Amorites: Idolatry of
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The Amorites were one of the prominent Canaanite tribes encountered by the Israelites during their conquest of the Promised Land. Known for their formidable presence and influence in the ancient Near East, the Amorites were deeply entrenched in idolatrous practices, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Historical Context

The Amorites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as inhabitants of the land promised to the descendants of Abraham. They were a significant ethnic group in Canaan, and their presence is noted as early as the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:7). By the time of the Israelite conquest, the Amorites had established themselves in various regions, including the hill country and the Transjordan area.

Idolatrous Practices

The idolatry of the Amorites is highlighted in several biblical passages, illustrating their worship of multiple deities and their engagement in practices that were abhorrent to the Israelites. The Amorites, like other Canaanite tribes, worshiped a pantheon of gods, with Baal and Ashtoreth being among the most prominent. These deities were associated with fertility, weather, and war, and their worship often involved rituals that were morally and spiritually corrupt.

In 1 Kings 21:26, the Bible explicitly condemns the idolatry of the Amorites: "He acted most abominably by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites." This passage underscores the severity of their idolatrous practices and the divine judgment that befell them as a result.

Influence on Israel

The idolatry of the Amorites posed a significant threat to the spiritual purity of the Israelites. God repeatedly warned the Israelites against adopting the religious practices of the Amorites and other Canaanite peoples. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenges the Israelites to choose whom they will serve, contrasting the gods of the Amorites with the LORD: "But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

The Israelites were commanded to destroy the altars and idols of the Amorites to prevent the corruption of their worship (Exodus 23:24). Despite these warnings, the influence of Amorite idolatry persisted, leading to periods of apostasy among the Israelites, as seen in the Book of Judges.

Divine Judgment

The idolatry of the Amorites ultimately led to their downfall. God’s judgment upon the Amorites was part of the broader divine mandate to cleanse the land of Canaan from idolatrous practices. In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abraham that the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete, indicating that their judgment was both just and inevitable.

The conquest of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, as recorded in Numbers 21:21-35, serves as a testament to God's judgment against their idolatry and as a fulfillment of His promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. The defeat of these kings marked a significant victory for the Israelites and a demonstration of God's power over the false gods of the Amorites.

Legacy

The idolatry of the Amorites serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, illustrating the dangers of turning away from the worship of the one true God. Their practices and subsequent judgment are frequently cited as warnings to the Israelites and, by extension, to all who would follow the God of Israel. The Amorites' legacy is a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of idolatry.
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Judges 6:10
And I said to you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but you have not obeyed my voice.
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1 Kings 21:26
And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
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Library

Book 4 Footnotes
... of the true God, or by the impure laws derived from demons, under the pagan idolatry. ...
places, the reason of the delay of the punishment of the Amorites is given ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 4 footnotes.htm

Judges and Ruth.
... 5. Against the Midianites, Chs.6-10. 6. Against the Amorites, Chs.11-12. 7. Against
the Philistines, Chs, 13-16. III. The Idolatry of Micah, Chs.17-18. IV. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter vii judges and ruth.htm

Numbers
... began her career of conquest by defeating Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og ... fair
ideal, for Israel at once succumbed to the seductions of idolatry and impurity ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... to copy out the law for themselves, such kings especially as fell into idolatry. ...
another," in a word, had "done wickedly above all that the Amorites did which ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... Canaanites, who had been there about six centuries, and the Amorites, who had ... Idolatry,
vice and superstition were everywhere and the people must be free to ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

National Apostasy
... the priests and others connected with this seductive form of idolatry exerted their ...
in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

Prophecies of Christ's Sovereignty, Flight into Egypt, &C.
... boasting of Senacherim, and Amalek make war against Moses, and the Amorites oppose
him ... For Abraham went thither, but idolatry prevailed universally all the same ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 36 prophecies of christs.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... The Amorites were crushed by the Israelitish forces, though the lands they had taken ...
brought against Edom by the prophet Obadiah is not that of idolatry or the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Hearken and Look; Or, Encouragement for Believers
... We are bound to increase; we are destined to overrun the nations; the Hittites,
the Hivites, the Amorites, of Popery, Mahometanism, and Idolatry are in the land ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/hearken and look or encouragement.htm

The Call of Moses
... unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the ... of their
ancestral faith, and probably had in many instances fallen into idolatry. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the call of moses.htm

Resources
Who were the Moabites? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Og king of Bashan? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Amorites

Amorites were Giants

Amorites: Allotted to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh

Amorites: Chiefs of

Amorites: Conquest of

Amorites: Descendants of Canaan

Amorites: Given to Descendants of Abraham

Amorites: Hornets Sent Among

Amorites: Idolatry of

Amorites: Intermarry With Jews

Amorites: Judgments Denounced Against

Amorites: Kings of

Amorites: Not Exterminated

Amorites: Struck Down by Chedorlaomer and Rescued by Abraham

Amorites: Territory of

Amorites: Wickedness of

The Amorites of Gigantic Strength and Stature

The Amorites: Acquired an Extensive Territory from Moab East of Jordan

The Amorites: Ahab Followed the Abominations of

The Amorites: Brought Into Bondage by Solomon

The Amorites: Character of Idolatrous

The Amorites: Character of Profane and Wicked

The Amorites: Defeated by Chedorlaomer

The Amorites: Deprived of Their Eastern Territory by Israel

The Amorites: Descent From, Illustrative of Man's Natural State

The Amorites: Descent of

The Amorites: Doomed to Utter Destruction

The Amorites: Forbearance of God Towards

The Amorites: Governed by Many Independent Kings

The Amorites: had Many and Strong Cities

The Amorites: had Peace With Israel in the Days of Samuel

The Amorites: Jacob Took a Portion From

The Amorites: Joined Abraham Against the Kings

The Amorites: Kings of, Degraded and Slain

The Amorites: Kings of, Great and Powerful

The Amorites: Land of, Given to Reubenites

The Amorites: Manasseh Exceeded Abominations of

The Amorites: Miraculous Overthrow of

The Amorites: One of the Seven Nations of Canaan

The Amorites: Originally Inhabited a Mountain District in the South

The Amorites: Refused a Passage to Israel

The Amorites: The Gibeonites a Tribe of, Deceived Israel Into a League

The Amorites: The Israelites Unable to Expel, But Extracted Tribute From

The Amorites: The Jews After the Captivity Condemned for Intermarrying With

The Amorites: Western Kings of, Confederated Against Israel

Related Terms

Amorites (82 Occurrences)

Amos (12 Occurrences)

Amorites: Hornets Sent Among
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