Ben-Ammi is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis. He is recognized as the son of Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and the progenitor of the Ammonites, a people frequently mentioned throughout the biblical narrative.

Biblical Account

The account of Ben-Ammi's birth is found in Genesis 19:30-38. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters took refuge in a cave in the mountains. Fearing that there were no men left to continue their family line, Lot's daughters devised a plan to preserve their father's lineage. They made their father drink wine and lay with him without his knowledge. As a result, both daughters became pregnant by their father.

The younger daughter bore a son and named him Ben-Ammi, which means "son of my people" in Hebrew. Genesis 19:38 states, "The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today" . This passage highlights the origin of the Ammonites, a significant group in the biblical narrative.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Ammonites, descendants of Ben-Ammi, settled in the region east of the Jordan River. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as neighbors and often adversaries of the Israelites. The relationship between the Israelites and the Ammonites was complex, marked by periods of conflict and coexistence.

The Ammonites worshiped their own gods, with Molech being one of the most prominent. This deity was associated with child sacrifice, a practice condemned by the Israelites. The cultural and religious differences between the Ammonites and the Israelites often led to tensions and hostilities.

Biblical References and Significance

Throughout the Old Testament, the Ammonites are mentioned in various contexts. They were involved in conflicts with Israel during the time of the Judges and the reigns of Saul and David. In Judges 11, Jephthah, a judge of Israel, fought against the Ammonites and delivered Israel from their oppression.

King David also had interactions with the Ammonites. In 2 Samuel 10, the Ammonites insulted David's envoys, leading to a war in which David's forces emerged victorious. Despite these conflicts, there were also instances of peaceful relations, such as when David showed kindness to Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, following the death of Hanun's father.

The prophetic books of the Old Testament also contain oracles against the Ammonites, highlighting their eventual downfall due to their opposition to Israel and their idolatrous practices. For example, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied against the Ammonites in Jeremiah 49:1-6, foretelling their judgment and destruction.

Theological Implications

The account of Ben-Ammi and the Ammonites serves as a reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of actions taken outside of God's intended order. The narrative underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the dangers of straying from His path.

The account of Ben-Ammi's birth also illustrates the theme of God's sovereignty in using even flawed human actions to fulfill His purposes. Despite the circumstances of his conception, Ben-Ammi became the father of a nation that played a significant role in the history of Israel and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

In summary, Ben-Ammi is a pivotal figure in the biblical narrative, representing both the continuation of Lot's lineage and the origin of the Ammonites, a people who interacted with Israel in various ways throughout the Old Testament.Genesis 19:38
And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.
Nave's Topical Index

1151. Ben-ammi -- "son of my people," a son of Lot
... Ben-ammi. From ben and am with pronomial suffix; son of my people; Ben-Ammi, a son
of Lot -- Ben-ammi. see HEBREW ben. see HEBREW am. 1150, 1151. ...
/hebrew/1151.htm - 6k

Chapter xix
... 36-38. So both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. ... And the younger
daughter, she too bore a son and called his name Benammi. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xix.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... of Lot. Ammon and Moab derived their origin from the nephew of Abraham, not from
the patriarch himself, the ancestor of Ammon being Ben-Ammi, "the Son of Ammi ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

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