Ammon (Ammon as a place name (the land of the Ammonites), not a person in this verse)
Ben-Ammi – ancestor of the Ammonites
Lot's youngest daughter bore a son she named Ben-Ammi – a name meaning 'son of my kinsman' in Hebrew, pointing back to the dramatic circumstances surrounding his conception in a cave after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:36–38). This son became the ancestor of the Ammonites, a people who settled east of the Jordan with Rabbah (modern-day Amman) as their center. The narrative has a clear etiological function: it anchors the origin of the Ammonites in kinship with Israel through Lot, Abraham's nephew, while also explaining the ambivalent relationship between the two peoples. That God explicitly forbade the Israelites from attacking the Ammonite territory during the wilderness wanderings (Deut 2:19) testifies to a theological recognition of their right to their own land – a right grounded in Lot's familial bond with Abraham. Nevertheless, subsequent biblical history is marked by repeated conflicts: Ammonite oppression during the period of the judges, warfare under Saul and David, and sharp prophetic judgments from Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos. Ben-Ammi thus stands as a link between the patriarchal era and the long, tension-filled history of Israel and its neighboring peoples in Transjordan.
Familie
Schlüsselereignisse
The birth of Ben-Ammi
After the destruction of Sodom, Lot fled with his two daughters to a cave in the mountains. The older daughter gave birth to Moab, and the younger gave birth to a son whom she named Ben-Ammi, which means 'son of my kinsman'. He became the ancestor of the Ammonites.
36So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father.
וֽ͏ַתַּהֲרֶ֛יןָ שְׁתֵּ֥י בְנֽוֹת־ל֖וֹט מֵאֲבִיהֶֽן׃
37The older gave birth to a son and named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.
וַתֵּ֤לֶד הַבְּכִירָה֙ בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ מוֹאָ֑ב ה֥וּא אֲבִֽי־מוֹאָ֖ב עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃
38The younger also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites to this day.
וְהַצְּעִירָ֤ה גַם־הִוא֙ יָ֣לְדָה בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־עַמִּ֑י ה֛וּא אֲבִ֥י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃ ס
God's protection over the land of the Ammonites
When the Israelites were traveling toward the Promised Land, God commanded them not to attack or provoke the Ammonites, because he had given this area as an inheritance to Lot's descendants.
19When you approach the territory of the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites as a possession, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession."
וְקָרַבְתָּ֗ מ֚וּל בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן אַל־תְּצֻרֵ֖ם וְאַל־תִּתְגָּ֣ר בָּ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹֽא־אֶ֠תֵּן מֵאֶ֨רֶץ בְּנֵי־עַמּ֤וֹן לְךָ֙ יְרֻשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י לִבְנֵי־ל֖וֹט נְתַתִּ֥יהָ יְרֻשָּֽׁה׃
20(That land too was reckoned as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim used to live there, though the Ammonites called them Zamzummim—
אֶֽרֶץ־רְפָאִ֥ים תֵּחָשֵׁ֖ב אַף־הִ֑וא רְפָאִ֤ים יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָהּ֙ לְפָנִ֔ים וְהָֽעַמֹּנִ֔ים יִקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם זַמְזֻמִּֽים׃
21a people great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the LORD destroyed them before the Ammonites, who dispossessed them and settled in their place,
עַ֣ם גָּד֥וֹל וְרַ֛ב וָרָ֖ם כָּעֲנָקִ֑ים וַיַּשְׁמִידֵ֤ם יְהוָה֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּירָשֻׁ֖ם וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ תַחְתָּֽם׃
The oppression of Israel by the Ammonites
During the time of the judges, the Ammonites oppressed Israel for eighteen years. Jephthah was raised up as a judge and led war against them, defeating them with a great blow.
7So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יְהוָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיִּמְכְּרֵם֙ בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּבְיַ֖ד בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃
8That year they shattered and crushed the Israelites, and for eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites beyond the Jordan, in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
וַֽיִּרְעֲצ֤וּ וַיְרֹֽצְצוּ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִ֑יא שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה שָׁנָ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּגִּלְעָֽד׃
9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to make war on Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in dire distress.
וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ בְנֵֽי־עַמּוֹן֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן לְהִלָּחֵ֛ם גַּם־בִּיהוּדָ֥ה וּבְבִנְיָמִ֖ין וּבְבֵ֣ית אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַתֵּ֥צֶר לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מְאֹֽד׃
4Some time later the Ammonites made war against Israel.
וַיְהִ֖י מִיָּמִ֑ים וַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּ בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
5When the Ammonites attacked Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁר־נִלְחֲמ֥וּ בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד לָקַ֥חַת אֶת־יִפְתָּ֖ח מֵאֶ֥רֶץ טֽוֹב׃
6"Come," they said to him, "be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites."
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְיִפְתָּ֔ח לְכָ֕ה וְהָיִ֥יתָה לָּ֖נוּ לְקָצִ֑ין וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֖ה בִּבְנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃
32So Jephthah crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hand.
וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר יִפְתָּ֛ח אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בָּ֑ם וַיִתְּנֵ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
33He struck them down from Aroer to the outskirts of Minnith—twenty towns—and as far as Abel Keramim. It was a crushing blow, and the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.
וַיַּכֵּ֡ם מֵעֲרוֹעֵר֩ וְעַד־בּוֹאֲךָ֨ מִנִּ֜ית עֶשְׂרִ֣ים עִ֗יר וְעַד֙ אָבֵ֣ל כְּרָמִ֔ים מַכָּ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּכָּֽנְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ
Saul Delivers Jabesh-Gilead from the Ammonites
Nahash, king of the Ammonites, besieged Jabesh-Gilead and demanded humiliating terms. Saul gathered Israel and defeated the Ammonites in a decisive battle that solidified his kingdom.
1Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you."
וַיַּ֗עַל נָחָשׁ֙ הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֔י וַיִּ֖חַן עַל־יָבֵ֣שׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֤י יָבֵישׁ֙ אֶל־נָחָ֔שׁ כְּרָת־לָ֥נוּ בְרִ֖ית וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃
2But Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "I will make a treaty with you on one condition: that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם נָחָשׁ֙ הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י בְּזֹאת֙ אֶכְרֹ֣ת לָכֶ֔ם בִּנְק֥וֹר לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־עֵ֣ין יָמִ֑ין וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יהָ חֶרְפָּ֖ה עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
11The next day Saul divided his men into three companies. During the last watch of the night they broke into the enemy camp and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
וַיְהִ֣י מִֽמָּחֳרָ֗ת וַיָּ֨שֶׂם שָׁא֣וּל אֶת־הָעָם֮ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רָאשִׁים֒ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ בְתוֹךְ־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־עַמּ֖וֹן עַד־חֹ֣ם הַיּ֑וֹם וַיְהִ֤י הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ וַיָּפֻ֔צוּ וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָ֖ם שְׁנַ֥יִם יָֽחַד׃
David's Conflict with the Ammonites
David sent messengers to Hanun, the new king of the Ammonites, to show goodwill after his father's death, but the messengers were humiliated. This triggered a major war in which David eventually captured the Ammonite capital, Rabbah.
1Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.
וַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיָּ֕מָת מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ חָנ֥וּן בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
2David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation of his servants to console him over his father. But when David's servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites,
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶעֱשֶׂה־חֶ֣סֶד ׀ עִם־חָנ֣וּן בֶּן־נָחָ֗שׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ עָשָׂ֨ה אָבִ֤יו עִמָּדִי֙ חֶ֔סֶד וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח דָּוִ֧ד לְנַחֲמ֛וֹ בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֶל־אָבִ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אֶ֖רֶץ בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃
3the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, "Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending you men to console you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to explore the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?"
וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ שָׂרֵ֨י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֜וֹן אֶל־חָנ֣וּן אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֗ם הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֥ח לְךָ֖ מְנַֽחֲמִ֑ים הֲ֠לוֹא בַּעֲב֞וּר חֲק֤וֹר אֶת־הָעִיר֙ וּלְרַגְּלָ֣הּ וּלְהָפְכָ֔הּ שָׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
4So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut their garments in half at the buttocks, and sent them away.
וַיִּקַּ֨ח חָנ֜וּן אֶת־עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד וַיְגַלַּח֙ אֶת־חֲצִ֣י זְקָנָ֔ם וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת אֶת־מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם בַּחֵ֖צִי עַ֣ד שְׁתֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃
26Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.
וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם יוֹאָ֔ב בְּרַבַּ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־עִ֥יר הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃
29So David gathered all the troops, went to Rabbah, attacked it, and captured it.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ רַבָּ֑תָה וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם בָּ֖הּ וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃
30He took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David's head. He also brought out great quantities of plunder from the city.
וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־עֲטֶֽרֶת־מַלְכָּם֩ מֵעַ֨ל רֹאשׁ֜וֹ וּמִשְׁקָלָ֨הּ כִּכַּ֤ר זָהָב֙ וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֔ה וַתְּהִ֖י עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ דָּוִ֑ד וּשְׁלַ֥ל הָעִ֛יר הוֹצִ֖יא הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
31He brought out the people who were there and put them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and he set them to work at the brick kilns. He did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.
וְאֶת־הָעָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֜הּ הוֹצִ֗יא וַיָּ֣שֶׂם בַּ֠מְּגֵרָה וּבַחֲרִצֵ֨י הַבַּרְזֶ֜ל וּֽבְמַגְזְרֹ֣ת הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהֶעֱבִ֤יר אוֹתָם֙ *במלכן **בַּמַּלְבֵּ֔ן וְכֵ֣ן יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל עָרֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֑וֹן וַיָּ֧שָׁב דָּוִ֛ד וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ פ
Prophecies Against Ammon
Several prophets pronounced judgments against the Ammonites because of their hostility toward Israel, their pride, and their oppression. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos proclaimed God's judgment upon them.
1Concerning the Ammonites, this is what the LORD says: Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom taken possession of Gad, and his people settled in its cities?[^1]
[^1]: The Hebrew word can also be read "their king"; Milcom was the chief god of the Ammonites.
לִבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֗וֹן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הֲבָנִ֥ים אֵין֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יוֹרֵ֖שׁ אֵ֣ין ל֑וֹ מַדּ֗וּעַ יָרַ֤שׁ מַלְכָּם֙ אֶת־גָּ֔ד וְעַמּ֖וֹ בְּעָרָ֥יו יָשָֽׁב׃
2Therefore the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a desolate mound, and its villages will be burned with fire. Then Israel will dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD.
לָכֵ֡ן הִנֵּה֩ יָמִ֨ים בָּאִ֜ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה וְ֠הִשְׁמַעְתִּי אֶל־רַבַּ֨ת בְּנֵי־עַמּ֜וֹן תְּרוּעַ֣ת מִלְחָמָ֗ה וְהָֽיְתָה֙ לְתֵ֣ל שְׁמָמָ֔ה וּבְנֹתֶ֖יהָ בָּאֵ֣שׁ תִּצַּ֑תְנָה וְיָרַ֧שׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־יֹרְשָׁ֖יו אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
3Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed! Cry out, daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and mourn; run back and forth among the walls, for Milcom will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.
הֵילִ֨ילִי חֶשְׁבּ֜וֹן כִּ֣י שֻׁדְּדָה־עַ֗י צְעַקְנָה֮ בְּנ֣וֹת רַבָּה֒ חֲגֹ֣רְנָה שַׂקִּ֔ים סְפֹ֕דְנָה וְהִתְשׁוֹטַ֖טְנָה בַּגְּדֵר֑וֹת כִּ֤י מַלְכָּם֙ בַּגּוֹלָ֣ה יֵלֵ֔ךְ כֹּהֲנָ֥יו וְשָׂרָ֖יו יַחְדָּֽיו׃
2Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם שִׂ֥ים פָּנֶ֖יךָ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וְהִנָּבֵ֖א עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
3Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you gloated over my sanctuary when it was profaned, over the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile,
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לִבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֡ה יַעַן֩ אָמְרֵ֨ךְ הֶאָ֜ח אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֣י כִֽי־נִחָ֗ל וְאֶל־אַדְמַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּ֣י נָשַׁ֔מָּה וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה כִּ֥י הָלְכ֖וּ בַּגּוֹלָֽה׃
4therefore I am handing you over to the people of the east as their possession. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents in your midst; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
לָכֵ֡ן הִנְנִי֩ נֹתְנָ֨ךְ לִבְנֵי־קֶ֜דֶם לְמֽוֹרָשָׁ֗ה וְיִשְּׁב֤וּ טִירֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְנָ֥תְנוּ בָ֖ךְ מִשְׁכְּנֵיהֶ֑ם הֵ֚מָּה יֹאכְל֣וּ פִרְיֵ֔ךְ וְהֵ֖מָּה יִשְׁתּ֥וּ חֲלָבֵֽךְ׃
5I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
וְנָתַתִּ֤י אֶת־רַבָּה֙ לִנְוֵ֣ה גְמַלִּ֔ים וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן לְמִרְבַּץ־צֹ֑אן וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס
13This is what the LORD says: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not take it back—because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their border.
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עַל־שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עַמּ֔וֹן וְעַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה לֹ֣א אֲשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ עַל־בִּקְעָם֙ הָר֣וֹת הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמַ֖עַן הַרְחִ֥יב אֶת־גְּבוּלָֽם׃
14So I will kindle fire against the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour her strongholds, with a war cry on the day of battle, with a whirlwind on the day of the storm.
וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּחוֹמַ֣ת רַבָּ֔ה וְאָכְלָ֖ה אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ בִּתְרוּעָה֙ בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסַ֖עַר בְּי֥וֹם סוּפָֽה
15Their king will go into exile,* he and his officials together, says the LORD. [*Footnote: Or "Milcom," the national god of Ammon; the Hebrew form can be read either way.]
וְהָלַ֥ךְ מַלְכָּ֖ם בַּגּוֹלָ֑ה ה֧וּא וְשָׂרָ֛יו יַחְדָּ֖ו אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ פ