Topical Bible: The Ammonites with the Philistines Oppressed Israel for Eighteen Years

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The Ammonites, descendants of Lot through his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38), were a significant group in the ancient Near East, often in conflict with the Israelites. Their territory was located east of the Jordan River, in what is now modern-day Jordan. The Ammonites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as adversaries of Israel, and their interactions with the Israelites are marked by hostility and warfare.

During the period of the Judges, the Ammonites, alongside the Philistines, oppressed the Israelites for eighteen years. This oppression is recorded in the Book of Judges, a time characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, oppression by enemies, cries for deliverance, and the rise of judges to restore peace. Judges 10:7-8 states, "So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year harassed and oppressed the sons of Israel for eighteen years—all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites."

The oppression by the Ammonites was particularly severe for the tribes residing east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead. The Ammonites, emboldened by Israel's spiritual and moral decline, sought to expand their territory and exert control over the Israelites. This period of subjugation was a direct consequence of Israel's idolatry and abandonment of the covenant with Yahweh, as they turned to worship the gods of the surrounding nations.

In response to their suffering, the Israelites cried out to the LORD for deliverance. Judges 10:10 records their plea: "Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, 'We have sinned against You, for we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.'" The LORD, in His mercy, raised up Jephthah, a Gileadite, to deliver Israel from the Ammonite oppression. Jephthah, despite his humble beginnings and being the son of a harlot, was chosen by God to lead Israel to victory. His leadership is detailed in Judges 11, where he successfully negotiates and battles against the Ammonites, securing peace for Israel.

The Ammonite oppression serves as a reminder of the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the faithfulness of God to deliver His people when they repent and return to Him. The narrative underscores the importance of covenant faithfulness and reliance on God for deliverance from oppression and adversity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 10:6-9
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... to the first comer; the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the Philistines,
all oppressed ... groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... Manasseh was only thirteen years old when he came to the throne, and his ... all, they
applied themselves to the task of rewriting the history of Israel, which, as ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... and the great jubilee, which is to be the year after forty-nine years are expired ...
flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel" (Amos 7 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm