The Amorites were an ancient Semitic people who played a significant role in the history of the Near East and the biblical narrative. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the prominent groups inhabiting the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The Amorites are often depicted as formidable adversaries, and their presence in the biblical text underscores the challenges faced by the Israelites in their quest to settle in the Promised Land.

Historical Background

The Amorites are believed to have originated from the region of Mesopotamia, migrating westward into the land of Canaan and beyond. They established themselves as a dominant force in the region, with their influence extending into parts of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The Amorites are often associated with the early city-states of the ancient Near East, where they established independent kingdoms.

Governance and Kingship

The governance of the Amorites was characterized by a system of independent city-states, each ruled by its own king. This decentralized political structure is evident in the biblical accounts, where multiple Amorite kings are mentioned. For instance, in the conquest narratives of the Book of Joshua, several Amorite kings are listed as adversaries of the Israelites. Joshua 10:5 states, "So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped by Gibeon and fought against it."

The presence of multiple kings suggests that the Amorites did not have a unified national government but rather a coalition of city-states, each with its own ruler. This political fragmentation may have contributed to their eventual defeat by the Israelites, as it likely hindered their ability to mount a coordinated defense.

Biblical References and Interactions

The Amorites are frequently mentioned in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. They are depicted as a powerful and warlike people, often in opposition to the Israelites. In Genesis 15:16 , God tells Abram, "In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." This passage indicates that the Amorites were among the peoples whose moral corruption warranted divine judgment, paving the way for the Israelite occupation of their land.

The Amorites also appear in the narratives of the Israelite wanderings in the wilderness. In Numbers 21:21-25 , the Israelites request passage through the land of the Amorite king Sihon, who refuses and attacks them. The Israelites, under Moses' leadership, defeat Sihon and take possession of his territory. This victory is significant as it marks the beginning of Israel's conquest of the Transjordan region.

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Amorites, like other Canaanite peoples, practiced a polytheistic religion that included the worship of deities such as Baal and Asherah. Their religious practices often involved rituals that were abhorrent to the Israelites, including child sacrifice and temple prostitution. These practices are condemned in the biblical text and are cited as reasons for the divine mandate to drive them out of the land.

Legacy and Influence

The Amorites left a lasting impact on the history and culture of the ancient Near East. Their legacy is evident in the archaeological remains of their cities and the historical records of their interactions with neighboring peoples. Despite their eventual defeat and assimilation, the Amorites are remembered in the biblical narrative as a significant and influential people whose presence shaped the course of Israelite history.Joshua 5:1
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 9:10
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Canaan
... Ebed-Asherah and his son Aziru governed the Amorites in the ... Like the Amorites and
the Amorite tribe of Jebusites at ... There were as many Baals or Baalim as there ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... and Cole-Syria, Amurru, the land of the Amorites. ... as many states as cities, and as
many dynasties as ... a country of Semitic speech, and was governed by viceroys ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... Zealots, the holy people were to be governed by no ... The kings of the Amorites, when
they hear that ... Like many other apocalyptic productions, it is a combination ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... seems to have sat on the throne not many years later ... of "King of the land of the
Amorites." So too ... a Sumerian dynasty from the south, which governed the country ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Egypt
... The plateau of Bashan was governed by a single ... such a catastrophe by destroying as
many as possible of ... Hittites, Mitannians, and Amorites all followed with them ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... concerning angels and demons is in many respects such ... and Moab, the Edomites and
Amorites, are exhibited ... and guidance, other nations were governed not merely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Joshua's Song of Victory over the Amorites (Joshua 10 ... the enclosing wall merely
presented so many weak points ... compartments, each of which was independent of the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... the first alarm.* These tribes were governed by numerous ... domain of Sihon, King of
the Amorites, and that ... In many of the figures represented on the monuments we ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... The royal messenger Thutii, who governed the countries of ... Alasia, in Singar, among
the Khati, Amorites, and the ... more than she received, for many articles which ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... had assassinated the Harnathite who governed them, and had ... Plateau north of the
Cossaeans.* Many of them ... Byblos, Mahallat, Maiza, Kaiza, the Amorites and Arvad ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

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