The Amorites were an ancient Semitic people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are often depicted as one of the primary inhabitants of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The Amorites are considered descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who was one of Noah's three sons. This lineage is outlined in the Table of Nations found in Genesis 10, which provides a genealogical record of the descendants of Noah's sons after the Flood.

Biblical Lineage

According to Genesis 10:15-16 , "Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites." This passage places the Amorites among the Canaanite tribes, indicating their descent from Canaan. The Amorites, therefore, share a common ancestry with other Canaanite groups, such as the Hittites and Jebusites.

Historical Context

The Amorites are frequently mentioned in the context of the patriarchal narratives and the conquest of Canaan. In Genesis 14:7 , they are listed among the peoples defeated by the coalition of kings led by Chedorlaomer: "Then they turned back to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar."

The Amorites are also noted for their significant presence in the land of Canaan during the time of the Israelite conquest. In Numbers 13:29 , the Amorites are described as dwelling in the hill country, alongside the Hittites, Jebusites, and Canaanites: "The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan."

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Amorites were known for their fortified cities and influence in the region. They are often depicted as a formidable people, both in terms of military strength and cultural impact. In Deuteronomy 1:7 , the Israelites are commanded to journey into the hill country of the Amorites, indicating the extent of Amorite territory: "Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Arabah, the hill country, the foothills, the Negev, and the seacoast—to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates."

The Amorites' religious practices were typical of the Canaanite peoples, often involving the worship of multiple deities and rituals that were in direct opposition to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh as practiced by the Israelites. This religious divergence is highlighted in the biblical narrative as a source of conflict and a reason for the divine mandate to drive them out of the land.

Role in Israelite History

The Amorites played a significant role in the history of Israel, particularly during the period of the conquest and settlement of Canaan. In Joshua 10:5 , the Amorite kings formed a coalition to fight against the Israelites: "So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces, advanced with all their armies, besieged Gibeon, and fought against it."

The defeat of the Amorite kings by Joshua and the Israelites is a pivotal moment in the conquest narrative, demonstrating the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham. The Amorites' resistance and subsequent defeat are emblematic of the broader struggle between the Israelites and the indigenous Canaanite populations.

Legacy

The Amorites, as descendants of Canaan, are integral to the biblical narrative of the Promised Land. Their interactions with the Israelites, both as adversaries and as part of the land's history, underscore the complex dynamics of the ancient Near East. The biblical portrayal of the Amorites serves as a testament to the challenges faced by the Israelites in establishing their identity and fulfilling their covenantal destiny.Genesis 10:15,16
And Canaan begat Sidon his first born, and Heth,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Chronicles 1:13,14
And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
... over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? ... Observe,
too, with what bitter particularity his descent is counted back through three ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/achans sin israels defeat.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... The Amorites were crushed by the Israelitish forces, though the lands they had taken ...
Both traced their descent from Abraham; it was only on the side of the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Canaan
... Hittites established themselves in Syria "in the land of the Amorites," while at ...
The Kenites came from the desert, and were apparently of Midianitish descent. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Refutation of the Jews
... Did not Amalek make war on Moses and the Amorites oppose him, and did not the ... what
lineage He comes?" With all the saints we can trace their descent from the ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 6 refutation of the.htm

On the Prophet Isaiah. I.
... again, when Joshua the son of Nun was fighting against the Amorites, when the ... Joshua,
being anxious lest the heathen host should escape on the descent of night ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on the prophet isaiah i.htm

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
... Amorites, [44]625. ... the Church is built, [172]249, [173]632; temptation of, [174]249;
Lamb without spot, [175]265; food of angels, [176]372; descent into hell ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/aron brother of moses 486.htm

Introduction
... The highlands of Canaan had been peopled by the Amorites, a tall fair race, akin
probably to the ... A mixed race is always superior to one of purer descent. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... been permitted to have their habitation in the country of the Amorites, which was ...
discomfited them, he followed them, and pursued them down the descent of the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

The Israelites
... They formed a single family which claimed descent from a common ancestor ... Amraphel
of Genesis, entitles himself king of "the land of the Amorites," as Palestine ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Work of Christ.
... and Satan; for the Archangel will accompany Him some day in His descent out of ... these
were not the names of the Egyptians, the Jebusites, the Amorites or the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/ii the work of christ.htm

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