The Ammonites were a Semitic people closely related to the Israelites, tracing their lineage to Lot, Abraham's nephew, through his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). The Ammonites settled in the region east of the Jordan River, in what is now modern-day Jordan. Their territory was primarily located in the area known as the "land of the Ammonites," with their capital city being Rabbah, also referred to as Rabbah of the Ammonites.

Rabbah

Rabbah, meaning "great" or "chief," was the principal city of the Ammonites and served as their political and cultural center. It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant city in the region. The city was strategically located along the Jabbok River, providing it with a natural defense and access to water resources, which were crucial for sustaining its population and agriculture.

In the biblical narrative, Rabbah is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 3:11, where it is noted as the location of the iron bedstead of Og, king of Bashan, which was kept in Rabbah as a relic. This reference highlights the city's importance and its role as a repository of significant artifacts.

During the time of King David, Rabbah became a focal point in the conflict between Israel and the Ammonites. The Ammonites, under King Hanun, humiliated David's envoys, leading to a military campaign against them. The siege of Rabbah is detailed in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. David's forces, led by Joab, besieged the city, and after a prolonged campaign, it was captured. The capture of Rabbah is marked by the taking of the Ammonite king's crown, which is described in 2 Samuel 12:30: "Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great amount of plunder from the city."

Rabbah continued to hold significance in the region even after its capture by David. The city is mentioned in the prophetic literature, notably in the book of Jeremiah, where it is prophesied against due to the Ammonites' hostility towards Israel. Jeremiah 49:2 states, "Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it will become a mound of ruins, and its villages will be burned with fire. Then Israel will dispossess their dispossessors, says the LORD."

The city of Rabbah is also referenced in the book of Ezekiel, where it is included in the list of cities that will face judgment (Ezekiel 21:20). These prophetic declarations underscore the city's prominence and the divine judgment pronounced upon it due to the actions of its inhabitants.

In later historical periods, Rabbah was known as Philadelphia, named by Ptolemy II Philadelphus during the Hellenistic era. This name change reflects the city's continued importance and its integration into the broader cultural and political landscapes of successive empires.

Rabbah's historical and biblical significance is further evidenced by archaeological findings, which have uncovered remnants of its ancient fortifications and structures, providing insight into the city's past and its role as a major urban center in the ancient Near East.2 Samuel 12:26,27
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 49:3
Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, you daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Nations of the South-East
... the Israelites in later days; their cities were captured ... subsequent to the settlement
of the Ammonites and Moabites ... married into the family of a Horite chief. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... Nob seems to have been the chief, or perhaps ... Rabbah, and of the other Ammonite cities,
which he ... certainly expounded them of tormenting these Ammonites to death ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Who were the Ammonites? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jephthah? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about child sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org

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