AMMONITES, a people of Ccelo-Syria, who were descended from Amnion, or Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot, (Gen. xix. 38 ; Jos. ..lutir . I. i. c. 11.) They attacked a gigantic tribe, called Zanzummim, or Zuzim, who dwelt in the mountainous part of Gilead, and took possession of their country in the year before Christ 1451. The Israelites were expressly forbidden to distress the chil dren of Ammon, or to encroach upon their territory, (D•m. xii. 19.) The Ammonites, however, frequently united with their neighbours, the Moabites, in harassing the children of Israel ; and particularly, after the death of Jail', one of the judges, they collected in great force in Gilead, A. C. 1161. Jephtha was chosen to oppose them; and he sent ambassadors to demand the reason of their hostility. It appears, that before the Israelites entered Canaan, the Amorites had deprived the Am monites of a part of•their territory ; and Musts, having afterwards driven the Amorites front this conquered district, had divided it between the tribes of Gad and Reuben. The Ammonites now declared to the mes sengers of Jephtha, that they came in arms to claim the restitution of this tract of country. In reply to tbis de mand, Jephtha naturally alleged, that the Israelites had gained the land from the Ammonites by fair conquest ; that they had possessed it unchallenged for three hundred years; that the attempt of the Ammonites to regain it, after the lapse of so long a period, was altogether un justifiable; that he would not consent to restore it, but would confide in God to support the justice of his cause. The Ammonites persisted in their aggressions ; were engaged by the Israelites, and defeated with great slaughter. (Jud. x. and xi; Jos. .intiq. I. v. c. 9.) Na hash, the chief of the Ammonites, A. C. 1095, commit ted various acts of hostility upon the Israelites who dwelt on the east of Jordan, about the time of Saul's acces sion to the throne of Israel. Ile put out toe right eye of every man who loll into his hands; that, as the sight of the left eye was generally obstructed by the shield in time of battle, all these persons, being blind of the right eye, might never again be of service to their country in arms. Passing over Jordan, he laid siege to Gilead, and reduced the city to offer a capitula tion. Nahash agreed to accept their submission, and to spare their lives, upon the hard condition, that every man should lose his right eye. The inhabitants of Ja besh requested seven days' respite ; and agreed to sub mit to these degrading terms, if they were not relieved in that time. Saul, however, having heard of their dan ger, hastened to their aid ; defeated the Ammonites, arid saved the city from the threatening barbarity of Nahash.
(1 Sam. xi. Jos. .Intig. 1. 6, c. 5, 6.) It would appear, that Nahash, from enmity to Saul, had shown friendship to David, when he was persecuted by that prince. After the death of Nahash, David, who was then king of Israel, sent a friendly message of condolence to his son and successor Ilantin. That prince was persuaded by his chiefs to treat the messengers of David as spies, and to abuse them in a shameful manner. Sensible that they had thus exposed themselves to the vengeance of David, the Ammonites prepared themselves for war, and called the Syrians to their assistance. Joab was sent against them with a body of chosen troops, completely routed Ilanun and his allies, and laid siege to his capital Rab bah, David, shortly after, joined his army there ; took demolished, not only that, but all the cities of the Ammonites ; destroyed the greater part of the inhabi tants, and reduced them under subjection to the king dom of Israel. (2 Sam. x. Jos. ?intiv. I. vii. c. 6, 7.) They continued in this condition till the death of Ahab, when they united with the Moabites, and made irrup tions both into the kingdom of Israel and Judah. They were repulsed in both cases; and particularly in the lat ter expedition, they were struck with such infatuation by the hand of God, that they destroyed one another with dreadful carnage. (2 Chron. xx. Jos. ix. c. 1.) They were again discomfited, and subjected to a tribute, A. C. 758, by Jotham, the son of Uzziah. (2 Chron. xxvii. Jos. 472ti7. 1. ix. c. 11.) They seem to have ungenerously triumphed over the Israelites, when oppressed by the Babylonians ; hut they were soon in volved in the same calamity by Nebuchadnezzar, when he passed through Lower Syria, on his way to attack the kingdom of Egypt. (Jos. Antiq. I. x. c. 11.) These various tribes, which Nebuchadnezzar had dispersed, were restored to their several territories, about 70 years afterwards, by Cyrus, king of Persia ; and continued subject to that monarchy till it was overthrown by the Macedonians. After the death of Alexander the Great, the Ammonites, and all the other nations in Palestine, were sometimes under the dominion of the Syrian, and at other times of the Egyptian princes. They took part with Antiocf us in his persecutions of the Jews; and sustained, on that account, several defeats from the Maccabees. (Jos. ,Intig. 1. xii. c. 12.) After the de struction of Jet usalem by the Romans, all those tribes around Judea were denominated, in general, Arabians ; and, before the end of the 3d century, the Ammonites were not known as a distinct people ; which fulfils the prediction of Ezekiel, (c. xxv. 10.) that they should " not be remembered among the nations." Calmet. Jos.
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