patronymically from עַמּוֹן; an Ammonite or (the adjective) Ammonitish; Ammonite(-s).
Transliteration:ʻAmmôwnîy
Pronunciation:am-mo-nee'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
H5984 (ʻAmmôwnîy) is a gentilic noun derived from עַמּוֹן (ʻAmmôn), the proper noun for the ancient nation or territory of Ammon. As such, ʻAmmôwnîy specifically denotes an individual belonging to this nation, hence "an Ammonite," or an adjective describing something pertaining to Ammon, "Ammonitish." The term can appear in masculine singular, plural, or feminine singular/plural forms depending on the grammatical context, but its core meaning remains consistent: a person or thing associated with the land and people of Ammon, located east of the Jordan River.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Ammonites feature prominently throughout the Old Testament, largely in an adversarial role to Israel.
* **Origins:** Their lineage is traced back to Ben-Ammi, the son of Lot by his younger daughter ([[Genesis 19:38]]), an origin story that immediately sets them apart from the Abrahamic covenant.
* **Early Interactions and Prohibition:** Despite their Lotite ancestry, God commanded Israel not to molest or provoke the Ammonites during their wilderness wanderings, as God had given their land to Lot's descendants ([[Deuteronomy 2:19]]). However, a severe prohibition was later placed upon them: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever, because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you" ([[Deuteronomy 23:3-4]]). This foundational text profoundly shaped Israel's relationship with Ammon.
* **Period of the Judges:** The Ammonites frequently oppressed the tribes of Israel east of the Jordan. Jephthah delivered Israel from their severe oppression, engaging in a significant conflict over disputed land claims ([[Judges 10:6-11:33]]).
* **Monarchy Period:**
* King Saul's first major act as king was to deliver Jabesh-Gilead from the siege and cruel demands of Nahash the Ammonite ([[1 Samuel 11:1-11]]).
* David initially sought to show kindness to Hanun, son of Nahash, but this was met with insult, leading to a major war in which David decisively defeated the Ammonites ([[2 Samuel 10:1-19]]; [[1 Chronicles 19:1-19]]).
* Ammonite women, such as Naamah, mother of Rehoboam, were among Solomon's foreign wives, contributing to his religious syncretism ([[1 Kings 14:21]]; [[2 Chronicles 12:13]]).
* **Post-Exilic Period:** The animosity continued. Tobiah the Ammonite was a chief antagonist of Nehemiah, vehemently opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and even gaining access to the temple precincts ([[Nehemiah 2:10]]; [[Nehemiah 4:3]]; [[Nehemiah 6:17-19]]; [[Nehemiah 13:4-9]]). Ezra also condemned intermarriage with Ammonites, reinforcing the Mosaic prohibition ([[Ezra 9:1-2]]).
* **Prophetic Oracles:** Numerous prophets pronounced judgment against Ammon for their cruelty and territorial ambition, often linking their fate with that of Moab ([[Amos 1:13-15]]; [[Jeremiah 49:1-6]]; [[Ezekiel 25:1-7]]; [[Zephaniah 2:8-11]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
* עַמּוֹן (ʻAmmôn) `{{H5983}}`: The direct root noun for the nation and land of Ammon.
* מוֹאָב (Môʼâb) `{{H4124}}` and מוֹאָבִי (Môʼâbîy) `{{H4125}}`: Moab and Moabite. These are frequently mentioned alongside Ammon, sharing a common ancestry through Lot and a similar history of antagonism towards Israel, as well as the same prohibition from entering the assembly of the Lord.
* בֶּן־עַמִּי (Ben-ʻAmmî) `{{H1121}}` and `{{H5971}}`: "Son of my people," the ancestral figure from whom the Ammonites descended.
* מִלְכֹּם (Milkom) `{{H4445}}` or מֹלֶךְ (Mōleḵ) `{{H4432}}`: The chief god of the Ammonites, often associated with child sacrifice, whose worship was introduced into Israel by Solomon ([[1 Kings 11:7]]).
* בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן (Bənê ʻAmmôwn): The common Hebrew phrase "sons of Ammon," referring collectively to the Ammonite people.
### Theological Significance
The ʻAmmôwnîy hold significant theological weight within the biblical narrative, primarily representing a persistent external threat and a nation under divine judgment.
* **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty:** Despite initial divine protection due to their Lotite lineage, the Ammonites consistently acted with hostility towards Israel, failing to offer aid during the Exodus and actively opposing them in various periods. Their idolatry, particularly the worship of Milkom, further alienated them from Yahweh. Consequently, they became frequent subjects of prophetic judgment, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all nations and His righteous response to those who oppose His covenant people ([[Amos 1:13-15]]).
* **Purity of the Covenant Community:** The strict prohibition against Ammonites (and Moabites) entering the assembly of the Lord ([[Deuteronomy 23:3-6]]) underscores God's concern for the ritual and spiritual purity of Israel. This exclusion, reiterated by Ezra and Nehemiah, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the distinctiveness of the covenant people and avoiding assimilation with nations whose practices and attitudes are antithetical to God's will.
* **Symbol of Hostility:** The Ammonites serve as a recurring archetype of the nations that oppose Israel and, by extension, God's redemptive purposes. Their history is largely one of conflict, territorial disputes, and religious antagonism, highlighting the ongoing tension between God's people and the forces that resist His kingdom.
### Summary
H5984 (ʻAmmôwnîy) designates an "Ammonite" or "Ammonitish," identifying a member or characteristic of the ancient nation of Ammon, descended from Lot's younger son, Ben-Ammi. Throughout biblical history, the Ammonites are consistently portrayed as adversaries of Israel. Their refusal to aid Israel during the Exodus, their frequent oppression of the Israelite tribes, and their active opposition to the post-exilic rebuilding of Jerusalem, coupled with their idolatrous worship of Milkom, solidified their status as a people under divine condemnation. Theologically, the Ammonites symbolize the nations hostile to God's covenant people, serving as a powerful illustration of divine judgment against those who persistently oppose His will and a reminder of the importance of maintaining the purity and distinctiveness of Israel's identity.
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