The kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom fought with the Israelites and the Judahites over territory. The Bible presents things from the Israelites’ and Judahites’ point of view, and archaeological discoveries help show us the other side. Rabbath Ammon it was called in ancient times, a place-name we might translate as the Ammonite Heights.

Understanding the Context

During the Iron Age, it was the capital of the kingdom of Ammon, rival of the biblical Israelites. The remains of the ancient Ammonite acropolis are perched atop a rocky outcrop over-looking the bustling capital of modern Amman, Jordan. ammon ammon Latest Jan 1 Blog Who Were the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites in the Bible? By: Megan Sauter During the Iron Age, when Israel and Judah ruled Canaan, the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom ruled east of the Jordan River.

Key Insights

Recent archaeological discoveries vastly increase our understanding of these kingdoms and their religion. The kingdom of the biblical Ammonites had much in common with neighboring kingdoms, but they alone produced statues in significant numbers. If the site was a temple where humans were sacrificed, it could have served the ancient Ammonite capital of Rabat Ammon, 1.5 miles to the west, although the site mystifyingly also contained Hittite, Mycenaean and Egyptian artifacts. In his view, they likely were not simply annihilated, but rather were assimilated into the various emerging Iron Age peoples in the region: Israel, Moab, Edom, Ammon, and so on. While vestiges of Bronze Age Canaanite society lingered, that society ceased to be uniquely identifiable in the archaeological record.

Final Thoughts

In addition to introducing Jordan’s biblical geography, this seminar will highlight the latest archaeological discoveries from “across the Jordan” that shed new light on the Patriarchal and Exodus traditions, the Iron Age kingdoms of Ammon, Moab, and Edom that rivaled ancient Israel and Judah, and the enigmatic Nabataeans of Petra who ... Tags: amman ammon Ancient Israel ancient israelites Antiquities archaeological sites archaeologist Archaeologist Discoveries archaeology odyssey archaeology review bib arch org biblical arch Biblical Archaeology Review biblical history biblical places dead sea israelites Jesus john the baptist jordan sites to see judith moabites nabataeans ...