The Torah appears to give a very harsh verdict on Moab - a perpetual exclusion from having the privilege of marrying into the Israelite community.

 

Israel was specifically commanded by Yahveh 'not to harass Moab by waging war against them'. Jephtah recalls that the Israelites sent a polite request to the King of Moab for passage through his land, which was refused. That would have given the Moabites the opportunity to come to terms peacefully with the Israelites by offering them hospitality. Instead, they acted against their own interests by turning a potential friend into an enemy, and they brought suffering on themselves by 'greatly fearing' the Israelites. (Judges 11:17-18)

 

The Moabites did not accept Yahveh but clung stubbornly to their idol Kemosh, yet tried to use Yahveh by employing Balaam to curse Israel. It is the groundless hatred against Israel that earned them the harsh judgment of never being allowed to enter the Congregation of Israel.