AMMON
The
people of Ammon were Semitic Canaanites, known by the Bible as the
'children of Ammon'. Their kingdom was situated east of the River
Jordan, and the people were closely related to the Israelites, Moabites,
and Edomites. Although their western border was clearly defined
after they lost the territory beyond it first to an Amorite invader
and then to the Israelites in about 1200 BC, their eastern borders
were never clearly defined, opening out as they did onto the Syrian
Desert. The southern border was shared with Moab, while to the north
it may have met the border of the city state of Geshur. The kingdom's
key city was Rabbah, or Rabbath Ammon, which survives today as Amman,
the capital of the kingdom of Jordan. A good source of wealth was
the fact that Ammon lay along the 'King's Highway', an important
north-south trade route between Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia.
Akkadian
sources which date to the kingdom's earliest years of existence
mention nomadic groups along the Trans-Jordanian highlands whom
they term the Shutu. These groups extend deep into Mesopotamia,
probably occupying the edges of the habitable zone there. Speculation
about the Shutu mentions that the name may be a variant of the Egyptian
term 'Shasu', Semitic cattle-herding nomads who operated in a clan
system with tribal chieftains. While the historical identity of
these Shutu is unknown, they have been linked to the Moabites and
Ammonites.
The
Ammonites were worshippers of Molech, an old Canaanite idol who
was known as Melkarth, Baal-melech, Malcom, and other such names
by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. he was related to Baal, a
sun-god worshipped by the sacrifice of children. According to Unger's
Bible Dictionary, Palestinian excavations have uncovered evidences
of infant skeletons in burial places around heathen shrines. The
Moabite god, Chemosh, may have been closely related to Molech, or
a substitute for him.
(Information
by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Unger's Bible
Dictionary, Merrill F Unger (1957), from Easton's Bible Dictionary,
Matthew George Easton (1897), from Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient
Times, Donald Redford (Princeton University Press, 1992), from Early
Israel and the Surrounding Nations, A H Sayce, and from External
Link: Encyclopædia Britannica.)
c.1740
BC :
Ben
Ammi : Son
of Lot, who was nephew to Abraham. First king of Ammon.
c.1740
BC :
According to the Old Testament, the Ammonites are descended from
Ben Ammi, an illegitimate son of Lot and a grandnephew of Abraham
of the early Israelites. The early close relations between Ammon
and the kingdom of Moab are confirmed by their later history and
both groups have to expel native groups to claim their land, the
Emim in Moab and the Rephaim Zuzim in Ammon. These two groups may
essentially be one and the same people, regarded as brigands by
larger states but probably nothing more than nomadic, cattle-herding
pastoralists who mount the occasional raid. The Rephaim Zuzim are
referred to as giants, a label often used to mark out indigenous
people who are defeated by newcomers (Finns, Germanics, and Celts
in Britain all have similar references, for example).
![Israelites](Israel_Migration01_full.jpg)
This
slightly fanciful view of the migrating Israelites does show a surprisingly
small number of participants (more are cropped off from the left,
but even so their numbers are very finite), something that chimes
with the 'ruling elite' theory of migration detailed in the introduction
on the Israelites page
17th
cent BC :
An
Egyptian execration text dated to the seventeenth century BC refers
to an 'Ayyab' as king of the Shutu. The name is possibly a variant
form of 'Job', with Jobab of Edom being a handy candidate. However,
tentative identification of the mysterious Shutu has linked them
with the Moabites and Ammonites to the north of Edom.
1453
BC :
The
Egyptians conquer the Levant and Syria and establish three provinces
in their conquered territories which are named Amurru (in southern
Syria), Upe (in the northern Levant), and Canaan (in the southern
Levant). Each one is governed by an Egyptian official. Native dynasts
are allowed to continue their rule over the small states, but it
is not known whether Ammon is included, or indeed if it has a single
head of state at this time.
1286/1258
BC :
Ramses II of Egypt reaches a stalemate with the Hittites at the
Battle of Kadesh, after which the earliest known peace treaty is
signed in 1258 BC. Ramses limits his control to southern Palestine,
where he draws a firm and fortified boundary. He is also known during
his reign as the oppressor of the Israelites, possibly the unnamed
pharaoh of the Old Testament, but whether the well-known story of
the Israelite exodus from Egypt occurs at this point in time is
still unproven and highly debatable.
c.1150
BC :
After apparently being militarily dominant since their arrival half
a century before, the Israelites suffer a reversal in fortunes when
at least some of them are subdued by Moab, possibly with support
provided by Ammon. More of their territory, in the south, is conquered
by the Philistines who maintain vassal kings in Israel.
fl
c.1115 BC :
Sihon
:
Amorite ruler of parts of Moab and Ammon.
c.1115
BC :
According
to the Old Testament, Sihon, an Amorite, captures areas of Moab
('from Arnon even unto Jabbok and unto Jordan'), and forms his own
kingdom around the city of Heshbon. He is referred to as a king
of Ammon by the Israelites when they make contact and he refuses
to allow them to return from Egypt to Canaan through his western
territories. In retaliation they attack and capture his walled towns,
including Heshbon, wiping out his people. His land becomes part
of Israel. This is a bone of contention with the Ammonites, who
would rather have their territory returned to them. The upper waters
of the Jabbok now form their western border.
c.1050
BC :
A weakened Egypt loses its remaining imperial possessions in Canaan.
At the same time, Ammon appears to gain a recognisable line of kings
for the first time.
fl
1050s - 1000 BC :
Nahash
: Attacked
Jabesh-Gilead.
c.1000
BC :
The
Israelite king Saul defeats Nahash after the citizens of the frontier
city of Jabesh-Gilead call for assistance against the Ammonite army.
A small nation, the Ammonites are not strong enough to stand against
the Israelites without support, which is usually received from Moab.
early
900s BC :
Hanun
ben Nahash : Son.
c.980
BC :
Ammon
is conquered by Israel, despite assistance being supplied by the
northern state of Aram Damascus. King David appoints Sobi as the
new king to keep the peace, successfully, it seems, as relations
visibly improve between the two states.
Sobi
ben Nahash / Shobi : Brother?
Vassal of Israel.
early/mid-900s
BC :
?
: Vassal
of Israel.
c.880
BC :
Ammon
regains its independence after a period of hostilities provoked
by the kings of Samaria. It is possible that the state becomes a
vassal of Damas for a time, but this is uncertain.
c.
870s - 860s BC :
Ruhubi
fl
860s / 853 BC :
Ba'asa
(the Ammonite) / Baasha : Son.
Ruler of Bit-Ruhubi (Ammon).
860s?
BC :
Asa
of Judah and Ba'asa (Baasha) of Ammon maintain a near-lifelong feud.
When Ba'asa pushes Samaria's frontier to within five miles of Jerusalem,
Asa, just like his father before him when under pressure, calls
on Damas for help. In this case it is Ben-Hadad who responds to
Asa's offer of payment if Damas will break its treaty with Ammon.
853
BC :
Ba'asa
is a member of an alliance of states which also includes Arvad,
Byblos, Damas, Edom, Egypt, Hamath, Kedar, and Samaria. Together
they fight Shalmaneser III of Assyria at the Battle of Qarqar which
consists of the largest known number of combatants in a single battle
to date, and is the first historical mention of the Arabs from the
southern deserts. Despite claims to the contrary, the Assyrians
are defeated, since they do not press on to their nearest target,
Hamath, and do not resume their attacks on Hamath and Damas for
about six years.
![Map of Canaan and Syria c.850 BC](Map850BC_full.jpg)
When
the Neo-Assyrian empire threatened the various city states of southern
Syria and Canaan around 853 BC, they united to protect their joint
territory - successfully it seems, at least for a time
c.740
BC :
Ammon is made a vassal of Assyria. Assyrian tribute lists show that
Ammon is a poor country, contributing as it does tribute just one-fifth
of the size of that from Judah.
fl
c.740 BC :
Budili
: Known
only in Assyrian records. Ammonite name lost.
fl
c.735 BC :
Shanip
/ Sanipu
fl
before 701 BC :
Pado'el
/ Pudu'ilu
fl
680s BC :
Kabus-Gabri
ELSM?
: Inscription.
No other known records.
fl
c.675 BC :
Barak-el
MNHRN?
: Inscription.
No other known records.
fl
c.650 BC :
Amminadab
I
fl
c.620 BC :
Hissal'el
I ben Amminadab : Son.
fl
c.600 BC :
Amminadab
II ben Hissal'el : Son.
c.590s
- 585 BC :
Baalis
597
BC :
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia invades Judah and occupies Jerusalem
(with the help of Ammon). Despite this, Baalis still receives Jews
who flee Babylonian rule.
c.585
BC :
Baalis instigates the murder of the Babylonian governor of Judah,
and Ammon is soon made a vassal of Babylonia.
fl
c.585 BC :
Milcomur
fl
c.580s BC :
Tobiah
I
c.539
BC :
Ammon is made a vassal of Persia. There are few mentions of Ammon
in this period.
fl
c.520s BC :
Tobiah
II
fl
mid-400s BC :
Tobiah
III : Governor?
446
- 444 BC :
Tobiah incites the Ammonites to hinder Ezra and Nehemiah's efforts
to rebuild Jerusalem in Judah.
c.332
- 323 BC :
Ammon is made a vassal of the Greek empire under Alexander the Great.
c.323
-200 BC :
Alexander the Great's general, Seleucus, take control of the region.
In 305 BC his domains become the Seleucid empire.
c.270
BC :
The city Rabbath Ammon is renamed Philadelphia in honour of Ptolemy
II of Egypt, possibly around this date which is when he takes the
name himself.
fl
c.270 BC :
Tobiah
IV
fl
c.200 BC :
Tobiah
V
200
- 195 BC :
To achieve his part of a treaty with Philip V of Macedonia that
is designed to carve up Egypt's colonial possessions, Antiochus
III of the Seleucid empire invades Coele Syria. This triggers the
Fifth Syrian War and sees Ptolemaic General Scopas defeated
at Panion near the source of the River Jordan in 200 BC. This gains
Antiochus control of Palestine and Phoenicia (which includes the
city of Miletus). The campaign ends in a peace deal in 195 BC which
gains for Antiochus permanent possession of southern Syria (which
includes Idumaea), while Ammon takes advantage of the shift in power
to declare its own independence.
?
- 160 BC :
Timotheus
c.160
BC :
Timotheus
is defeated by the Maccabaean Jews and control of Ammon passes to
them in a newly independent Judea.
120s
- 110s BC :
Zoilus
Cotylas : Tyrant
of Philadelphia.
c.110
- 85 BC :
Philadelphia within the Dekapolis.
late
100s - 90s? BC :
Theodoros
: Tyrant
of Philadelphia.
87
- 63 BC :
The Seleucid King Antiochus XII attacks the Nabataeans, intent on
recapturing lost territory from them, but although he kills their
king, the Nabataeans resist his advance. To make it worse, their
new king strikes back and takes southern Syria and Ammon. Ammon
remains a Nabataean territory until 63 BC.
64
- 63 BC :
The region is conquered by Pompey of Rome and becomes a province.
Ammonites are still numerous in the south of Palestine into the
second century AD.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsMiddEast/
CanaanAmmon.htm