodom, as the breeding of nettles and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation. Zep 2:8-9. This is its state at present. In the future the king of the north shall enter "into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon," Da 11:40-41; these will be left for Israel to punish: cf. Isa 11:14.
THE MOABITE STONE. In connection with Moab an interesting monument was discovered in 1868 at Dibon (Dhiban) in the land of Moab. It was a stone 3ft. 10in. by 2ft., and contained 34 lines of inscription in the Phoenician character. When the Arabs discovered that two or three nations were desirous of possessing the stone they thought they should gain more by breaking it into pieces: a fire was kindled beneath it, and, when heated, cold water was poured on the top, which broke it. Eventually about two thirds of these pieces were obtained, and are now in the Museum of the Louvre in Paris: a paper cast is in the British Museum. A paper impression had been taken of the stone before it was broken, which, with the pieces recovered, renders it possible to give a nearly complete translation of the inscription.
It is dedicated to Chemosh, the god of Moab, by Mesha. He admits that Chemosh was angry with his land, and that Omri king of Israel took it, and he and his son oppressed them forty years. Then Chemosh had mercy on it, and the king was able to rescue some of the cities, kill the people, and take the spoil, and he built others, of which he gives the names. There can be no doubt that the Mesha of the stone is the same as the Mesha, of scripture. The son of Omri would be Ahab; and in 2Ki 3:5 it says that on the death of Ahab the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. Ahaziah succeeded Ahab, but it was not he that attacked Moab: his reign (called two years) and the beginning of the reign of Jehoram, would give Mesha time to strengthen himself against Israel and attack some of the outlying cities. Scripture is thus confirmed by this interesting monument.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the elder bare a son and called him Moab, which is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
And they departed from Oboth and lay at Iyeabarim in the wilderness, which is before Moab on the east side. And they removed thence, and pitched upon the river of Zered. read more. And they departed thence and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which river is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. Wherefore it is spoken in the book of the war of the LORD, "Go with a violence, both on the river of Arnon and on the river's head, which shooteth down to dwell at Ar, and leaneth upon the coasts of Moab." And from thence they came to Bear, which is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, "Gather the people together, that I may give them water." Then Israel sang this song: "Arise up, well! Sing thereto! The well which the rulers digged, and the captains of the people; with the help of the lawgiver, and with their staves!" And from this wilderness they went to Mattanah, and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab in the top of Pisgah which boweth toward the wilderness. And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, "Let us go through thy land; We will not turn into thy fields nor into thy vineyards, neither drink of the water of the wells: but we will go along by the common way, until we be past thy country." And Sihon would give Israel no license to pass through his country, but gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness. And he came to Jahaz and fought with Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and conquered his land, from Arnon unto Jabbok: even unto the children of Ammon. For the borders of the children of Ammon are strong. And Israel took all these cities and dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites: in Heshbon and in all the towns that long thereto. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites which Sihon had fought before with the king of the Moabites, and had taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say: "Go to Heshbon and let the city of Sihon be built and made ready! For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites and the men of the hills of Arnon! Woe be to thee, Moab! O people of Chemosh, ye are forlorn! His sons are put to flight and his daughters brought captive unto Sihon, king of the Amorites! Their light is out, from Heshbon unto Dibon! And we made a wilderness even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba!"
Then the LORD said unto me, 'See that thou vex not the Moabites, neither provoke them to battle, for I will not give thee of their land to possess: because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot to possess.'
The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the LORD; no, not in the tenth generation, no they shall never come in to the congregation of the LORD,
And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab beside Bethpeor: but no man wist of his sepulchre unto this day.
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD. And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees. read more. And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of the Moabites eighteen years. And then they cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver, Ehud the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, a man that could do nothing handsomely with his right hand. And when the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two-edged dagger of a span long, and girded it under his garment upon his right thigh; and brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, and he himself turned back from the idols at Gilgal, and caused to say thus: "I have a secret thing to tell thee, O king." And the king commanded to keep silence, and all they that stood about him went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him in a summer parlor, of which he had several unto himself alone, and said, "I have a message unto thee from God." And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly, so that the hilt went in also, and the fat closed upon the hilt: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly. And filthiness departed from him. But Ehud gat him out at the back door, and put to the door after him, and locked it. When he was gone out, his servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the parlor were locked. And they said, "Ah, he is doing of his easement in his summer chamber." And when they had tarried till they were ashamed, for no man did the doors of the parlor open: then they took a key and opened them. And behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth. But Ehud escaped while they tarried, and was gone beyond the idols and escaped into Seirah. And when he was come, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel went down with him off the hill and he before them. And he said unto them, "Follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites into your hands." And they descended after him and took the passages of Jordan from the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of the Moabites, the same time, upon a ten thousand men, all nobles, and men of might: that there escaped not a man, and so the Moabites were subdued that day, under the hands of Israel: and the land had rest eighty years.
And David went thence to Mizpeh in the land of Moab, and said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and mother, I pray thee, have their abiding with you, till I know what God will do with me." And he left them with the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David kept himself in holds.
And Mesha king of Moab - which was rich of sheep, and was wont to render unto the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and as many rams, with the wool - rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab.
rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab. And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same season, and numbered all Israel; read more. and then went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab hath rebelled against me, wilt thou go with me against the Moabites to battle?" And he said, "I will go, and will be as thou, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." And he said, "What way shall we go?" And the other answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom." And the king of Israel took his journey with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had compassed the way seven days, there was no water for the host nor for the cattle that they had with them. Then said the king of Israel, "Alas, the LORD hath called together these three kings to deliver them into the hands of the Moabites." But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there here no prophet of the LORD's, that we may enquire of the LORD by him?" And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah." And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father and of thy mother." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Oh nay, but hath the LORD called these three kings to deliver them into the hands of the Moabites?" And Elisha said, "As sure as the LORD of Hosts liveth - in whose sight I stand - and it were not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor yet see ye." But now bring me a minstrel. And as the minstrel played, the hand of the LORD was upon him. And he said, "Thus biddeth the LORD, 'Make this brook full of ditches.' For thus sayeth the LORD, 'Ye shall see neither wind nor rain, and yet this brook shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, and your beasts and your cattle also.' And this is yet but a small thing in the sight of the LORD: But he will give the Moabites into your hands also. And ye shall destroy all strong towns and all goodly cities, and shall fall all pleasant trees and stop all the wells of water, and mar all good plots of ground with stones." And in the morning, about offering time, there came such a water that way from Edom that the country was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come to fight against them, they gathered together, from the youngest that was able to put on harness and so upward, and waited in the borders. And they being up early in the morning, the sun arose and shone upon the water. And when the Moabites saw the water afar off, as red as blood, they said, "It is blood, the kings have fought together and one slain another. Now therefore ye Moabites get you to the spoil." And when they came to the Host of Israel, the Israelites stood up and laid on the Moabites, that they fled before them: And so they entered the land and destroyed the Moabites. And they overthrew the cities, and on every good parcel of land, cast every man his stone and over-covered it, and stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees. And as long as the stones thereof did remain in the walls of brick the slingers went upon it and beat it. And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was so strong for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew the sword, to have broken up unto the king of Edom. But they could not. And then he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the walls. And there came so great wrath upon Israel, that they departed from him and returned to their own land.
And the hill altars that were before Jerusalem on the righthand of the mount Nashith, which Solomon king of Israel built to Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians and to Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and to Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king defiled:
After that came the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them the Amanim, against Jehoshaphat to battle. And there came that told Jehoshaphat, saying, "There cometh a great multitude against thee from the other side the sea out of Syria. And see, they be in Hazazontamar," which is Engedi. read more. And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed fasting throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask counsel of the LORD. And thereto there came out of all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court and said, "LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and reignest not thou on all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is power and might, that no man can stand before thee. Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover forever? And they dwelt therein and have built thee a temple therein unto thy name, and said, 'When evil cometh upon us, as the sword of judgment, pestilence or hunger: then if we stand before this house and before thee - for thy name is in this house - and shall cry unto thee in our tribulation, thou shalt hear and help.' And now behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, by which thou wouldest not let Israel go, when they came out of Egypt: but they departed from them and destroyed them not. And see, how they reward us, to come for to cast us out of thy possession which thou hast possessed us with all. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do: but our eyes be unto thee." And as all Judah stood before the LORD with their young ones, their wives and their children: the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, even as he was in the midst of the congregation. And he said, "Hearken all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem, and also king Jehoshaphat! Thus sayeth the LORD unto you: 'Be not afeard or faint hearted by reason of this great multitude. For the war is not yours, but God's. "And tomorrow ye shall go down to them: see, they come up at Ziz, and ye shall meet them in the flags of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. Moreover, it belongeth not to you for to fight this quarrel: but step forth and stand and behold the help of the LORD which is with you: fear not, nor let your heart fail you, O ye of Judah and of Jerusalem. Tomorrow go out to them: for the LORD is with you." And Jehoshaphat bowed himself with his face to the city, and all Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, to bow themselves unto the LORD. And the Levites and the children of the Kohathites and of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And so they arose early in the morning and gat them out unto the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went out Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and the inhabiters of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and so shall ye continue: and believe his prophets and so shall ye prosper." And he gave the people counsel, and set the singers of the LORD and them that praised in holy apparel, to go out before the army and to say, "Praise the LORD for his mercy lasteth ever." And what time they began to laud and praise, then the LORD set layers await against the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, to destroy them utterly and to wipe them out. And when they had made an end of the inhabiters of Seir, then they helped to destroy each other.
but they both together shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the West: and spoil them together that dwell toward the East. The Edomites and the Moabites shall let their hands fall, and the Ammonites shall be obedient unto them.
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, which spake thus unto me, "Make thee bonds and chains, and put them about thy neck, read more. and send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon: and that by the messengers, which shall come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah the king of Judah, and bid them say unto their masters, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel, speak thus unto your masters: I am he that made the earth, the men, and the cattle that are upon the ground, with my great power and outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it pleased me. And now will I deliver all these lands into the power of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant. The beasts also of the field shall I give him to do him service. And all people shall serve him, and his son, and his child's children, until the time of the same land be come also: Yea, many people and great kings shall serve him. Moreover, that people and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar, and that will not put their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, the same people will I visit with the sword, with hunger, and with pestilence, until I have consumed them in his hands, sayeth the LORD. And therefore follow not your Prophets, soothsayers, expounders of dreams, charmers and witches, which say unto you: Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon. For they preach you lies, to bring you far from your land, and that I might cast you out, and destroy you. But the people that put their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those I will let remain still in their own land, sayeth the LORD, and they shall occupy it, and dwell therein.'"
In the latter time, shall the king of the south strive with him; and the king of the north in like manner shall come against him with chariots, horsemen and with a great navy of ships. He shall come into the lands, destroy and go through: he shall enter also into the fair pleasant land. Many cities and countries shall decay, except Edom, Moab and the best of the children of Ammon, which shall escape from his hand.
I have heard the despite of Moab, and the blasphemies of the children of Ammon: how they have shamefully intreated my people, and magnified themselves within the borders of their land. Therefore as truly as I live, sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel, Moab shall be as Sodom, and Ammon as Gomorrah: even dry thorn hedges, salt pits and perpetual wilderness. The residue of my folk shall spoil them, the remnant of my people shall have them in possession.
But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast, there, they that maintain the doctrine of Balaam, which taught in Balak to put occasion of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Smith
Mo'ab
(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,
De 2:11
but they themselves were afterward driven southward by the warlike Amorites, who had crossed the Jordan, and were confined to the country south of the river Arnon, which formed their northern boundary.
The territory occupied by Moab at the period of its greatest extent, before the invasion of the Amorites, divided itself naturally into three distinct and independent portions:-- (1) The enclosed corner or canton south of the Arnon was the "field of Moab."
etc. (2) The more open rolling country north of the Arnon, opposite Jericho, and up to the hills of Gilead, was the "land of Moab."
De 1:5; 32:49
etc. (3) The sunk district in the tropical depths of the Jordan valley.
etc. The Israelites, in entering the promised land, did not pass through the Moabites,
but conquered the Amorites, who occupied the country from which the Moabites had been so lately expelled. After the conquest of Canaan the relations of Moab with Israel were of a mixed character, sometimes warlike and sometimes peaceable. With the tribe of Benjamin they had at least one severe struggle, in union with their kindred the Ammonites.
The story of Ruth, on the other hand, testifies to the existence of a friendly intercourse between Moab and Bethlehem, one of the towns of Judah. By his descent from Ruth, David may be said to have had Moabite blood in his veins. He committed his parents to the protection of the king of Moab, when hard pressed by Saul.
But here all friendly relations stop forever. The next time the name is mentioned is in the account of David's war, who made the Moabites tributary.
At the disruption of the kingdom Moab seems to have fallen to the northern realm. At the death of Ahab the Moabites refused to pay tribute and asserted their independence, making war upon the kingdom of Judah.
... As a natural consequence of the late events, Israel, Judah and Edom united in an attack on Moab, resulting in the complete overthrow of the Moabites. Falling back into their own country, they were followed and their cities and farms destroyed. Finally, shut up within the walls of his own capital, the king, Mesha, in the sight of the thousands who covered the sides of that vast amphitheater, killed and burnt his child as a propitiatory sacrifice to the cruel gods of his country. Isaiah, chs.
predicts the utter annihilation of the Moabites; and they are frequently denounced by the subsequent prophets. For the religion of the Moabites see CHEMOSH; MOLECH; PEOR.
See Chemosh
See Molech
See Peor
See also Tristram's "Land of Moab." Present condition. --(Noldeke says that the extinction of the Moabites was about A.D. 200, at the time when the Yemen tribes Galib and Gassara entered the eastern districts of the Jordan. Since A.D. 536 the last trace of the name Moab, which lingered in the town of Kir-moab, has given place to Kerak, its modern name. Over the whole region are scattered many ruins of ancient cities; and while the country is almost bare of larger vegetation, it is still a rich pasture-ground, with occasional fields of grain. The land thus gives evidence of its former wealth and power. --ED.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And they departed thence and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which river is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
And the children of Israel removed, and pitched in the fields of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho.
On the other side Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying,
Which also were taken for Giants, like as the Anakims: And the Moabites called them Emims.
"Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho: and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel to possess.
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD. And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees. read more. And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of the Moabites eighteen years. And then they cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver, Ehud the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, a man that could do nothing handsomely with his right hand. And when the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two-edged dagger of a span long, and girded it under his garment upon his right thigh; and brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, and he himself turned back from the idols at Gilgal, and caused to say thus: "I have a secret thing to tell thee, O king." And the king commanded to keep silence, and all they that stood about him went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him in a summer parlor, of which he had several unto himself alone, and said, "I have a message unto thee from God." And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly, so that the hilt went in also, and the fat closed upon the hilt: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly. And filthiness departed from him. But Ehud gat him out at the back door, and put to the door after him, and locked it. When he was gone out, his servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the parlor were locked. And they said, "Ah, he is doing of his easement in his summer chamber." And when they had tarried till they were ashamed, for no man did the doors of the parlor open: then they took a key and opened them. And behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth. But Ehud escaped while they tarried, and was gone beyond the idols and escaped into Seirah. And when he was come, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel went down with him off the hill and he before them. And he said unto them, "Follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites into your hands." And they descended after him and took the passages of Jordan from the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of the Moabites, the same time, upon a ten thousand men, all nobles, and men of might: that there escaped not a man, and so the Moabites were subdued that day, under the hands of Israel: and the land had rest eighty years.
And then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came along by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of the river of Arnon, and came not within the coasts of the Moabites: for Arnon was their utmost border.
And then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came along by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of the river of Arnon, and came not within the coasts of the Moabites: for Arnon was their utmost border.
In the time when the judges judged, there fell a dearth in the land. Wherefore a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion and they were Ephraimites, out of Bethlehem Judah. And when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
Then she stood up with her daughters-in-law and returned from the country of Moab: for she had heard say, being in the country of Moab, how that the LORD hath visited his people and given them food.
And David went thence to Mizpeh in the land of Moab, and said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and mother, I pray thee, have their abiding with you, till I know what God will do with me." And he left them with the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David kept himself in holds.
And he beat the Moabites and measured them with a line, making them lie along the earth; so that he brought two parts of them to death, and let one part live. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and paid tribute.
And the inhabiters of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: For the men of war that came with the Arabians in the host had slain all his elder sons. And so Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah, was made king.
Watsons
Moab was the son of Lot, and of his eldest daughter,Ge 19:31, &c. He was born about the same time as Isaac, A.M. 2108, and was father of the Moabites, whose habitation lay beyond Jordan and the Dead Sea, on both sides of the river Arnon. Their capital city was situated on that river, and was called Ar or Areopolis, or Ariol of Moab, or Rabbah Moab, that is, the capital of Moab, or Kirharesh, that is, a city with brick walls. This country was originally possessed by a race of giants called Emim, De 2:11-12. The Moabites conquered them, and afterward the Amorites took a part from the Moabites, Jg 11:13. Moses conquered that part which belonged to the Amorites, and gave it to the tribe of Reuben. The Moabites were spared by Moses, for God had restricted him, De 2:9. But there always was a great antipathy between the Moabites and the Israelites, which occasioned many wars between them. Balaam seduced the Hebrews to idolatry and uncleanness, by means of the daughters of Moab, Nu 25:1-2; and Balak, king of this people, endeavoured to prevail on Balaam to curse Israel. God ordained that the Moabites should not enter into the congregation of his people, because they had the inhumanity to refuse the Israelites a passage through their country, nor would they supply them with bread and water in their necessity. Eglon, king of the Moabites, was one of the first that oppressed Israel after the death of Joshua. Ehud killed Eglon, and Israel expelled the Moabites, Jg 3:12, &c. Hanun king of the Ammonites having insulted David's ambassadors, David made war against him, and subdued Moab and Ammon; under which subjection they continued till the separation of the ten tribes. The Ammonites and the Moabites continued in subjection to the kings of Israel to the death of Ahab. Presently after the death of Ahab the Moabites began to revolt, 2Ki 3:4-5. Mesha, king of Moab, refused the tribute of a hundred thousand lambs, and as many rams, which till then had been customarily paid, either yearly, or at the beginning of every reign; which of these two is not clearly expressed in Scripture. The reign of Ahaziah was too short to make war with them; but Jehoram, son of Ahab, and brother to Ahaziah, having ascended the throne, thought of reducing them to obedience. He invited Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who with the king of Edom, then his vassal, entered Moab, where they were near perishing with thirst, but were miraculously relieved, 2Ki 3:16, &c.
It is not easy to ascertain what were the circumstances of the Moabites from this time; but Isaiah, at the beginning of the reign of King Hezekiah, threatens them with a calamity, which was to happen three years after his prediction, and which probably referred to the war that Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, made with the ten tribes and the other people beyond Jordan. Am 1:13, &c, also foretold great miseries to them, which, probably, they suffered under Uzziah and Jothan, kings of Judah, or under Shalmaneser, 2Ch 26:7-8; 27:5; or, lastly, in the war of Nebuchadnezzar, five years after the destruction of Jerusalem. This prince carried them captive beyond the Euphrates, as the prophets had threatened, Jer 9:26; 12:14-15; 25:11-12; 48:47, &c; 49:3, 6, 39; 50:16; and Cyrus sent them home again, as he did the rest of the captives. After their return from captivity they multiplied, and fortified themselves, as the Jews did, and other neighbouring people, still in subjection to the kings of Persia. They were afterward conquered by Alexander the Great, and were in obedience to the kings of Syria and Egypt successively, and finally to the Romans. There is a probability, also that in the later times of the Jewish republic they obeyed the Asmonean kings, and afterward Herod the Great. The principal deities of the Moabites were Chemosh and Baal-peor.
The prophecies concerning Moab are numerous and remarkable. There are, says Keith, abundant predictions which refer so clearly to its modern state, that there is scarcely a single feature peculiar to the land of Moab, as it now exists, which was not marked by the prophets in their delineation of the low condition to which, from the height of its wickedness and haughtiness, it was finally to be brought down.
The land of Moab lay to the east and south-east of Judea, and bordered on the east, north-east, and partly on the south of the Dead Sea. Its early history is nearly analogous to that of Ammon; and the soil, though perhaps more diversified, is, in many places where the desert and plains of salt have not encroached on its borders, of equal fertility. There are manifest and abundant vestiges of its ancient greatness: the whole of the plains are covered with the sites of towns, on every eminence or spot convenient for the construction of one; and as the land is capable of rich cultivation, there can be no doubt that the country now so deserted once presented a continued picture of plenty and fertility. The form of fields is still visible; and there are the remains of Roman highways, which in some places are completely paved, and on which there are mile stones of the times of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Severus, with the number of the miles legible upon them. Wherever any spot is cultivated the corn is luxuriant; and the riches of the soil cannot perhaps be more clearly illustrated than by the fact, that one grain of Heshbon wheat exceeds in dimensions two of the ordinary sort, and more than double the number of grains grow on the stalk. The frequency, and almost, in many instances, the close vicinity of the sites of the ancient towns, prove that the population of the country was formerly proportioned to its natural fertility. Such evidence may surely suffice to prove that the country was well cultivated and peopled at a period so long posterior to the date of the predictions, that no cause less than supernatural could have existed at the time when they were delivered, which could have authorized the assertion with the least probability or apparent possibility of its truth, that Moab would ever have been reduced to that state of great and permanent desolation in which it has continued for so many ages, and which vindicates and ratifies to this hour the truth of the Scriptural prophecies. The cities of Moab were to be "desolate without any to dwell therein;" no city was to escape: Moab was to "flee away." And the cities of Moab have all disappeared. Their place, together with the adjoining part of Idumea, is characterized, in the map of Volney's Travels, by the ruins of towns. His information respecting these ruins was derived from some of the wandering Arabs; and its accuracy has been fully corroborated by the testimony of different European travellers of high respectability and undoubted veracity, who have since visited this devastated region. The whole country abounds with ruins; and Burckhardt, who encountered many difficulties in so desolate and dangerous a land, thus records the brief history of a few of them: "The ruins of Eleale, Heshbon, Meon, Medaba, Dibon, Aroer, still subsist to illustrate the history of the Beni Israel." And it might with equal truth have been added, that they still subsist to confirm the inspiration of the Jewish Scriptures, or to prove that the seers of Israel were the prophets of God; for the desolation of each of these very cities was a theme of a prediction. Every thing worthy of observation respecting them has been detailed, not only in Burckhardt's "Travels in Syria," but also by Seetzen, and, more recently, by Captains Irby and Mangles, who, along with Mr. Bankes and Mr. Leigh, visited this deserted district. The predicted judgment has fallen with such truth upon these cities, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab far and near, and they are so utterly "broken down," that even the prying curiosity of such indefatigable travellers could discover among a multiplicity of ruins only a few remains so entire as to be worthy of particular notice. The subjoined description is drawn from their united testimony: Among the ruins of El Aal (Eleale) are a number of large cisterns, fragments of buildings, and foundations of houses. At Heshban, (Heshbon,) are the ruins of a large ancien
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then said the elder unto the younger, "Our father is old, and there are no more men in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the world.
And Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, which called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people ate, and worshipped their gods,
Then the LORD said unto me, 'See that thou vex not the Moabites, neither provoke them to battle, for I will not give thee of their land to possess: because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot to possess.'
Which also were taken for Giants, like as the Anakims: And the Moabites called them Emims. In like manner the Horites dwelt in Seir, before time: which the children of Esau cast out, and destroyed them before them, and dwelt there in their stead: as Israel did in the land of his possession which the LORD gave them.
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD.
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when they came out of Egypt, even from Arnon unto Jabbok and from thence unto Jordan, now therefore restore those lands again with fair means."
And Mesha king of Moab - which was rich of sheep, and was wont to render unto the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and as many rams, with the wool - rebelled against the king of Israel after the death of Ahab.
And God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites. And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad even to Egypt: for he played the man and exceeded.
And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand quarters of wheat and as much barley. So much also did the children of Ammon give him the second year and the third too.
The Egyptians, the Jews, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the shaven Midianites that dwell in the wilderness. For all the Gentiles are uncircumcised in the flesh, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart."
Thus sayeth the LORD upon all mine evil neighbours, that lay hand on mine heritage, which I have given my people of Israel, "Behold, I will pluck them, namely Israel, out of their land; and put out the house of Judah from among them. And when I have rooted them out, I will be at one with them again, and will have mercy upon them: and bring them again, every man to his own heritage, and into his land.
and this whole land shall become a wilderness, and they shall serve the said people and the king of Babylon, three score years and ten. When the seventy years are expired, I will visit also the wickedness of the king of Babylon and his people sayeth the LORD: yea, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it a perpetual wilderness,
Yet at the last will I bring Moab out of captivity again, sayeth the LORD." Thus far is the plague of Moab.
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of the children of Ammon, I will not spare them: because they ripped up the women great with child in Gilead, to make the borders of their lands the wider.