The Amorites were an ancient Semitic people frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. They were one of the many Canaanite tribes inhabiting the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The Amorites are often depicted as formidable opponents due to their strength and stature, and they played a significant role in the history of Israel's conquest and settlement of the Promised Land.

Historical Background

The Amorites are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:16 as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham. They are described as a powerful and numerous people, dwelling in the hill country and known for their fortified cities. The Amorites were part of the coalition of Canaanite tribes that opposed the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan under Joshua.

Allotment to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh

The territories of the Amorites were significant in the allotment of land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes were granted land on the eastern side of the Jordan River, an area previously inhabited by the Amorites.

1. Reuben and Gad: The tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to settle in the land of the Amorites because it was suitable for their large herds and flocks. Numbers 32:33 states, "So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land with its cities and the territory surrounding them."

2. Half-Tribe of Manasseh: The half-tribe of Manasseh also received a portion of the Amorite territory. Joshua 13:29-31 details this allotment: "This is what Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh: the territory from Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all the towns of Jair that are in Bashan, sixty cities in all."

Conquest and Settlement

The conquest of the Amorite territories was a significant event in Israel's history. Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, as recorded in Numbers 21:21-35. These victories were seen as divinely ordained, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness to His promises.

Deuteronomy 3:2-3 recounts God's assurance to Moses regarding the Amorites: "But the LORD said to me, 'Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.' So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan and all his people into our hands, and we struck them down until no survivor was left."

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Amorites, like other Canaanite tribes, practiced polytheism and idolatry, which posed a spiritual threat to the Israelites. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the religious practices of the Amorites and other Canaanite peoples. Judges 6:10 records God's admonition: "I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.' But you did not obey Me."

Despite these warnings, the influence of the Amorites and their culture persisted, leading to periods of apostasy and idolatry among the Israelites. The struggle against the Amorite influence is a recurring theme in the narrative of Israel's history, highlighting the challenges of maintaining faithfulness to God amidst surrounding pagan cultures.Numbers 32:33-42
And Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
Nave's Topical Index

Joshua 13:15-21
And Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers
... north, and began her career of conquest by defeating Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og ... The land east of the Jordan was allotted to Reuben, Gad and the half ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

How the Hebrews Fought with the Midianites, and Overcame Them.
... was that the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the ... tribes to possess the land of
the Amorites; but upon ... for the Levites;]; three of which he allotted to those ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how the hebrews.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... the spoil, and assigned to each tribe his allotted portion of ... in the engagement;
at all events, the Amorites were routed ... at the time that Gad and Reuben were in ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... requested that a special bazaar might be allotted to them ... Joshua's Song of Victory
over the Amorites (Joshua 10:13 ... to a king; next to Joseph comes Reuben, to whom ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Who were the Moabites? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Og king of Bashan? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus