Middle East Kingdoms

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.

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.

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.

c.1740 BC

Ben Ammi

Son of Lot, who was nephew to Abraham. First king of Ammon.

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.

c.1150 BC

Moab subdues the Israelites, possibly with support provided by Ammon.

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 called 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, so 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.

early/mid-900s BC

Sobi ben Nahash / Shobi

Brother? Vassal of Israel.

?

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 Damascus for a time, but this is uncertain.

c. 870s - 860s BC

Ruhubi

fl 853 BC

Ba'asa (the Ammonite) / Baasha

Son. Ruler of Bit-Ruhubi (Ammon).

853 BC

Ba'asa is a member of an alliance of states which also includes Arvad, Byblos, Damascus, Edom, Egypt, Hamath, Kedar, and Samaria. Together they fight Shalmaneser III of Assyria in a battle which consists of the largest known number of combatants 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.

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

c.200 BC

Ammon breaks away from the Seleucid empire and regains its 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.