The Ammonites were a people descended from Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot by his younger daughter, as recorded in Genesis 19:38. They inhabited the region east of the Jordan River, in what is now modern-day Jordan. The territory of the Ammonites was characterized by its rugged terrain and was known for its fortified cities and fertile lands.

Biblical Context and Geography

The land of the Ammonites was situated to the northeast of Moab and to the east of the Israelite tribes of Reuben and Gad. The capital city of the Ammonites was Rabbah, also known as Rabbath-Ammon, which corresponds to present-day Amman, the capital of Jordan. The region was bounded by the River Jabbok to the north and the River Arnon to the south.

Conquest and Allocation to the Gadites

During the Israelite conquest of the Promised Land, the territory of the Ammonites was not initially part of the land designated for the Israelites. However, the Ammonites, along with the Moabites, were often in conflict with Israel. The Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, were instructed not to harass the Ammonites or engage them in battle, as their land was not given to Israel as an inheritance (Deuteronomy 2:19).

Despite this, the Ammonites frequently opposed Israel, leading to various conflicts. In the period of the Judges, the Ammonites oppressed the Israelites, prompting God to raise up Jephthah as a deliverer (Judges 11). The Ammonites were eventually subdued by King David, who extended Israel's influence over their territory (2 Samuel 12:26-31).

The allocation of land to the tribes of Israel included the territory east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Gad, along with Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh, received land in this region. The Gadites were given a portion of the land that had been under Ammonite control, particularly after the defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had previously conquered parts of the Ammonite territory (Numbers 32:33-39).

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Ammonites were known for their worship of the god Milcom (also known as Molech), which involved practices detestable to the Israelites, including child sacrifice. This idolatrous worship was a continual source of conflict and temptation for the Israelites, as seen in the accounts of Solomon's reign, where he built high places for Milcom (1 Kings 11:5-7).

Throughout the biblical narrative, the Ammonites are often depicted as adversaries of Israel, yet they also serve as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises to the descendants of Abraham. The interactions between Israel and the Ammonites highlight the complexities of ancient Near Eastern politics and the challenges faced by the Israelites in maintaining their covenantal identity amidst surrounding pagan cultures.Joshua 13:25
And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... triumphs, but his death made no impression on the impulse given to the fortunes
of his country. ... One-half of the men carried sword and lance, the other half ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... he had committed in slaying his half-brothers, the ... sheikhs of the Midianites, Moabites,
and Ammonites"all these ... a decree of Pharaoh, a new country had been ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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