MOABITES (mo'ab-ites), (Heb. mo-aw bee' a tribe descended from Moab, the son of Lot, and consequently related to the Hebrms (Gen. xix:37).
(1) Territory. Previous to the exodus of the latter from Egypt, the former, after expelling the original inhabitants, called Entims (Gen. xiv :5; Deut. :it), had possessed themselves of the region on the east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan, as far north as the river Jabbok. But the northern, and indeed the finest and best, portion of the territory, viz., that extending from the Jabbok to the Arnon, had passed into the hands of the Amorites, who founded there one of their kingdoms, with Heshbon for its capital (Num. xxi :26). Og had established another at Bashan. Hence at the time of the Exodus the valley and river Arnon constituted the northern boundary of Moab (Num. xxi :13; Judg. xi :18; Joseph. Antiq. iv:5, 1). As the Hebrews ad vanced in order to take possession of Canaan, they did not enter the proper territory of the Moabites (Deut. ii :9 ; Judg. xi :18), but conquered the kingdom of the Amorites (a Canaanitish tribe), which had formerly belonged to Moab; whence the western part, lying along the Jor dan, frequently occurs under the name of 'plains of Moab' (Deut. i (2) 1VIoab and Israel. The Moabites, fearing the numbers that were marching around them, showed them at least no kindness (Deut. xxiii :4) ; and their king (Balalc) hired Balaarn to utter prophetic curses, which, however, were converted into blessings in his mouth (Num. xii sq.). The Gadites now took possession of the northern portion of this territory, which the Amorites had wrested from the Moabites, and established them selves there; while the Reubenites settled in the southern part (Num. xxxii :34; comp. Josh. xiii, which, however, differs somewhat in the designation of particular towns).
We see the first hostilities breaking out in the beginning of the period of the Judges, when the Hebrews had been for a long time tributary to the Moabites, but threw off their yoke under Ehud (Judg. :12-3o). Towards the end of this period,
however, peace and friendship were restored, mu. tual honors were reciprocated (as the histary of Ruth shows), and Moab appears often to have afforded a place of refuge to outcasts and emi grant Hebrews (Ruth HI ; comp. Sam. xxii: 3, 4; Jer. xl ; Is. xvi :2). After Saul had waged successful war against them (I Sam. xiv : 47), David made them tributary (2 Sam. viii :2, 12; xxiii :20). The right to levy this tribute seems to have been transferred to Israel after. the division of the kingdom; for upon the death of Ahab (about B. C. 896) they refused to pay the customary tribute of too,000 Iambs and as many rams (2 Kings i :1 ; iii :4 ; comp. Is. xvi Jehoram (B. C. 896), in alliance with Judah and Edom, sought indeed to bring them back to their subjection. The invading army, after having been preserved from perishing by thirst through the intervention of EliSha, defeated the Moabites and ravaged the country ; but, through the strange conduct of the king, in offering up in sacrifice his son (MEsuA), were induced to retire without com pleting the object of the expedition. The Moabites deeply resented the part which the king of Judah took in this invasion, and formed a powerful con federacy with the Ammonites, Edomites, and others, who marched in great force into Judma, and formed their camp at Engedi, where they fell out among themselves and destroyed each other through the special interposition of Provi dence, in favor of Jehoshaphat and his people (2 Kings iii :4, sq.; comp. 2 Chron. xx :1-3o). (See