Topical Encyclopedia The Ammonites were a people descended from Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot by 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, known today as Amman.The relationship between the Israelites and the Ammonites was complex, marked by both conflict and divine instruction for peaceful coexistence. In Deuteronomy 2:19, the Israelites were explicitly commanded by God not to harass or provoke the Ammonites as they journeyed toward the Promised Land: "When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession." This divine directive was rooted in the familial connection between the Israelites and the Ammonites, both being descendants of Terah, Abraham's father. The Ammonites, along with the Moabites, were thus considered kin to the Israelites, and God had allocated specific territories to them, which the Israelites were to respect. Despite this command, the history between the two nations was fraught with tension and conflict. The Ammonites frequently opposed Israel, as seen during the period of the Judges. In Judges 10:7-9, the Ammonites oppressed the Israelites, leading to a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Jephthah, one of the judges of Israel, eventually led a successful campaign against them (Judges 11:32-33). The Ammonites also played a role during the reigns of Israel's kings. King Saul fought against them, achieving a significant victory at Jabesh-gilead (1 Samuel 11:1-11). Later, King David subdued the Ammonites, and they became subject to Israel (2 Samuel 12:26-31). However, hostilities resumed after David's reign, and the Ammonites continued to be a thorn in Israel's side. The prophets also spoke against the Ammonites, pronouncing judgment upon them for their sins and hostilities against Israel. In Jeremiah 49:1-6 and Ezekiel 25:1-7, God declared impending judgment on the Ammonites for their actions and attitudes toward His people. Despite the historical enmity, the initial divine command to the Israelites to avoid conflict with the Ammonites underscores a principle of respecting God's sovereign distribution of lands and His recognition of familial bonds. The Ammonites serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between divine command, human action, and historical consequence in the biblical narrative. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 2:19,37And when you come near over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give you of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession. Nave's Topical Index Library The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria Resources What is an abomination? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is significance of Mount Seir? | GotQuestions.org Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Ammonites: Confederate With Moabites and Amalekites Against Israel Ammonites: Conspire Against the Jews Ammonites: Defeated by the Israelites Ammonites: Descendants of Ben-Ammi, One of the Sons of Lot Ammonites: Excluded from the Congregation of Israel Ammonites: Israelites Forbidden to Disturb Ammonites: Jews Intermarry With Ammonites: Prophecies Concerning Ammonites: Solomon Takes Wives From The Ammonites of Rabbah Reduced to Hard Bondage The Ammonites with the Philistines Oppressed Israel for Eighteen Years The Ammonites: Aided the Chaldeans Against Judah The Ammonites: Assisted Eglon Against Israel The Ammonites: Called The: Children of Ammon The Ammonites: Called The: Children of Lot The Ammonites: Character of Cruel and Covetous The Ammonites: Character of Fond of Ornaments The Ammonites: Character of Idolatrous The Ammonites: Character of Proud and Reproachful The Ammonites: Character of Superstitious The Ammonites: Character of Vindictive The Ammonites: Chief Cities of Ai The Ammonites: Chief Cities of Rabbah The Ammonites: Confederated Against Jehoshaphat The Ammonites: Country of: Belonged to the Zamzummims The Ammonites: Country of: Bordered on the Amorites The Ammonites: Country of: Half of, Given to the Gadites The Ammonites: Country of: Was Fertile The Ammonites: Country of: Well Fortified The Ammonites: Defeated by Jotham The Ammonites: Governed by Hereditary Kings The Ammonites: Hired the Syrians Against David The Ammonites: Ill-Treated David's Ambassadors The Ammonites: Jephthah Raised up to Deliver Israel From The Ammonites: Jewish Laws Respecting: No Covenant to Made With The Ammonites: Jewish Laws Respecting: Not to be Distressed The Ammonites: Jewish Laws Respecting: Perpetual Exclusion from the Congregation The Ammonites: Miraculous Defeat of The Ammonites: One of David's Mighty Men Was of The Ammonites: Predictions Respecting: Destructions for Hatred to Israel The Ammonites: Predictions Respecting: Punishment for Oppressive Cruelty The Ammonites: Predictions Respecting: Restoration The Ammonites: Predictions Respecting: Subjection to Babylon The Ammonites: Predictions Respecting: Subjection to the Jews The Ammonites: Proposed a Disgraceful Treaty to Jabesh-Gilead The Ammonites: Saul's Victories Over The Ammonites: Seized Upon the Possessions of Gad The Ammonites: Solomon Intermarried With, and Introduced Idols of Into The Ammonites: Spoil of, Consecrated to God The Ammonites: Submitted to Uzziah The Ammonites: The Jews Reprobated for Intermarrying With The Ammonites: The Royal Treasure of, Taken The Ammonites: Vexed the Jews After Captivity The Ammonites: Victories of Joab Over Related Terms |
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