Throughout the early history of Israel (1), we find references to the Ammonite people (2). Who were they, where did they come from, and what happened to them? The Ammonites were a Semitic people, closely related to the Israelites. Despite that relationship, they were more often counted enemies than friends.
 
Lot (3), Abraham's (4) nephew, was the progenitor of the Ammonites. After Abraham and Lot separated (Genesis 13), Lot settled in the city of Sodom. When God (5) destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (6) because of their wickedness, Lot and his daughters (7) fled to the hill country on the southern end of the Dead Sea (8). Probably thinking they were the only people left on the Earth, Lot’s daughters got him drunk and had incestuous relations with him to produce children (Genesis 19:37-38). The older daughter had a son named Moab (9) (“from father”), and the younger gave birth to Ben-Ammi (10) (“son of my people”). The Ammonites, descendants of Ben-Ammi, were a nomadic people who lived in the territory of modern-day Jordan, and the name of the capital city, Amman, reflects the name of those ancient inhabitants.
 
In the time of Moses (11), the fertile plains of the Jordan River (12) valley were occupied by the  Amorites (13), Ammonites and Moabites (14). When Israel left Egypt (15), the Ammonites refused to assist them in any way, and God punished them for their lack of support (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Later, however, as the Israelites entered the Promised Land (16), God instructed them, “When you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession” (Deuteronomy 2:19). The Israelite tribes of Gad (17), Reuben (18), and half of Manasseh (19) claimed the Amorite territory bordering that of the Ammonites.
 
The Ammonites were a pagan people who worshiped the gods Milcom and Molek (20). God commanded the Israelites not to marry these pagans, because intermarriage would lead the Israelites to worship false gods (21). Solomon (22) disobeyed and married Naamah (23) the Ammonite (1 Kings 14:21, 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:13), and, as God had warned, he was drawn into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8). Molek was a fire-god with the face of a calf; his images had arms outstretched to receive the babies who were sacrificed to him. Like their god, the Ammonites were cruel. When Nahash (24) the Ammonite was asked for terms of a treaty (1 Samuel 11:2), he proposed gouging out the right eye of each Israelite man. Amos 1:13 says that the Ammonites would rip open pregnant women in the territories they conquered.
 
Under King Saul's (25) leadership, Israel defeated the Ammonites and made them vassals. David (26) continued that sovereignty over Ammon (27) and later besieged the capital city to solidify his control. After the split of Israel (28) and Judah (29), the Ammonites began to ally themselves with the enemies of Israel. Ammon regained some sovereignty in the seventh century BC, until Nebuchadnezzar II (30) conquered them about a hundred years later. Tobiah (31) the Ammonite (Nehemiah 2:19) was possibly a governor of the region under Persian (32) rule, but the inhabitants were a mix of Ammonites, Arabs (33), and others.
 
By New Testament (34) times, Jews had settled in the area, and it was known as Perea. The last mention of Ammonites as a separate people was in the second century by Justin Martyr, who said they were very numerous. Sometime during the Roman period, the Ammonites seem to have been absorbed into Arab society (a) (b) (c).

FAST BIBLE FACTS ABOUT THE AMMONITES
(a) (b) (c)
dates are approximate (35)

 
2067 BC  The Ammonites are descendants of Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot and his younger daughter (Genesis 19:30-38).
 
1302 BC  The Ammonites and Amorites join with Eglon (36), King of Moab (37), to attack Israel. Moab (38) oppresses Israel for 18 years (Judges 3:12-14).
 
1118 BC  God sells the disobedient Israelites into the hands of the Ammonites and the Philistines (39), who oppress Israel for 18 years. Jephthah (40), later the 9th Judge of Israel (41), is raised up by God and defeats the Ammonites (Judges 10:6-12:7).
 
1042 BC  King Saul and the Israelites slaughter the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead (42) (1 Samuel 11:1-11).
 
1041 BC  King Saul leads Israelite forces in defeating the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites (43), Amalekites (44), Philistines and the kings of Zobah (45) (h) (1 Samuel 14:47).
 
  995 BC  King David defeats the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:1-19; 1 Chronicles 19:1-19).
 
  993 BC  Israelite forces led by Joab (46) destroy the Ammonites and besiege Rabbah (47) (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3).
 
  991 BC  King David and Israelite forces defeat and plunder Rabbah of the Ammonites, who become subjects of Israel (2 Samuel 12:26-31).
 
  ---- BC  One of King Solomon's many wives - Naamah - was an Ammonite and the mother of Rehoboam (48), future king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (49) (1 Kings 14:21, 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:13).
 
  853 BC  Ammonite forces led by their King Baasha (50) engage in the Battle of Qarqar (51).
 
  852 BC  A powerful army comprised of Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Meunites (52) forge alliance to attack the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Spirit of the LORD (53) delivers this army into the hands of Judah (prophecy of Jahaziel (54) fulfilled). See Battle in the Desert of Jeruel (55) (2 Chronicles 20:1-30).
 
  850 BC  The Kingdom of Moab, subjects of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, rebels. The Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Ammon join with Israel against Moab, crushing the rebellion (prophecy of Elisha (56) fulfilled). See the Battle of Kir Hareseth (57) (2 Kings 3:1-27).
 
  760 BC  Amos (58) prophesies against Ammon (Amos 1:13-15).
 
  730 BC  Isaiah (59) prophesies against Ammon (Isaiah 11:14).
 
  638 BC  Zephaniah (60) prophesies against Ammon (Zephaniah 2:8-11).
 
  621 BC  Josiah (61), King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, desecrates the high places that were east of Jerusalem (62) on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones King Solomon had built for Ashtoreth (63) (the vile goddess of the Sidonians (64)), for Chemosh (65) (the vile god of Moab), and for Molek (66) (the detestable god of the people of Ammon) (2 Kings 23:13).
 
  594 BC  Jeremiah (67) prophesies against Ammon (Jeremiah 49:2).
 
  587 BC Ezekiel (68) prophesies against Ammon (Ezekiel 25:1-7).
 
  582 BC  Moab is conquered by the Babylonians (69).

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The narrative (a) (b) (c) offered herein has been published with permission (d) and no monetary gain is being sought. Footnotes within the narrative have been inserted by The Marion County Manna Project and re-direct to our webpages (unless otherwise noted) for additional spiritual insight and reflection. All Bible verse references linked herein are courtesy of Bible Gateway (f).
 

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If you're seeking additional info about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (70). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (71) (g) is the most rewarding, everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
 

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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (72), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (73), Discipleship Encounters (74) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
 
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].
 

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FOOTNOTES:
  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/twelve-tribes-of-israel
  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ammonites
  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/lot
  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/abraham
  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/god-of-the-bible
  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sodom-and-gomorrah
  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/lots-daughters
  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/dead-sea
  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/moab-father-of-the-moabites
(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ben-ammi
(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/moses
(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jordan-river
(13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/amorites
(14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/moabites
(15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/egypt
(16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/promised-land
(17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/gad-1
(18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/reuben-1
(19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/manasseh-1
(20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/molek
(21) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/other-gods-of-the-bible
(22) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/solomon
(23) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/naamah
(24) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/nahash
(25) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/saul-king-of-israel
(26) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/david
(27) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ammon
(28) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/northern-kingdom-of-israel
(29) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/southern-kingdom-of-judah
(30) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/nebuchadnezzar
(31) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/tobiah
(32) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/persia
(33) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/arabs
(34) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/new-testament
(35) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-timeline
(36) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/eglon
(37) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-moab
(38) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/moab
(39) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/philistines
(40) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jephthah
(41) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judges-of-israel
(42) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/battle-of-jabesh-gilead
(43) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/edomites
(44) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/amalekites
(45) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-aram-damascus
(46) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/joab
(47) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/rabbah
(48) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/rehoboam
(49) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/southern-kingdom-of-judah
(50) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/baasha
(51) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/battle-of-qarqar
(52) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/meunites
(53) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-holy-spirit
(54) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jahaziel
(55) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/battle-in-desert-of-jeruel
(56) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/elisha
(57) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/battle-of-kir-hareseth
(58) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/amos-ot-prophet
(59) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/isaiah-1
(60) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/zephaniah-1
(61) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/josiah
(62) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jerusalem
(63) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ashtoreth
(64) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sidonians
(65) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/chemosh
(66) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/molek
(67) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jeremiah-1
(68) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ezekiel-1
(69) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/babylonians
(70) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city
(71) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor
(72) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies
(73) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education
(74) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship
 
PAGE CREDITS:
(a) Who Were the Ammonites?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed April 23, 2021,
https://www.gotquestions.org/Ammonites.html
 
(b) When did Moab and Ammon eventually Worship the Lord (Zephaniah 2:11)?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed April 23, 2021,
https://www.gotquestions.org/Moab-Ammon.html
 
(c) What is the Significance of the land of Ammon in the Bible?  Got Questions Ministries, accessed April 23, 2021,
https://www.gotquestions.org/Ammon-in-the-Bible.html
 
(d) Copyright Policy, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 11, 2020,
https://www.gotquestions.org/about.html
 
(e) Videos, Milestones, Blogs & Poster, BibleProject, accessed September 29, 2020,
https://www.bibleproject.com/terms/#use
 
(f) Bible Gateway, New International Version (NIV) Bible, accessed September 18, 2020,
https://www.biblegateway.com/
 
EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
(g)  How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020,     https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html
 
(h) Bible Gateway, Encyclopedia of the Bible, Zobah, accessed April 16, 2021,
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Zoba-Zobah
 
(i) Exodus Period Nations In Canaan (The Ammonites), The Interactive Bible, accessed April 23, 2021,
https://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-ammonites.htm
 
 

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