Regions & nations · East of the Dead Sea
Moab
What was Moab?
Moab was Israel’s kindred-rival nation east of the Dead Sea — and the homeland of Ruth.
TodayThe plateau of west-central Jordan
AncestryLot
Famous daughterRuth
Descended from Lot, the Moabites lived on the high plateau across the Dead Sea. Their king Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel — and heard only blessing.
In the days of the judges, famine drove Naomi’s family to Moab; she returned with only Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law whose loyalty entered the line of David.
On the plains of Moab Israel camped before crossing the Jordan, and on its mountain Moses died.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
Numbers 22:1 “Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.” Ruth 1:1 “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.” Ruth 1:16 “But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”
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Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.