Moabite

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Moabite \Mo"ab*ite\, n.
     One of the posterity of Moab, the son of Lot. (--Gen. xix.
     37.) Also used adjectively.
     [1913 Webster]

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:



  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 the territory to the south of the Arnon.
     
       On their journey the Israelites did not pass through Moab, but
     through the "wilderness" to the east (Deut. 2:8; Judg. 11:18),
     at length reaching the country to the north of the Arnon. Here
     they remained for some time till they had conquered Bashan (see
     {SIHON}; {OG}). The Moabites were alarmed, and
     their king, Balak, sought aid from the Midianites (Num. 22:2-4).
     It was while they were here that the visit of Balaam (q.v.) to
     Balak took place. (See {MOSES}.)
     
       After the Conquest, the Moabites maintained hostile relations
     with the Israelites, and frequently harassed them in war (Judg.
     3:12-30; 1 Sam. 14). The story of Ruth, however, shows the
     existence of friendly relations between Moab and Bethlehem. By
     his descent from Ruth, David may be said to have had Moabite
     blood in his veins. Yet there was war between David and the
     Moabites (2 Sam. 8:2; 23:20; 1 Chr. 18:2), from whom he took
     great spoil (2 Sam. 8:2, 11, 12; 1 Chr. 11:22; 18:11).
     
       During the one hundred and fifty years which followed the
     defeat of the Moabites, after the death of Ahab (see MESHA
     ŻT0002505), they regained, apparently, much of their former
     prosperty. At this time Isaiah (15:1) delivered his "burden of
     Moab," predicting the coming of judgment on that land (comp. 2
     Kings 17:3; 18:9; 1 Chr. 5:25, 26). Between the time of Isaiah
     and the commencement of the Babylonian captivity we have very
     seldom any reference to Moab (Jer. 25:21; 27:3; 40:11; Zeph.
     2:8-10).
     
       After the Return, it was Sanballat, a Moabite, who took chief
     part in seeking to prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Neh.
     2:19; 4:1; 6:1).