Who Are the Moabites Today?

The land of Moab was an ancient region in the Middle East, set on the eastern banks of the Dead Sea, and was often in conflict with Israel. The tribe of Moabites was descended from Moab, the son of Lot and one of his daughters. The present-day area is quite different, but the Moabites played an important role in creating the landscapes we know today.

Who Were the Moabites in Biblical Times?

The Moab people originally shared ancestry with the people of Israel, though they were polytheistic (Judges 10:6) pagans and primarily worshipped a god called Chemosh (Numbers 21:29).

The Biblical Relevance of the Moab People

God rescued Lot and his family from Sodom, allowing them shelter in the mountains and the city of Zoar, which He decided to spare after Lot’s request. The bible mentions Zoar as a Moabite City.

The Moabite people were often at war with the Israelites, mainly owing to their differing beliefs.

Ruth is one of the most significant Moab figures in the bible. Though her heritage was Israeli, she grew up as a pagan with the Moabites. When she met the God of Israel, however, she became a faithful believer and a living testimony to Him. She is one of the few Moabites mentioned as having a genealogical connection with Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

Who Are the Moabites Today?

The original Moabite tribe no longer exists. Moab was conquered by the Babylonians in 583 BC, from which point we do not find records of them. The Moab land is now known as the country of Jordan, though the modern-day Jordanians share no similarities to the Moabites as the majority of the people living in Jordan are Muslim.

The stories connected to the Moabites often illustrate God's ability to inspire people to have faith in Him, as it was in the story of Ruth. They also illustrate His grace in giving second chances and showing forgiveness, as he did with Lot.