The Amorites: Refused a Passage to Israel
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Topical Encyclopedia
The Amorites were a significant group of ancient people frequently mentioned 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 described as a powerful and formidable people, known for their fortified cities and military prowess. Their refusal to allow the Israelites passage through their land is a notable event in the biblical narrative, illustrating the challenges faced by the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land.

Biblical Account

The incident of the Amorites refusing passage to the Israelites is recorded in the Book of Numbers and the Book of Deuteronomy. As the Israelites, led by Moses, approached the land of Canaan, they sought permission to pass through the territory of the Amorites. Moses sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, with a peaceful request:

"Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, nor drink water from any well. We will travel the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory." (Numbers 21:22)

Despite this peaceful overture, Sihon refused to grant passage and instead mobilized his forces against Israel. The Amorites' refusal was not merely a denial of passage but an act of aggression, as Sihon gathered his people and went out to confront Israel in battle at Jahaz. The Israelites, under divine guidance, engaged in battle with the Amorites and emerged victorious:

"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." (Numbers 21:24)

Theological Significance

The refusal of the Amorites to allow Israel passage is significant in several ways. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites regarding the conquest of Canaan. The victory over the Amorites served as a testament to God's faithfulness and power, as He delivered the Amorite kings into the hands of His chosen people. This event also underscores the theme of divine justice, as the Amorites' resistance and subsequent defeat were seen as part of God's judgment against the inhabitants of Canaan for their iniquities.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Amorites were a Semitic people who played a prominent role in the history of the ancient Near East. They are mentioned in various ancient texts outside the Bible, including the Mari Tablets and the Amarna Letters, which provide additional context to their interactions with neighboring cultures. The Amorites were known for their influence in Mesopotamia and their establishment of several city-states in the region.

In the biblical narrative, the Amorites are often grouped with other Canaanite nations that opposed Israel. Their refusal to allow passage and subsequent defeat is emblematic of the broader conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanite peoples, as Israel sought to establish itself in the land promised to them by God.

Legacy

The defeat of the Amorites and the subsequent occupation of their land by the Israelites marked a significant step in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The land taken from the Amorites became part of the inheritance of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as detailed in the Book of Joshua. The narrative of the Amorites' refusal and defeat serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Israelites and the divine intervention that guided their journey to the Promised Land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 21:21-23
And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as appears this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From Kadesh to the Death of Moses.
... When they were refused passage through the land of the ... with Sihon the King of the
Amorites, whom they ... strong and ancient people brought Israel into contact ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter vii from kadesh to.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... The Amorites were crushed by the Israelitish forces, though the lands they had taken
from Moab were not ... It was a king who refused a passage through his ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Israelites
... Khammurabi, the Amraphel of Genesis, entitles himself king of "the land of the
Amorites," as Palestine was ... The Edomites refused them a passage along the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Numbers
... Edom haughtily refused Israel permission to pass through her land ... by defeating Sihon,
king of the Amorites, and Og ... v.24 would almost carry the passage down to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

Chapter xlviii
... See the remarks on that passage. ... But his father refused, saying: I know, my son;
I know. ... above thy brethren, which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the ... But the full scope of
the passage is not ... the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Joshua's Song of Victory over the Amorites (Joshua 10:13), and ... and religious life
in Judah no less than in Israel. ... had begun to lay claim: in a passage full of ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... to have, in the first instance, refused the crown ... next attacked the Tyrians and the
Amorites, and won ... the territory they had conquered.* One passage, in which ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... the circumcision of the Israelites after the passage of the ... and Cole-Syria, Amurru,
the land of the Amorites. ... had either risen against him or had refused to do ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... names associated with it in another passage of the ... offered no resistance, but
nevertheless refused to acknowledge ... Mahallat, Maiza, Kaiza, the Amorites and Arvad ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Resources
Who were the Perizzites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God send the Israelites to Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 15:13)? | GotQuestions.org

Is it true that the sun stood still? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Amorites

Amorites were Giants

Amorites: Allotted to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh

Amorites: Chiefs of

Amorites: Conquest of

Amorites: Descendants of Canaan

Amorites: Given to Descendants of Abraham

Amorites: Hornets Sent Among

Amorites: Idolatry of

Amorites: Intermarry With Jews

Amorites: Judgments Denounced Against

Amorites: Kings of

Amorites: Not Exterminated

Amorites: Struck Down by Chedorlaomer and Rescued by Abraham

Amorites: Territory of

Amorites: Wickedness of

The Amorites of Gigantic Strength and Stature

The Amorites: Acquired an Extensive Territory from Moab East of Jordan

The Amorites: Ahab Followed the Abominations of

The Amorites: Brought Into Bondage by Solomon

The Amorites: Character of Idolatrous

The Amorites: Character of Profane and Wicked

The Amorites: Defeated by Chedorlaomer

The Amorites: Deprived of Their Eastern Territory by Israel

The Amorites: Descent From, Illustrative of Man's Natural State

The Amorites: Descent of

The Amorites: Doomed to Utter Destruction

The Amorites: Forbearance of God Towards

The Amorites: Governed by Many Independent Kings

The Amorites: had Many and Strong Cities

The Amorites: had Peace With Israel in the Days of Samuel

The Amorites: Jacob Took a Portion From

The Amorites: Joined Abraham Against the Kings

The Amorites: Kings of, Degraded and Slain

The Amorites: Kings of, Great and Powerful

The Amorites: Land of, Given to Reubenites

The Amorites: Manasseh Exceeded Abominations of

The Amorites: Miraculous Overthrow of

The Amorites: One of the Seven Nations of Canaan

The Amorites: Originally Inhabited a Mountain District in the South

The Amorites: Refused a Passage to Israel

The Amorites: The Gibeonites a Tribe of, Deceived Israel Into a League

The Amorites: The Israelites Unable to Expel, But Extracted Tribute From

The Amorites: The Jews After the Captivity Condemned for Intermarrying With

The Amorites: Western Kings of, Confederated Against Israel

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The Amorites: Originally Inhabited a Mountain District in the South
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