King James Bible Dictionary

The usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Genesis 19:38). From the very beginning (Deuteronomy 2:16-20) of their history till they are lost sight of (Judges 5:2), this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites (Judges 10:11; 2 Chronicles 20:1; Zephaniah 2:8). Both of these tribes hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:4). The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place to place, while the Moabites were more settled. They inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea, from which they had expelled the Zamzummims or Zuzims (Deuteronomy 2:20; Genesis 14:5). They are known as the Beni-ammi (Genesis 19:38), Ammi or Ammon being worshipped as their chief god. They were of Semitic origin, and closely related to the Hebrews in blood and language. They showed no kindness to the Israelites when passing through their territory, and therefore they were prohibited from "entering the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation" (Deuteronomy 23:3). They afterwards became hostile to Israel (Judges 3:13). Jephthah waged war against them, and "took twenty cities with a very great slaughter" (Judges 11:33). They were again signally defeated by Saul (1 Samuel 11:11). David also defeated them and their allies the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:6-14), and took their chief city, Rabbah, with much spoil (2 Samuel 10:14; 12:26-31). The subsequent events of their history are noted in 2 Chronicles 20:25; 26:8; Jeremiah 49:1; Ezekiel 25:3, 6. One of Solomon's wives was Naamah, an Ammonite. She was the mother of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:13).

The prophets predicted fearful judgments against the Ammonites because of their hostility to Israel (Zephaniah 2:8; Jeremiah 49:1-6; Ezekiel 25:1-5, 10; Amos 1:13-15).

The national idol worshipped by this people was Molech or Milcom, at whose altar they offered human sacrifices (1 Kings 11:5, 7). The high places built for this idol by Solomon, at the instigation of his Ammonitish wives, were not destroyed till the time of Josiah (2 Kings 23:13).

AM'MONITE, noun [Cornu ammonis, from Jupiter Ammon, whose statues were represented with ram's horns.]

Serpent-stone, or cornu ammonis, a fossil shell, curved into a spiral, like a ram's horn; of various sizes, from the smallest grains to three feet in diameter. This fossil is found in stratums of limestone and clay, and in argillaceous iron ore. It is smooth or ridged; the ridges strait, crooked or undulated.

Descendants of Benammi, one of the sons of Lot
Genesis 19:38

Character of
Judges 10:6; 2 Kings 23:13; 2 Chronicles 20:25; Jeremiah 27:3; Jeremiah 27:9; Ezekiel 25:3; Ezekiel 25:6; Amos 1:13; Zephaniah 2:10

Territory of
Numbers 21:24; Deuteronomy 2:19; Joshua 12:2; Joshua 13:10; Joshua 13:25; Judges 11:13

Israelites forbidden to disturb
Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 2:37

Excluded from the congregation of Israel
Deuteronomy 23:3-6

Confederate with Moabites and Amalekites against Israel
Judges 3:12-13

Defeated by the Israelites
Judges 10:7-18; Judges 11:32-33; Judges 12:1-3; 1 Samuel 11:1-15; 2 Samuel 8:12; 2 Samuel 10:10; 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26-31; 2 Samuel 17:27; 1 Chronicles 18:11; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3; 1 Chronicles 14:20; 2 Chronicles 26:7-8; 2 Chronicles 27:5

Conspire against the Jews
Nehemiah 4:7-8

Solomon takes wives from
1 Kings 11:1; 2 Chronicles 12:13; Nehemiah 13:26

Jews intermarry with
Ezra 9:12; Ezra 10:10-44; Nehemiah 13:23

Kings of:

Baalis
Jeremiah 40:14; Jeremiah 41:10

Hanun
Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 13:19

Nahash
1 Samuel 11:1-15; 2 Samuel 10:1-2; 1 Chronicles 19:1-2

Idols of:

Milcom
2 Kings 23:13

Molech
Molech

Prophecies concerning
Isaiah 11:14; Jeremiah 9:25-26; Jeremiah 25:15-21; Jeremiah 27:1-11; Jeremiah 49:1-6; Ezekiel 21:20; Ezekiel 21:28-32; Ezekiel 25:1-11; Daniel 11:41; Amos 1:13-15; Zephaniah 2:8-11

a woman of Ammonite race. (1 Kings 14:21,31; 2 Chronicles 12:13)