The Ancient Biblical Ammonites in Jordan

The ancient Biblical Kingdom of the Ammonites in Palestine was east of the River Jordan and North of Moab. The kingdom flourished from the 13th century BC to the eighth century AD. The Semitic Ammonites took their name from their presumed ancestor -- Ben Ammi -- son of Lot and citizen of the biblical city of Sodom. They warred frequently with the Hebrews and the Ammonite King Nahash -- with a reputation for cruelty -- was defeated by the first Hebrew King Saul. His successor David -- who reigned from circa 1010 to 972 BC -- succeeded in capturing their capital Rabbath Ammon (Amman). The war -- among other things -- was over control of north-south trade routes east of the Jordan River. The Ammonites regained independence after Solomon succeeded David as King of the Hebrews in 972 BC. Ammon was absorbed by the Arabs in the eighth century AD. Excavations in Jordan have revealed a highly developed civilization. One of their chief gods was Milcom ..... (AHSFC)

19:29 And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave -- he and his two daughters 19:31 And the firstborn said unto the younger "Our father is old and there is not man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 19:32 Come let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father" 19:33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow that the firstborn said unto the younger "Behold I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in and lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father" 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father 19:37 And the firstborn bare a son and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites: unto this day

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 .....