The Amorites were an ancient people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, known as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who was the son of Noah. They are one of the many Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The Amorites are often depicted as a formidable and influential group, both in terms of their military prowess and their cultural impact on the region.

Biblical References and Historical Context

The Amorites are first mentioned in Genesis 10:16 as part of the Table of Nations, which lists the descendants of Noah's sons. They are described as one of the many tribes that descended from Canaan: "The Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites" (Genesis 10:16). This positions them as part of the broader Canaanite civilization that occupied the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.

In Genesis 14:7, the Amorites are mentioned in the context of the military campaign of Chedorlaomer and his allies, who defeated the Amorites at Hazazon-tamar. This early reference highlights their presence and involvement in the regional conflicts of the time.

The Amorites are also noted for their interactions with the patriarchs. In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abram that his descendants will return to the land of Canaan in the fourth generation, "for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete" . This suggests that the Amorites were known for their sinful practices, which would eventually lead to their judgment and displacement by the Israelites.

Conquest and Settlement

The Amorites are prominently featured in the narrative of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. In Numbers 21:21-25, the Israelites, under Moses' leadership, request passage through the land of the Amorite king Sihon. When Sihon refuses and attacks, the Israelites defeat him and take possession of his territory. This victory is significant as it marks the beginning of Israel's conquest of the Transjordan region.

Similarly, in Deuteronomy 3:1-11, the Israelites defeat Og, the king of Bashan, another Amorite ruler. These victories are seen as divinely ordained, fulfilling God's promise to give the land of the Amorites to the descendants of Abraham.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Amorites, like other Canaanite tribes, were known for their idolatrous practices, which posed a significant threat to the religious purity of the Israelites. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua famously challenges the Israelites to choose whom they will serve, whether the gods of their ancestors or the gods of the Amorites, emphasizing the need for exclusive devotion to Yahweh: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" .

The Amorites' influence is also seen in their integration into Israelite society. Despite the command to drive out the Canaanite tribes, remnants of the Amorites remained in the land, leading to periods of syncretism and idolatry among the Israelites, as seen in the Book of Judges.

Legacy and Significance

The Amorites are often used in the Bible as a symbol of the pagan nations that opposed Israel and its God. Their eventual defeat and displacement by the Israelites serve as a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. The narrative of the Amorites underscores the themes of judgment, divine sovereignty, and the call to holiness that permeate the biblical text.Genesis 10:15,16
And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,
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1 Chronicles 1:13,14
And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
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Chapter x
... or that the Sidonites are descended from one of the descendants of Canaan. ... time of
the Conquest that oftentimes all Canaanites are simply called Amorites (cf ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

Canaan
... Like the Amorites and the Amorite tribe of Jebusites ... The language of Canaan is what
we term ... monuments, the Canaanites resembled their descendants, the modern ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Chapter ix
... Now the descendants of Canaan, according to Genesis 10 ... the entrance of Israel into
Canaan under Joshua ... Canaanites, collectively also called Amorites, were ripe ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter ix.htm

The Measure of Sin.
... I. There was a nation of Canaan called the Amorites, and God promised to Abraham
that He would give their land to his descendants, but that He could not give ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xliv the measure of sin.htm

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
... hither again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not ... the peculiar relation of Jehovah
to the descendants of Shem ... The words, "And Canaan shall be a servant to ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessings of noah upon.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... The Amorites were crushed by the Israelitish forces ... His descendants, partly by conquest,
partly by absorption ... in Edom resembled that of the Israelites in Canaan. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Chapter xlviii
... to my great grief in the land of Canaan during the ... I took from the hand of the Amorites
with my ... because the Creator's power in multiplying descendants is being ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

The Israelites
... king of "the land of the Amorites," as Palestine ... the town of Sidon is the
"first-born" of Canaan. Jacob had twelve sons, and his descendants were accordingly ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Chapter xv
... return here; for the guilt of the Amorites is not ... Perhaps this is not revealed lest
Abram's descendants conceive an ... a sojourner in the land of Canaan when he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xv.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... The Amorites build two towns, Robel and Thamuathares; the king ... leave his father's
house, and to travel to Canaan. ... It is said that while the descendants of Noah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Who were the Moabites? | GotQuestions.org

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Who was Og king of Bashan? | GotQuestions.org

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