The Ammonites were a people descended from Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot through his younger daughter, as recorded in Genesis 19:38. They inhabited the region east of the Jordan River and north of Moab, in what is present-day Jordan. Throughout biblical history, the Ammonites were often in conflict with the Israelites, and their relationship was marked by hostility and warfare.

Solomon's Intermarriage with the Ammonites

King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and wealth, reigned over Israel during a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity. However, his reign was also marked by political alliances through marriages with foreign women, which ultimately led to spiritual compromise. Among these foreign wives was Naamah, an Ammonite woman, who became the mother of Solomon's successor, Rehoboam.

The Bible records Solomon's marriages to foreign women in 1 Kings 11:1-2 : "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love."

Introduction of Ammonite Idols

Solomon's marriages to foreign women, including those from Ammon, led to the introduction of idolatry into Israel. The Ammonites worshiped the god Milcom (also known as Molech), and Solomon's accommodation of his wives' religious practices resulted in the construction of high places for these deities.

1 Kings 11:5-7 states: "Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely. At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites."

This act of idolatry was a direct violation of God's commandments and led to divine judgment. The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. As a result, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's lineage, though not during his lifetime, for the sake of David, his father.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, Solomon's intermarriage with the Ammonites and the subsequent introduction of their idols into Israel serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith through alliances with those who do not share the same covenantal relationship with God. The narrative underscores the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of turning away from Him.

The account of Solomon and the Ammonites highlights the tension between political expediency and spiritual fidelity, reminding believers of the need to remain steadfast in their devotion to God, avoiding the allure of foreign influences that can lead to spiritual downfall.1 Kings 11:1-5
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

What is an abomination? | GotQuestions.org

What is significance of Mount Seir? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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