The Ammonites, descendants of Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot and his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38), were a significant group in the ancient Near East, often in conflict with the Israelites. Their territory was located east of the Jordan River, in what is now modern-day Jordan. The Ammonites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as adversaries of Israel, and their interactions with the Israelites are marked by hostility and warfare.

Early Hostilities and Defeats

The Ammonites first appear in the biblical narrative during the period of the Judges. They oppressed the Israelites, particularly those living in Gilead, for eighteen years (Judges 10:7-8). In response to their oppression, the Israelites cried out to the LORD, who raised up Jephthah as a deliverer. Jephthah, a Gileadite, was chosen to lead Israel against the Ammonites. After failed negotiations, Jephthah engaged the Ammonites in battle and defeated them decisively. Judges 11:32-33 records, "So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand. 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 Monarchy Period

During the reign of King Saul, the Ammonites, led by Nahash, besieged Jabesh-gilead. The people of Jabesh sought a treaty, but Nahash demanded the gouging out of their right eyes as a condition. Saul, upon hearing this, was filled with the Spirit of God and led Israel to a resounding victory over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1-11). This victory solidified Saul's position as king and demonstrated the LORD's deliverance of His people.

King David also encountered the Ammonites during his reign. Initially, David sought to show kindness to Hanun, the new king of the Ammonites, following the death of his father Nahash. However, Hanun humiliated David's envoys, leading to war. David's forces, under the command of Joab, defeated the Ammonites and their Aramean allies (2 Samuel 10:6-19). Later, David's army, led by Joab, besieged the Ammonite capital of Rabbah, capturing it and securing a significant victory (2 Samuel 12:26-31).

Prophetic Denunciations

The prophets of Israel also spoke against the Ammonites, condemning their actions and predicting their downfall. The prophet Amos denounced the Ammonites for their cruelty, particularly their attacks on Gilead, declaring, "I will send fire upon the walls of Rabbah, and it will consume its citadels" (Amos 1:14). Similarly, Jeremiah prophesied against Ammon, warning of impending judgment and destruction (Jeremiah 49:1-6).

Legacy and Significance

The Ammonites, though often at odds with Israel, played a significant role in the biblical narrative. Their repeated defeats at the hands of the Israelites underscore the theme of divine deliverance and judgment. The LORD's intervention on behalf of His people against the Ammonites serves as a testament to His faithfulness and sovereignty throughout Israel's history.Judges 10:7-18
And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
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Judges 11:32,33
So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
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Judges 12:1-3
And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said to Jephthah, Why passed you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? we will burn your house on you with fire.
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1 Samuel 11:1
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
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2 Samuel 8:12
Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
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2 Samuel 10:1
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
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2 Samuel 11:1
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 12:26-31
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
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2 Samuel 17:27
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
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1 Chronicles 18:11
Them also king David dedicated to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
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1 Chronicles 20:1-3
And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
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2 Chronicles 20:1
It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
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2 Chronicles 26:7,8
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelled in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
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2 Chronicles 27:5
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay to him, both the second year, and the third.
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The Israelites
... Moabites and Midianites, Ammonites and Bedawin, even the ... his forces; the Philistines
were defeated in battle ... Canaanitish cities to surrender to the Israelites. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

But on the Death of Gideon, his Son Abimelech...
... On this account, the Israelites were subdued by the Philistines and Ammonites, and
remained under ... Accordingly, on the enemy being defeated, as Jephtha was ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxvi but on the.htm

The First Kings.
... with insulting language, defied the Israelites to produce ... bloody conflicts, near
Mount Gilboa, defeated and wounded ... had a sanguinary battle with the Ammonites. ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

2 Cor. xi. 21
... For it was not all Hebrews that were Israelites, since both the Ammonites and Moabites ...
and the more he plied him with perils, the more was he defeated. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxv 2 cor xi.htm

Canaan
... Even the Israelites and Ammonites are called "Hittites" by an ... The Israelites were
forbidden the use of arms ... The Philistine forces were defeated in battle after ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The End of Self-Will
... the rout begun before the Israelites reached Gilboa ... Suicide, the refuge of defeated
monarchs and praised ... his hastily raised levies, he scattered the Ammonites. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of self-will.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... books at what place Israel was defeated by the ... a far shorter time than did that of
the Israelites. ... passage, the command to exclude the Ammonites and Moabites ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... with no better success; they were defeated at the ... all preserved their autonomy; the
Israelites had no ... the first comer; the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Moabites ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... stone knives used by Joshua for the circumcision of the Israelites after the ... Eimsin
was defeated, and disappeared from the scene of action, leaving no trace ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... he swept all obstacles before him, killed fourteen hundred and sixty men at the
first onslaught, put Dagara to fire and sword, and soon defeated Nurramman, but ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

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