The Moabites were an ancient Semitic people who inhabited the region known as Moab, located in present-day Jordan, alongside the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. They are mentioned numerous times in the Bible and other ancient Near Eastern texts. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, the nephew of the biblical figure Abraham, through his eldest daughter. They had their own distinct culture, religion, and language, which was closely related to Hebrew and other Canaanite languages of the time.
Historically, the Moabites were often in conflict or alliance with the Israelites, their neighbors to the west. The biblical narratives frequently mention interactions between Moab and Israel, including wars, alliances, and treaties. The Moabite king Balak is particularly notable in the Bible for his attempt to curse the Israelites with the help of the prophet Balaam, which is recounted in the Book of Numbers.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Moab existed as a political entity from at least the 13th century BCE until it was conquered by the Babylonians in the 6th century BCE. After the Babylonian conquest, the Moabites largely disappeared from history as a distinct people, though elements of their culture and language likely persisted among neighboring groups.
