The Amorites, one of the prominent Canaanite tribes mentioned in the Old Testament, are frequently depicted as embodying a character that is profane and wicked. Their presence in the biblical narrative serves as a representation of the moral and spiritual corruption that the Israelites were to avoid and ultimately displace from the Promised Land.

Historical Background

The Amorites were a Semitic people who originally inhabited the region of Mesopotamia before migrating westward into Canaan. They are often mentioned alongside other Canaanite tribes such as the Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites. The Amorites established several city-states and were known for their influence and power in the region.

Biblical Depictions

The Bible frequently portrays the Amorites as a people whose practices and way of life were in direct opposition to the commandments and holiness of God. In Genesis 15:16, God tells Abraham that the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete, indicating their persistent sinfulness and the eventual divine judgment that would befall them.

In Deuteronomy 20:17-18, the Israelites are commanded to completely destroy the Amorites and other Canaanite nations to prevent the adoption of their abominable practices: "You must completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God."

Moral and Spiritual Corruption

The Amorites are often associated with idolatry and moral depravity. Their religious practices included the worship of false gods and rituals that were abhorrent to the God of Israel. In 1 Kings 21:26, the wickedness of King Ahab is compared to that of the Amorites: "He acted most abominably by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites."

The Amorites' influence is seen as a corrupting force, one that could lead the Israelites away from their covenant with God. In Ezekiel 16:3, Jerusalem is metaphorically described as having an Amorite father, symbolizing the city's spiritual adultery and departure from God: "This is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: ‘Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.’"

Divine Judgment and Conquest

The conquest of the Amorite territories by the Israelites under the leadership of Moses and Joshua is depicted as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and a judgment upon the Amorites' wickedness. In Numbers 21:21-25, the Israelites defeat Sihon, king of the Amorites, and take possession of his land: "Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 'Let us pass through your land; we will not turn aside into any field or vineyard. We will not drink the water from any well. We will travel the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.' But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to the wilderness to confront Israel. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. But Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified."

The narrative of the Amorites serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical text, illustrating the consequences of living in opposition to God's will and the inevitable judgment that follows persistent wickedness.Genesis 15:16
But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Great Duty of Family Religion
... served, or the Gods of the Amorites, in whose land ... be saved, where will such monstrous
profane and wicked ... and therefore agreeably to such a character, bound to ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the great duty of family.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... Josiah are described in the text, his character, in its ... by his son Manasseh, the
most profane of all ... had "done wickedly above all that the Amorites did which ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... [1] The Amorites were one ... ark, contrary to the law, and for which profane rashness
death ... before Divine laws seeming to me the principal character of idolatrous ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... compressed into twelve great periods, the character of which ... revelations; the works
of the Amorites and magicians ... the Jews as an opinion profane and detestable ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... of the Most High God, and shall profane even the ... militates against Taxo being Judas
is the character of Judas ... I may bring them into the land of the Amorites? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... empire, in the country of the Amorites, they came ... It would have been similar in
character to the ... are better fitted, perhaps, than the profane compositions of ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

Who were the Amorites? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that “the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” (Genesis 15:16)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Sihon, king of the Amorites? | GotQuestions.org

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