Benammi is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis. He is recognized as the progenitor of the Ammonites, a people frequently mentioned in the biblical narrative. The name "Benammi" is understood to mean "son of my people" in Hebrew, reflecting his origins and the circumstances of his birth.

Biblical Account:

The account of Benammi is found in Genesis 19:30-38. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters took refuge in a cave in the mountains. Fearing the extinction of their family line, Lot's daughters devised a plan to preserve their lineage by having children through their father. On successive nights, they made their father drink wine and lay with him without his knowledge. As a result, both daughters became pregnant by their father.

Genesis 19:37-38 states: "The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today."

Historical and Cultural Context:

Benammi's descendants, the Ammonites, settled in the region east of the Jordan River. The Ammonites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as neighbors and often adversaries of the Israelites. The relationship between the Israelites and the Ammonites was complex, involving periods of conflict and coexistence.

The Ammonites worshiped their own gods, with the chief deity being Molech, to whom they offered child sacrifices, a practice condemned by the Israelites. The biblical narrative often portrays the Ammonites as a people who led Israel into idolatry and immorality, drawing the ire of the prophets and leaders of Israel.

Significance in Biblical Narrative:

The account of Benammi and the origins of the Ammonites serve as a backdrop for understanding the geopolitical and spiritual challenges faced by the Israelites. The Ammonites, along with the Moabites, are depicted as both kin and adversaries, sharing a common ancestry through Lot, yet often opposing Israel in their journey and settlement in the Promised Land.

Throughout the biblical narrative, the Ammonites are involved in various conflicts with Israel. Notably, during the period of the Judges, the Ammonites oppressed the Israelites, leading to the rise of Jephthah as a deliverer (Judges 11). Later, during the reigns of Saul and David, the Ammonites again appear as adversaries, with King David ultimately subduing them (2 Samuel 10-12).

Theological Reflections:

The account of Benammi's birth and the subsequent history of the Ammonites highlight themes of family, sin, and divine providence. The circumstances of Benammi's conception underscore the moral complexities and consequences of human actions. Despite the morally questionable origins, the narrative demonstrates God's overarching sovereignty in the unfolding of history and His ability to work through flawed human circumstances to achieve His purposes.

Benammi's account, like many in the Old Testament, serves as a reminder of the intricate tapestry of human relationships and divine intervention that characterizes the biblical narrative. It invites reflection on the nature of sin, redemption, and the enduring impact of familial and national legacies.Benammi

(son of my people), the son of the younger daughter of Lot, and progenitor of the Ammonites. (Genesis 19:38) (B.C. 1897.)

Son of my kindred; i.e., "born of incest", the son of Lot by his youngest daughter (Genesis 19:38). BEN-AMMI

ben-am'-i (ben `ammi, "son of my kinsman," Genesis 19:38): The progenitor of the Ammonites was a son of Lot's younger daughter, born after the destruction of Sodom. The account of his birth as well as that of Moab was commonly regarded as an expression of Israel's intense hatred and contempt toward these two nations. However, this idea is rather unwarranted, in view of the fact that the origin of the tribe of Judah (which is held in especial honor by J) is accounted for in a similiar way (Genesis 38). Gunkel (Schopfung und Chaos, 190) suggests that the narrative (Genesis 19:30-38) was originally a Moabitic account tracing the common origin of Moab and Ammon to Lot. It presupposes a universal catastrophe-such as the conflagration of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim suggests-in which all the human race, save Lot and his two daughters, perished. In order to avert the extinction of the race, his daughters resorted to incestuous practices. In this case we have here a Moabite parallel to the Deluge story (Skinner, Genesis, 313-14). While the common origin of the two brother tribes is undoubtedly a fact (Judges 10:6; Judges 11:15, 18, 25 Deuteronomy 2:19 2 Chronicles 20, etc.), the folk-etymology of their names is rather suspicious. The name Ben-Ammi is probably derived from the deity "Emu," which is the name for Nergal among the shuchites on the West of the Euphrates a land which corresponds to the position of the Bene-`Ammo, "children of his people" (Numbers 22:5). The chief god of the Kataban Arabs was called Ammi (Hom., ZDMG, V, 95, 525, note 1). In cuneiform inscriptions this name appears as part of the title of the Ammonite rulers (HDB). Neubauer (Studia Biblica, 1-26) suggests that the name Balaam is a compound of Bel plus Am, that is, "Am is Lord." For other compounds with Ammi see Gray, HPN, 41-60.

S. Cohon

Chapter xix
... Moab. He is the father of the present-day Moabites. And the younger daughter,
she too bore a son and called his name Benammi. He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xix.htm

Benammi (1 Occurrence)
... 41-60. S. Cohon. Multi-Version Concordance Benammi (1 Occurrence). Genesis
19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called ...
/b/benammi.htm - 9k

Ben-ammi (1 Occurrence)
Ben-ammi. Benammi, Ben-ammi. Bench . Easton's Bible Dictionary ... (ASV BBE DBY
JPS WBS YLT NAS RSV). Benammi, Ben-ammi. Bench . Reference Bible.
/b/ben-ammi.htm - 9k

Benai'ah (43 Occurrences)
Benai'ah. Benaiah, Benai'ah. Benammi . Multi-Version Concordance Benai'ah
(43 Occurrences). ... Benaiah, Benai'ah. Benammi . Reference Bible.
/b/benai'ah.htm - 18k

Bare (250 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Genesis 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name
Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. ...
/b/bare.htm - 35k

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