Interesting Facts

• Benammi was born to the younger daughter of Lot.
• The name Benammi signifies “The son of my people”.
• Benammi is considered the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
• The land inhabited by the children of Ammon was once the habitation of the Rephaim, giants whose height ranged from ten to seven cubits.
• The sons of Esau sought fighting men from Ammon to go against Jacob and his sons.

Genealogy

• Benammi was the son of Lot’s younger daughter. His birth occurred following the destruction of Sodom.
• He had descendants who became known as the children of Ammon.
• The sources do not provide specific names of Benammi’s children, only that he is the father of the Ammonites.
• The land of the children of Ammon was located near the land of Gilead and Mount Hermon.

Historical Context

The birth of Benammi, like that of Moab, followed the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, shaping his origins and his immediate family’s circumstances. The narrative later places the children of Ammon in a geographical proximity to Gilead and Mount Hermon, areas previously inhabited by the Rephaim, suggesting a migration or conquest of that territory at some point prior to the events described. The fact that the sons of Esau considered the Ammonites as a potential source of military strength when planning to attack Jacob indicates that the Ammonites were recognized as a distinct and possibly formidable people in the region during that later period. They are listed alongside Aram, Philistia, and Moab as nations from whom Esau’s sons sought support.

Narrative

Benammi’s personal narrative is confined to the account of his birth, with his name reflecting his mother’s explanation of his origin. His primary significance in the sources is as the eponymous ancestor of the Ammonite people. The narrative involving the Ammonites themselves is brief but indicates their role in the broader conflicts of the region. They are mentioned as one of the peoples to whom Esau’s sons proposed an alliance to wage war against Jacob after the death of Isaac. This suggests their involvement in the ongoing tensions and potential hostilities between the lineages of Jacob and Esau. The source does not provide the outcome of this proposed alliance or detail any specific actions taken by the Ammonites in relation to Jacob. However, their inclusion in the list of potential allies signifies their established presence and perceived power in the ancient Near East during the timeframe of these narratives. The text also notes that the land where the children of Ammon dwelt was previously inhabited by the Rephaim, who were destroyed due to their evil deeds, and the Amorites dwelt in their stead. This provides a historical layer to the Ammonite territory, implying previous migrations or changes in dominance in that region.