Bible Locations

Moab was the kingdom east of the Dead Sea, on the high plateau between the Arnon River and the Zered Valley, in modern Jordan, often extending further north. The Moabites were descended from Lot. Their god was Chemosh. King Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel, and Israel sinned with Moabite women at Peor. Moses died in the land of Moab and was buried there. The Moabite king Eglon oppressed Israel until Ehud killed him. Naomi's family moved to Moab, and Ruth the Moabite became David's great-grandmother. David placed his parents with the king of Moab and later conquered Moab. King Mesha rebelled after Ahab's death, and his inscription, the Mesha Stele, tells Moab's side of the story. Isaiah 15 and 16 and Jeremiah 48 lament Moab's fall. Moab was overrun by Babylon and later disappeared as a nation. Its capital, Dibon, and fortress, Kir-hareseth, are at Dhiban and Kerak.