Which tribe settled east of the Dead Sea?

The tribe that settled to the east of the Dead Sea is the ancient tribe of Moab. Moabites were a historical people known to have settlements in what is now the central part of Jordan. Their territory often included the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Moabites is confirmed by both archaeological evidence and historical accounts, including the Hebrew Bible.

The Moabites are thought to have descended from Moab, the son of Lot, who is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. This region and its people play a significant role in various biblical narratives, including interactions and conflicts with the Israelites. Their language, Moabite, is closely related to Hebrew, and their culture shared many characteristics with other Ancient Near Eastern civilizations.

The history of the Moabites is characterized by periods of independence and periods of being subject to neighboring powers, including Israel and later the expanding empires of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks. An important source of information about Moabite culture and language is the Mesha Stele, also known as the Moabite Stone, which dates to around 840 BCE and provides a significant early example of a written Moabite text.