The Moabites and Ammonites were two ancient Semitic peoples closely related to the Israelites, as they were descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Their origins are recounted in the Book of Genesis, where it is described that after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's daughters, believing they were the last people on earth, got their father drunk and conceived children by him. The older daughter bore a son named Moab, the progenitor of the Moabites, and the younger bore a son named Ben-Ammi, the progenitor of the Ammonites (Genesis 19:30-38).

Moabites

The Moabites settled in the region east of the Dead Sea, in what is now modern-day Jordan. The land of Moab was known for its fertile plains and was a significant agricultural area. The Moabites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in conflict with the Israelites. One of the earliest interactions between the two peoples is recorded in the Book of Numbers, where Balak, the king of Moab, hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as they journeyed to the Promised Land (Numbers 22-24).

The Moabites worshiped the god Chemosh, and their religious practices were often at odds with the monotheistic worship of Yahweh by the Israelites. Despite this, there were periods of peace and intermarriage between the two groups. The most notable Moabite in the Bible is Ruth, a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David. Her account is a testament to faith and loyalty, as she chose to follow her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, and adopt her people and God as her own (Ruth 1:16-17).

Throughout the biblical narrative, the Moabites are depicted as both adversaries and relatives of the Israelites. They were subject to Israelite rule during the reigns of David and Solomon but later regained independence. The prophets often spoke against Moab, predicting its downfall due to its pride and idolatry (Isaiah 15-16, Jeremiah 48).

Ammonites

The Ammonites settled in the region northeast of the Dead Sea, also in present-day Jordan. Like the Moabites, the Ammonites frequently clashed with the Israelites. Their capital was Rabbah, known today as Amman, the capital of Jordan. The Ammonites worshiped the god Milcom, and their religious practices included child sacrifice, which was condemned by the Israelites (1 Kings 11:7).

The Ammonites are first mentioned in the context of their opposition to Israel during the Exodus. They refused to allow the Israelites passage through their land, which led to hostilities (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Throughout the period of the Judges and the monarchy, the Ammonites were often at war with Israel. One notable conflict involved Jephthah, a judge of Israel, who defeated the Ammonites after they claimed territory east of the Jordan River (Judges 11).

Despite their enmity, there were instances of interaction and intermarriage between the Ammonites and Israelites. King Solomon, for example, took an Ammonite princess, Naamah, as one of his wives, and she became the mother of Rehoboam, Solomon's successor (1 Kings 14:21).

The prophets also pronounced judgments against Ammon, condemning their cruelty and predicting their eventual destruction (Amos 1:13-15, Jeremiah 49:1-6). The Ammonites, like the Moabites, eventually faded from the biblical narrative, absorbed into the broader history of the region.

In summary, the Moabites and Ammonites were significant neighboring nations to Israel, with complex relationships marked by both conflict and kinship. Their accounts are interwoven with the history of Israel, providing insight into the cultural and religious dynamics of the ancient Near East.