{"id":45771,"date":"2026-01-01T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T12:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=45771"},"modified":"2026-01-01T11:35:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T16:35:15","slug":"ammonites-moabites-edomites-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-near-eastern-world\/ammonites-moabites-edomites-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Were the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites in the Bible?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Map<\/a>

Map of Ammon, Moab and Edom. Map by Biblical Archaeology Society.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

When the kingdoms of Israel and Judah controlled the land of Canaan, the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom ruled east of the Jordan. Although the Bible offers information about these three Iron Age kingdoms, recent archaeological discoveries are bringing to light a fuller picture of them. In his article \u201cAmmon, Moab and Edom: Gods and Kingdoms East of the Jordan<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> published in the November\/December 2016 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em>, Joel S. Burnett examines the incredible archaeological discoveries from Ammon, Moab and Edom.<\/p>\n

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Who were the Ammonites?<\/h4>\n
\"amman-king\"<\/a>

Ammonite king. Standing more than 6.5 feet tall and dating to the Iron Age, this statue of an Ammonite king was uncovered in 2010 at Amman, Jordan. Who were the Ammonites? In the Bible and from archaeology, a full picture of the Ammonites is emerging. Photo: Joel S. Burnett<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In the Bible, they are described as being descendants of Ben-ammi, who was the son of Lot (Abraham\u2019s nephew)<\/a> and Lot\u2019s younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). The capital of the Iron Age kingdom of Ammon was Rabbah<\/a>, which is located at modern-day Amman, Jordan. Burnett describes the boundaries of Ammon: \u201cThe Ammonite heartland comprised the north-central Transjordanian Plateau encircled by the upper Jabbok \u2026 within a 12.5-mile radius of its capital at the headwaters of the Jabbok.\u201d The Ammonites\u2019 primary deity was the god Milcom<\/a>. Depictions of Milcom have been uncovered through archaeological excavations\u2014as have representations of Ammonite kings, such as the monumental statue uncovered at Rabbah in 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Who were the Moabites?<\/h4>\n
\"mesha-stele\"<\/a>

We learn about the Moabites in the Bible and in the famous Mesha Stele. Photo: \u201cSt\u00e8le de M\u00e9sha\u201d by Mbzt 2012 is licensed under CC-by-3.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In the Bible, the Moabites are said to have descended from Moab, the son of Lot and his oldest daughter (Genesis 19:37). The kingdom of Moab stretched \u201cnorth and south of the Arnon River\u201d with its capital at Dibon. The Moabites worshiped the god Chemosh<\/a>, who may be depicted in the Balua\u2018 Stele (dated to the end of Late Bronze Age). The most famous Moabite king\u2014from the archaeological record at least\u2014is Mesha. The large inscription he left behind is the longest Moabite text. Dating to the ninth century B.C.E., the Mesha Stele<\/a> describes how King Mesha rescued the Moabites from Israelite rule<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Who were the Edomites?<\/h4>\n
\"edomite-goddess-<\/a>

Wearing a three-horned headdress, this Edomite goddess figurine was discovered at Horvat Qitmit. Photo: \u201cEdomite Goddess, Qitmit\u201d by Chamberi is licensed under CC-by-SA-3.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In the Bible, the Edomites<\/a> are the descendants of Esau, Jacob<\/a>\u2019s twin and Isaac\u2019s oldest son (Genesis 36). The Edomites controlled an area east of the Arabah, from the Zered to the Gulf of Aqaba. Their capital was Bozrah, which sat in the northern part of their territory. Although no name of an Edomite deity is given in the Bible, archaeologists know from inscriptions that the Edomites\u2019 principal deity was Qaus (or Qos). Several Edomite places of worship and cultic figurines have been uncovered. One of the most notable is the depiction of an Edomite goddess wearing a three-horned headdress from the site of Qitmit, Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom fought with the Israelites<\/a> and the Judahites<\/a> over territory. The Bible presents things from the Israelites\u2019 and Judahites\u2019 point of view, and archaeological discoveries help show us the other side. By looking at what these ancient peoples wrote and left behind, we are able to better understand their perspective. We now have a fuller picture of their kings, gods and daily life.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom, read Joel S. Burnett\u2019s comprehensive article \u201cAmmon, Moab and Edom: Gods and Kingdoms East of the Jordan<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> in the November\/December 2016 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Subscribers:<\/strong> Read the full article \u201cAmmon, Moab and Edom: Gods and Kingdoms East of the Jordan,\u201d<\/a><\/strong> by Joel S. Burnett in the November\/December 2016 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Not a BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on October 12, 2016.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n

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Related reading in Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n

First Person: Human Sacrifice to an Ammonite God?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n