The Ammonites, descendants of Lot through his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38), were a people frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. They inhabited the region east of the Jordan River and north of Moab, in what is present-day Jordan. The Ammonites are often depicted in the Bible as adversaries of Israel, both in terms of military conflict and religious influence.

Idolatrous Practices

The Ammonites were known for their idolatrous practices, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Their primary deity was Molech (or Milcom), to whom they offered sacrifices, including child sacrifices, a practice that was strictly forbidden and abhorred by the Israelites. In Leviticus 18:21, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."

The worship of Molech is further condemned in 1 Kings 11:7, where it is noted that King Solomon, influenced by his foreign wives, built a high place for Molech on the mountain east of Jerusalem. This act of idolatry was a significant factor in the division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign, as it led the Israelites away from the exclusive worship of Yahweh.

Conflict with Israel

The Ammonites frequently clashed with the Israelites, both during the period of the Judges and the monarchy. In Judges 10:6-7, the Israelites are described as having turned to the gods of the surrounding nations, including the gods of the Ammonites, which provoked the LORD to anger and led to their oppression by these nations. The Ammonites, along with the Moabites, were among the oppressors of Israel during the time of Jephthah, who eventually defeated them (Judges 11).

During the reign of King Saul, the Ammonites, under their king Nahash, besieged Jabesh-gilead, leading to Saul's first military victory as king (1 Samuel 11). Later, during the reign of King David, the Ammonites again became adversaries of Israel. David's forces, led by Joab, defeated the Ammonites after they had humiliated David's envoys (2 Samuel 10).

Religious Influence and Condemnation

The influence of Ammonite idolatry persisted throughout Israel's history, often leading the Israelites into sin. The prophets frequently condemned the Ammonites for their idolatry and hostility towards Israel. In Jeremiah 49:1-6, the prophet pronounces judgment against Ammon, declaring that their god Milcom will go into exile along with his priests and officials.

Ezekiel also prophesies against the Ammonites, condemning their rejoicing over the destruction of the temple and the exile of the Israelites (Ezekiel 25:1-7). This prophetic judgment underscores the Ammonites' persistent enmity towards God's people and their idolatrous practices.

Legacy

The Ammonites' legacy in the biblical narrative is one of persistent idolatry and opposition to the worship of the one true God. Their practices and influence served as a cautionary tale for the Israelites, highlighting the dangers of syncretism and the abandonment of covenantal faithfulness to Yahweh. The biblical portrayal of the Ammonites serves as a reminder of the spiritual and moral challenges faced by the people of God in maintaining their distinct identity amidst surrounding pagan cultures.Judges 10:6
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 11:7,33
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 23:13
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Pride of Prosperity
... after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites." 1 Kings 2 ... keen sense of the high,
holy character of God ... Idolatrous mothers brought their children up to observe ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 3 pride of prosperity.htm

Joshua's Conquest.
... on the east and southeast, the Ammonites, Moabites and ... should have been put upon
their character where the ... the world to have all idolatrous symbols destroyed ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter viii joshuas conquest.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... he did, he certainly expounded them of tormenting these Ammonites to death ... Divine
laws seeming to me the principal character of idolatrous or antichristian ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The First Kings.
... peace, he had a sanguinary battle with the Ammonites. ... or to uphold him as an immaculate
character. ... his departures from God into idolatrous worship, awakened ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

The Historical Books.
... book are of a peculiarly checkered character, and many ... story of Micah and his idolatrous
establishment (chaps ... the northeastern tribes by the Ammonites and the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... Canon is surely indicative of the character of its ... Milcom the abomination of the
Ammonites[hellip]then ... proven conclusively that all the idolatrous systems of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... clothes and their manners and customs as well as many idolatrous ceremonies that ...
replied: They were called this because it goes with their character, for these ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... be decidedly unfair to draw similar inferences touching the character of Nabopolassar
or ... the power of Jahveh, and His aversion for all idolatrous worship and ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... many editions of Bunyan's works: but in all, except the first, with the omission
of the scripture references; and with errors of so serious a character as if ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Who was Gedaliah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of shibboleth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the importance of Mizpah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus