Mo-Av (Moab)

מואב


Genesis 19:37: the son of Lot's elder daughter by Lot himself, fathered on her after their escape from the ruins of Sedom. Or that, at least, is the Biblical version, as it stands in the Masoretic text. What in fact we have is a story of the triple-goddess 
al-Lat, appearing in triad here as masculinised Lot and two daughters. The incident takes place at Tso'ar (צער), which means "small", but Genesis 14:2 states that Tso'ar was also named Bela (בלע), which means "ruins".

Gesenius claims the word means "progeny of a father", from Mo-Av; Mo being "water" and therefore "seed". This seems to be stretching it somewhat.

The Beney Mo-Av occupied the land from the the river Yarden (Jordan) in the west as far east as the river 
Arnon. The chief city was Karak, which today is al-Karak (الكرك), and in the 12th century was the site of a major Crusader battle.

Innumerable references to Mo-Av throughout the Tanach; far too many to list. The significant tale connected with Mo-Av is that of Rut (Ruth), the grand-mother of David.


Copyright © 2019 David Prashker
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The Argaman Press

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