Topical Encyclopedia The Ammonites were a Semitic people closely related to the Israelites, descending from Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot and his younger daughter, as recorded in Genesis 19:38: "The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today." The Ammonites settled east of the Jordan River, in the region that is present-day Jordan, with their capital at Rabbah (modern-day Amman).Historical Context The Ammonites frequently appear in the Old Testament as adversaries of Israel. Their territory was located to the northeast of Moab and east of the Israelite tribes of Gad and Reuben. The Ammonites were known for their fortified cities and were often in conflict with the Israelites over land and resources. Relations with Israel The relationship between the Ammonites and the Israelites was complex, marked by both conflict and periods of peace. In Judges 11, Jephthah, a judge of Israel, led a campaign against the Ammonites who had oppressed Israel for eighteen years. Jephthah's victory over the Ammonites is recorded in Judges 11:33: "He struck them down from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith—twenty cities in all—and as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites." The Ammonites also played a role during the reign of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 11, Nahash the Ammonite besieged Jabesh-gilead, leading Saul to rally the Israelites and defeat the Ammonites, thus solidifying his kingship. Religious Practices The Ammonites worshiped the god Milcom (also known as Molech), a deity to whom they offered child sacrifices, a practice condemned by the Israelites. In 1 Kings 11:7, it is noted that King Solomon, influenced by his foreign wives, built a high place for Milcom: "At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites." Prophetic Oracles The prophets of Israel often pronounced judgment against the Ammonites for their idolatry and hostility towards Israel. In Jeremiah 49:1-6, the prophet speaks against the Ammonites, declaring that their land will be desolate and that they will face judgment for their actions. Similarly, Ezekiel 25:1-7 prophesies against the Ammonites for their rejoicing over the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Post-Exilic Period After the Babylonian exile, the Ammonites continued to be a thorn in the side of the returning exiles. Nehemiah faced opposition from Tobiah the Ammonite, who sought to hinder the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls (Nehemiah 2:10, 4:3). Despite this opposition, the Israelites successfully completed the reconstruction. Legacy The Ammonites eventually faded from the historical record, assimilating into other cultures and losing their distinct identity. Their interactions with Israel, however, are preserved in the biblical narrative, serving as a testament to the complex relationships between the ancient Near Eastern peoples. Easton's Bible Dictionary The usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Genesis 19:38). From the very beginning (Deuteronomy 2:16-20) of their history till they are lost sight of (Judges 5:2), this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites (Judges 10:11; 2 Chronicles 20:1; Zephaniah 2:8). Both of these tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:4). The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place to place, while the Moabites were more settled. They inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea, from which they had expelled the Zamzummims or Zuzims (Deuteronomy 2:20; Genesis 14:5). They are known as the Beni-ammi (Genesis 19:38), Ammi or Ammon being worshipped as their chief god. They were of Semitic origin, and closely related to the Hebrews in blood and language. They showed no kindness to the Israelites when passing through their territory, and therefore they were prohibited from "entering the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation" (Deuteronomy 23:3). They afterwards became hostile to Israel (Judges 3:13). Jephthah waged war against them, and "took twenty cities with a very great slaughter" (Judges 11:33). They were again signally defeated by Saul (1 Samuel 11:11). David also defeated them and their allies the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:6-14), and took their chief city, Rabbah, with much spoil (2 Samuel 10:14; 12:26-31). The subsequent events of their history are noted in 2 Chronicles 20:25; 26:8; Jeremiah 49:1; Ezek. 25:3, 6. One of Solomon's wives was Naamah, an Ammonite. She was the mother of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:13).The prophets predicted fearful judgments against the Ammonites because of their hostility to Israel (Zephaniah 2:8; Jeremiah 49:1-6; Ezek. 25:1-5, 10; Amos 1:13-15). The national idol worshipped by this people was Molech or Milcom, at whose altar they offered human sacrifices (1 Kings 11:5, 7). The high places built for this idol by Solomon, at the instigation of his Ammonitish wives, were not destroyed till the time of Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis.Strong's Hebrew 5985. Ammonith -- an Ammonite woman... 5984, 5985. Ammonith. 5986 . an Ammonite woman. Transliteration: Ammonith Phonetic Spelling: (am-mo-neeth') Short Definition: Ammonitess. Word Origin fem. ... /hebrew/5985.htm - 6k 2586. Chanun -- "favored," two contemporaries of Nehemiah, also an ... 7629. Shobi -- appar. an Ammonite prince 8100. Shimath -- an Ammonite woman 1185. Baalis -- perhaps "son of delight," an Ammonite king 4511. Minnith -- a place in Ammonite territory 6768. Tseleq -- an Ammonite hero of David 2900. Tobiyyahu -- "Yah is my good," three Israelites, also an ... 5984. Ammoni -- descendant of Ammon 3726. Kephar Haammoni -- "a village of the Ammonites," a village ... Library The Church History of Eusebius. Index of Subjects. Conclusion 'More than Conquerors through Him' How Samuel Found a Leader The Nations of the South-East The Prophet Nehemiah The Tears of Christ. The Builders on the Wall Reformation Costly and Fatal Help Thesaurus Ammonite (22 Occurrences)... 25:3, 6. One of Solomon's wives was Naamah, an Ammonite. She was the mother of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:13). ...Ammonite (22 Occurrences). ... /a/ammonite.htm - 18k Tobiah (14 Occurrences) Zelek (2 Occurrences) Tobijah (17 Occurrences) Tobi'ah (15 Occurrences) Sanballat (10 Occurrences) Naharai (2 Occurrences) Na'harai (2 Occurrences) Jabeshgilead (12 Occurrences) Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences) Resources Who were the Ammonites? | GotQuestions.orgWho were Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem? | GotQuestions.org Who was Jephthah? | GotQuestions.org Ammonite: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Ammonite (22 Occurrences)Deuteronomy 23:3 Joshua 13:25 Judges 11:12 Judges 11:14 1 Samuel 11:1 1 Samuel 11:2 2 Samuel 12:31 2 Samuel 17:27 2 Samuel 23:37 1 Kings 11:1 1 Kings 14:21 1 Kings 14:31 2 Kings 24:2 1 Chronicles 11:39 1 Chronicles 20:3 2 Chronicles 12:13 2 Chronicles 24:26 Ezra 9:1 Nehemiah 2:10 Nehemiah 2:19 Nehemiah 4:3 Nehemiah 13:1 Subtopics Related Terms |
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