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After Lot fled the city of Sodom, which God destroyed with fire and brimstone because of its sins of homosexuality, he had a son named Ben-Ammi. According to Genesis 19:38 he was the father of the Ammonites. |
The Ammonites became one of Israel’s most hated enemies. They were one of the nations that hired Balaam to curse Israel at the time of Moses as recorded in Nehemiah 13:1-2. Because of that action, God declared in Dueteronomy 23:3 that no Ammonite could ever enter into the assembly of the Lord. |
Biblical archaeology has brought to light many artifacts from the kings of Ammon. One such artifact was found with the words “Milqom, steward of Baalis." |
Baalis is mentioned in the Bible as being the king who had Gedaliah the governor of Judah assassinated as recorded in Jeremiah 40:13-14: |
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Milqom, steward of Baalis Seal |
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“Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and said to him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.” |
Gedaliah’s seal has also been unearthed in archaeology. |
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Seal of |
"Gedaliah, who is over the House" |
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A mention of the Ammonite’s was also found on a bronze bottle found near Ammon, Jordan. The relic belonged to Amminadab the first, king of the Ammonites.(650 B.C.) It is engraved with the words: “The Sons of Ammon.” |
Another famous artifact known as the monolith inscription, from Shalmaneser the third, mentions the leader of an Ammonite army along with Ahab the king of Israel. The inscription reads: |
"To strengthen his forces he was assisted by Hadadezer of Damascus who had 1,200 chariots and cavalrymen, along with 20,000 soldiers on foot . . . 2,000 chariots and 10,000 troops of Ahab from Israel . . . military forces of Basa, the son of Ruhubi, the Ammonite. Combined they numbered twelve kings." |
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Monolith Inscription |
Mentioning Ahab allied with Basa of the Ammonites |
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Do not follow the example of the Ammonites. |
But flee temptation like their ancestor Lot. |
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“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds); then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” |
2 Peter 2:4-9 (NKJV) |
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This article is a chapter from our 3 volume book series "Bible Believer's Archaeology" which can be downloaded for your ebook reader or mobile device by visiting our resource download page by Clicking Here. |
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Photo Links to Artifacts Mentioned in this Article |
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Milqom Steward of Baalis Seal |
& Sons of Ammon Bottle |
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Monolith Inscription |
Mentioning Ahab of Israel & Basa the Ammonite |
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Sources: |
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Biblical Archaeology Review March/April 1999 Vol.25 No.2 |
Pg.46-49 Ammonite Seals |
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The Ancient Near East: Volume 1 An Anthology of Text and Pictures- Princeton University Press edited by James Pritchard |
pg.190 mention of Ahab king of Israel and Basa son of Ruhubi from Ammon. ISBN 0-691-00200-2 |
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The Revell Bible Dictionary ISBN #0-8007-1594-2 |
pg.56 limestone statue head of an Ammonite king dated during the time frame of Jehoshaphat. |
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Art: Pen and ink reproduction of Rembrandt’s ‘Lot’s departure from Sodom’ Illustrator: John Argubright |
copyright © 2000-(current year) Argubright |
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Illustration: ‘Milqom servant of Ballis"’ and 'Gedaliah Seal' pen and ink reproductions, Illustrator John Argubright, copyright © 2000-(current year) Argubright |
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Artwork: "Shalmaneser Monolith Battle of Qarqar mentions Ahab", Illustrated in "Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia - Vol.1" (1910). Pg.175 Author: S, Fallows, Publisher: Howard-Severance Co. |
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