Amorites
“Mountaineer or highlander”
Summary
A powerful Canaanite people descended from Canaan who inhabited the mountainous regions of Palestine, whose territory east and west of the Jordan was conquered by Israel under Moses and Joshua.
☩Origin and Identity
The Amorites were descended from Canaan, the son of Ham, making them one of the eleven tribes of Canaanite peoples. Their name, derived from the Babylonian Amurru, originally meant "westerner" and referred to early Semitic peoples who migrated from Western Mesopotamia and Syria. About 2500 BC, the Amorites controlled the larger part of Mesopotamia and Syria, with their most influential king being Hammurabi. They gradually migrated into Palestine and were well established by Abraham's time.
☩Territory and Character
The Amorites primarily inhabited the mountainous regions, as their name signifies "mountaineers," dwelling on both sides of the Jordan River. They were described as giants of great stature and courage, whom the prophet Amos compared to cedars in height and oaks in strength. The name "Amorite" was sometimes used interchangeably with "Canaanite" as a general designation for all pre-Israelite inhabitants of Palestine, reflecting their dominance among Canaanite peoples.
☩Conquest by Israel
When Israel approached the promised land from the east, the Amorite king Sihon refused their request for peaceful passage and came out to fight against them at Jahaz. Israel defeated him, possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, and captured his capital Heshbon. Similarly, Og king of Bashan was defeated at Edrei. This combined territory was allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. West of the Jordan, five Amorite kings who allied against the Gibeonites were defeated by Joshua at Gibeon, where the Lord sent hailstones from heaven against them.
☩Later History and Significance
Despite their severe defeats, the Amorites were not completely exterminated and continued to resist Israel in certain areas, even confining the Danites to the hills. In Samuel's day there was peace between Israel and the Amorites, and under Solomon the remnant was reduced to bond-service. Their idolatry persistently influenced Israel, and their gods were worshiped even by Israelite kings like Ahab and Manasseh. Ezekiel used Jerusalem's Amorite origins as a metaphor for Judah's spiritual degradation, declaring her father was an Amorite and her mother a Hittite.
Related Verses92 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Amorites," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.Don Fleming, "Amorites," in Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Bridgeway Publications, 1990).
- 3.Chad Brand, Charles Draper, and Archie England (ed.), "Amorites," in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).
- 4.George Morrish, "Amorites," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.Edwin W. Rice, "Amorites," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).
- 6.Richard Watson, "Amorites," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).
- 7.John Kitto, "Amorites," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. I (Mark H. Newman, 1845).