The Kingdom of Moab

Moab

This paper is an outline of the history of Moab as it relates to the plan of God. The attempt is to organize all the scripture on Moab in chronological order, or as it refers to something in the past, (like Balak and Balaam)

The key to the history of Moab is how they were given opportunity to be a part of the covenant which God had with Israel. They were treated differently than the Canaanites, but still fought against Israel (Because of Jealousy?)

Moab was the son of Lot and his eldest daughter, conceived after the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 19:37) 

Their god was Chemosh

In Moses' song of the Exodus we have this line:

Ex 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Moses died in Moab; Ex 34

It seems that Moab had an opportunity to help Israel. But when Israel was leaving Egypt, Moab refused to help. Even though they were delivered from the Amorites by Israel they still held back.

Moab fights against the will of God:

Num 21-24

Num 21:26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say,

Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.

In Num 21 we have a description and proverb about Moab and Ammon and their involvement with the Amorites under Sihon. It seems that Moab was conquered by Sihon, Israel will be their salvation when they conquered Sihon, yet they fight against Israel in Num 22, and they have a prophet named Balaam who joins them.

Num 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

(Josh 24:8-10)8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: 10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

It is evident that Moab could have looked to Israel as a deliverer from the power of the Ammorites, but Balak, in his fear, wars against them. They would have left the Moabites alone. Balak and Balaam become a strong memory for Israel of the blessings of God, and the story is mentioned often in the old and new testaments.

Mic 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

Israel had been instructed to leave Moab alone:

Deut 2:9 And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession. (2:19 he has a possession for Ammon as well)

Yet, in a subsequent statement Moab is excluded from the congregation because of their transgressions.

Deut 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: 4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. 5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. 6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

Neh 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

During the time of the Judges (Ehud):

Judg 3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

Ruth the Moabitess

Noami's family was comfortable going to the land of Moab. Yet Moabites were refused entrance into the congregation of Israel. But because of a kinsman redeemer Ruth not only enters the congregation, she is found in the line of King David and ultimately the line of the Messiah.

Under Saul:

1 Sam 12......Discussion of all God did to subdue enemies which oppressed Israel including Moab

1 Sam 14:47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

Under David:

David gave his parents to the king of Moab to protect them from Saul

1 Sam 22:3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. 4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

But later, after his kingdom is established, David subdues them, finishing what Saul started.

2 Sam 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

1Chr 18:2 And he (David) smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

All the kingdoms which David brought together were intended to share in the glories of what Messiah was to bring

But Solomon follows instead of leads:

1Ki 7:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

Rebelled against Israel as ruler;

2Chr 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2Ki 1:1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2KI 3:4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

Amos 2:1-2

1 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

3 And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

Zeph 2:8-9

8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.

11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

Leads to Jehoshaphat of Judah joining with Israel to subdue those who had once been their servants

see 2 Chr 20 Jehoshaphat defeats Moab, Ammon and other confederates.

Isa 15 and 16 are a specific burden for Moab, who along with all of the kingdoms David had brought into the fold of Israel were called out for  blessing.

Jer 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

Isaiah and Ezekiel speak about Moab in the last days

Isa 11:13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

Ezek 25:8 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; 9 Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 10 Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

and to godliness brotherly kindness

2Pet 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

the Greek word translated as brotherly kindness is philadelphia; meaning fraternal affection. It is derived from philos, which is a friend. It is found 6 times in 5 verses.

Peter had used it in his previous epistle:

1Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

In Romans 12 Paul is laying out instructions to guide daily living in the character of God.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

This is the character of the people of God.

Paul also instructs the Thessalonians how to walk with God, (1Thess 4:1) and brotherly love is included in that instruction as a summary of what has come before.

1Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

In Hebrews 13 Paul gives similar instruction on walking in the ways of God, and he begins with brotherly love:

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

All of this brings us back to Jesus' admonition to his disciples:

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Also in John 15:12)

And to the recurring admonition in John's epistles:

1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

See also 1Jn 4:11-12 and 2Jn 1:5

Therefore, giving ourselves to brotherly love is essential in walking with Jesus and showing forth the character of God. It is essential in our response to how God has loved us that we love one another. So add to your godliness brotherly love, the spirit of God that is in you will teach you to love one another in the same way that Jesus loved us.

Appendix

Paul's Instructions leading up to brotherly love:

1Thess 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Another discourse by Paul on brotherly love:

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Note that this is often placed as an opposite to sin

and to Patience Godliness

 2Pet 2:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Godliness here is translated from the Greek eusebeia, (yoo-seb-i-ah).

it means piety and is derived from a word which means devout and a further derivation from a word which means to revere or adore.

In Acts 3:12 it is used to explain that it wasn't by Peter and John's own holiness that a lame man was made to walk. Making it clear that godliness is not how we earn anything from God, but it is a maturing in the ways of God. It is not that they did not have godliness, but that it was not the reason for the miracle. The word pious is often used derisively in our world today, but godliness is valuable to add to your faith.

Paul uses this word often in his instructions to Timothy. 

1Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

He goes on further to instruct Timothy to exercise thyself unto godliness because it is profitable, and to teach doctrine which is according to godliness and that gain is not godliness, but godliness is great gain. (1Tim 4:7-8; 6:3-6, 11) He also makes reference that there are forms of godliness, but they deny the power of godliness. (2Tim 3:5)

Lastly Peter lets us know that godliness is key in light of the judgments of God:

2Pet 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Reverent worship of God, a life of devotion to God and to his ways is great gain.

and to Temperance Patience

2Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

The word for patience means cheerful constancy. It is used in Rom 5 of enduring tribulation. Growth in the character of God and the result hope, (or expectation) (Rom 5:3-4; 8:25; 15:4)

In second Corinthians Paul uses the word again in context to enduring sufferings, (2Cor 1:6, translated enduring; 6:4; 12:12), resulting in signs wonders and mighty deeds.

Another description of endurance in the face of trials/persecution:

2 Thess 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

James tells us that the trying of your faith works patience, and you need to let patience have its perfect work. (James 1:3-4) He also uses the Prophets and Job as examples:

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

You have need of patience (Heb 10:36), and we are to run with patience (Heb 12:1)

Having patience is commended in Revelation 2:2, 3; 2:19; 3:10.

And to knowledge Temperance

In 2Pet 1:6 we are told to add to or knowledge, temperance.

Temperance is translated from the Greek (eng-krat-i-ah) and means self control, or strength (kratos) over self)

When Paul was explaining faith in Jesus to Felix the governor and his wife Drusilla, we see the themes that he reasons with Felix about.

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

In this context we see the three great doctrines. What God has done for us, our response to what he has done and the clear expectation of a coming judgment.

we have received like precious faith, we have added virtue and knowledge, now add self control. A submission to those higher ways and a consecration not to violate them.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

A slightly different word; also means strong/self control.

To Virtue add Knowledge

 2Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

This word is first seen in the NT in the book of Luke. Both times linked to the way of salvation.

Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Here Zacharias prophesies of the calling of his son John, known later as the Baptist. He was to give knowledge of salvation, manifested by the remission of sins. This is an incredible and Holy calling.

Next we see it used in in the opposite way by Jesus.

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Jesus had pointed to John as the forerunner for his ministry and asked the Pharisees to tell him whether John was from God or not, they could not or would not tell. He also pointed to John as more than a prophet and one who was not shaken with the wind.

In Rom 2:20 the knowledge is likened to a form because the so called teachers have not put away sin.

In Rom 11:33 we see the knowledge of God as the higher ways...

In Rom 15:14 Paul declares that those in Rome to whom he was writing were full of this knowledge and able to admonish one another

He also in 1Cor  uses the word as knowledge of what is going on with meat and drink offered to idols and how to use this knowledge correctly. He also talks of "the word of Knowledge" as a gift of the Holy Spirit. These all describe a higher knowledge

It is found in Jesus:

2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The treasure of wisdom and knowledge is in Jesus (Col 2:3)

In 2Cor 6:6 we see knowledge listed as part of the equipment of the ministers of God

In 1Cor 13:8 we see that love is greater than knowledge and in Eph 3:19 we see that the love of Christ passes knowledge.

This knowledge of Jesus is excellent and Paul suffered loss of all in this life to obtain it (Phil 3:8)

Husbands are to dwell with their wives according to this knowledge (1Pet 3:7)

We can grow in it (2Pet 3:18)

The last point is look at 1Tim 6:20-21

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The word translated science here is the same as all those translated knowledge. There is a knowledge which is contrary to the knowledge of God, it is falsely called knowledge, but will cause one to err concerning the faith.

So, we want to add to our virtue, the higher ways of God, the knowledge of God. It is knowledge of the true way of salvation and is only found in Jesus. It is equipment we need to walk as ministers of God and is associated with knowledge of sin and the putting away of it.

Add Virtue

 Add to your faith virtue. 2Pet 1:5

What is virtue?

When we try to understand the word virtue we clearly need to go to the original Greek. It is only found 5 times in the New Testament.

Phil 4:8; Paul giving instructions in how to walk in this way lists what we should be thinking about:

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

1Pet 2:9; The word is translated as praises in this passage in the KJV

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

2Pet 1:3, 5 (twice) add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge...

What I see in the words from which it is apparently derived are the sense of a lifting of man. We could say, virtue is the better or higher things a man can do. It is excellence of character, the character of God. We are called to glory and virtue in 2Pet 1:3 and then told to add to our faith that same virtue.

The ways of virtue are the higher ways described clearly by God. They include Love, Joy Peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, Temperance:...(Gal 5:22-23)

The ways of God come from the life of God, and we have been made partakers of the divine nature so we are able to allow these to be seen in our lives. While Paul tells us to think or meditate upon this virtue, Peter tells us that we are to show forth this higher praise and to diligently add it to our faith.

God's ways are so much higher than ours, but we who are joined unto the Lord are one spirit and able and called to manifest the virtue, the higher ways, of God!