Ammah
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Topical Encyclopedia
Ammah is a geographical location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of a military pursuit during the reign of King David. The name "Ammah" is derived from a Hebrew word that can mean "a cubit" or "a measure," but in this context, it refers to a specific hill or elevation.

Biblical Reference:

Ammah is mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:24: "But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and the sun was setting as they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon."

Historical and Geographical Context:

The hill of Ammah is noted in the narrative of the conflict between the forces of David and those loyal to Saul's son, Ish-bosheth. This pursuit occurs after a fierce battle at the pool of Gibeon, where the forces of Joab, David's commander, engage with Abner, the commander of Ish-bosheth's army. The hill of Ammah serves as a geographical marker in this pursuit, indicating a location near Gibeon, which is situated in the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem.

The specific location of Ammah is not precisely identified in modern geography, but its mention alongside Giah suggests it was a known landmark during the time of the united monarchy in Israel. The reference to the wilderness of Gibeon further situates it within the central hill country of ancient Israel, an area characterized by rugged terrain and strategic military significance.

Theological Significance:

The mention of Ammah in the biblical narrative underscores the ongoing conflict and political instability during the early years of David's reign. The pursuit of Abner by Joab and Abishai highlights the tension between the house of Saul and the rising power of David, who had been anointed king over Judah but was not yet recognized by all Israel.

This episode at Ammah also reflects the broader theme of divine providence and the unfolding of God's plan for Israel. Despite the human conflicts and political maneuverings, the biblical narrative consistently points to God's sovereign hand in establishing David as king, in fulfillment of His covenant promises.

Cultural and Literary Aspects:

In the literary structure of 2 Samuel, the mention of specific locations like Ammah serves to provide historical authenticity and vividness to the narrative. Such details help readers visualize the events and understand the geographical and strategic considerations of the time.

The pursuit to the hill of Ammah also illustrates the relentless nature of ancient warfare and the personal vendettas that often fueled such conflicts. Joab's pursuit of Abner is not merely a military action but is deeply personal, as it follows the death of Joab's brother, Asahel, at the hands of Abner.

In summary, Ammah is a minor yet significant geographical reference in the biblical account of the power struggle during the early monarchy in Israel. It serves as a backdrop to the unfolding drama of David's rise to power and the eventual unification of the tribes under his leadership.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Ammah

my, or his, people

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Ammah

(head), The hill of, A hill facing Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon, named as the point to which Joab pursued Abner (2 Samuel 2:24)

Easton's Bible Dictionary
A cubit, the name of a hill which Joab and Abishai reached as the sun went down, when they were in pursuit of Abner (2 Samuel 2:24). It lay to the east of Gibeon.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AMMAH

am'-a ('ammah, "mother" or "beginning"): A hill in the territory of Benjamin (2 Samuel 2:24), where Joab and Abishai halted at nightfall in their pursuit of Abner and his forces after their victory over him in the battle of Gibeon. It "lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon"; but the exact location has not been identified. The same Hebrew word appears as the second part of Metheg-ammah in 2 Samuel 8:1 the King James Version, but rendered "mother city" in the Revised Version (British and American), probably however not the same place as in 2 Samuel 2:24.

Strong's Hebrew
522. Ammah -- a hill in Palestine
... 521, 522. Ammah. 522a . a hill in Palestine. Transliteration: Ammah
Phonetic Spelling: (am-maw') Short Definition: Ammah. Ammah ...
/hebrew/522.htm - 5k

4965. metheg haammah -- Metheg-ammah
... metheg haammah. 4966 . Metheg-ammah. Transliteration: metheg haammah Phonetic
Spelling: (meh'-theg haw-am-maw') Short Definition: Metheg-ammah. ... Metheg-ammah ...
/hebrew/4965.htm - 6k

522a. Ammah -- a hill in Palestine
... 522, 522a. Ammah. 522b . a hill in Palestine. Transliteration: Ammah Short
Definition: Ammah. ... NASB Word Usage Ammah (1). 522, 522a. Ammah. 522b . ...
/hebrew/522a.htm - 5k

521. ammah -- a cubit
... 520, 521. ammah. 522 . a cubit. Transliteration: ammah Phonetic Spelling:
(am-maw') Short Definition: cubits. ... cubit. (Aramaic) corresponding to 'ammah -- cubit ...
/hebrew/521.htm - 6k

522c. ammah -- perhaps a holder
... 522b, 522c. ammah. 523 . perhaps a holder. Transliteration: ammah Short Definition:
foundations. ... 522b, 522c. ammah. 523 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/522c.htm - 5k

522b. ammah -- a mother city
... 522a, 522b. ammah. 522c . a mother city. Transliteration: ammah Short
Definition: city. ... 522a, 522b. ammah. 522c . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/522b.htm - 5k

520. ammah -- an ell, a cubit
... 519, 520. ammah. 521 . an ell, a cubit. Transliteration: ammah Phonetic Spelling:
(am-maw') Short Definition: cubits. ... 519, 520. ammah. 521 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/520.htm - 6k

Library

How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... of Asahel an occasion of greater zeal against Abner, they went on with incredible
haste and alacrity, and pursued Abner to a certain place called Ammah: it was ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how david reigned.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm

Thesaurus
Ammah (2 Occurrences)
... It lay to the east of Gibeon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AMMAH.
am'-a ... 24. Multi-Version Concordance Ammah (2 Occurrences). 2 ...
/a/ammah.htm - 8k

Metheg-ammah (1 Occurrence)
Metheg-ammah. Methegammah, Metheg-ammah. Meth'eg-am'mah . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. METHEG-AMMAH. ...
/m/metheg-ammah.htm - 8k

Methegammah (1 Occurrence)
... Bridle of the mother, a figurative name for a chief city, as in 2 Samuel 8:1, "David
took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines" (RV, "took the ...
/m/methegammah.htm - 8k

Gibeath (2 Occurrences)
... (6) Gibeath Ammah (2 Samuel 2:24) is identical with AMMAH (which see). (7) Gibeath
Gareb (Jeremiah 31:39) is identical with GAREB (which see). W. Ewing. ...
/g/gibeath.htm - 10k

Meth'eg-am'mah (1 Occurrence)
Meth'eg-am'mah. Metheg-ammah, Meth'eg-am'mah. Method . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See RSV). Metheg-ammah, Meth'eg-am'mah. Method . Reference Bible.
/m/meth'eg-am'mah.htm - 6k

Bit (46 Occurrences)
... in the horses' mouths that they may obey us." "Bridle" occurs separately as translation
of methegh (2 Samuel 8:1), "David took Metheg-ammah," King James ...
/b/bit.htm - 24k

Bridle (12 Occurrences)
... in the horses' mouths that they may obey us." "Bridle" occurs separately as translation
of methegh (2 Samuel 8:1), "David took Metheg-ammah," King James ...
/b/bridle.htm - 15k

Cubit (51 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews `ammah; ie, "mother of the arm," the
fore-arm, is a word derived from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm. ...
/c/cubit.htm - 26k

Jo'ab (120 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when
they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the ...
/j/jo'ab.htm - 34k

Gi'ah (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Samuel 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when
they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the ...
/g/gi'ah.htm - 6k

Resources
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