Moabites

The Moabites were an ancient Semitic people who inhabited the region of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan. They are often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where they are depicted as both neighbors and adversaries of the Israelites. The Moabites worshipped various gods, including Chemosh, and had their own distinct culture and language. Notably, Ruth, a key figure in the Bible, was a Moabite who became the great-grandmother of King David, highlighting their historical and cultural significance in the ancient Near East. Their history reflects the complexities of ancient Israelite-Moabite relations.