The Ammonites. The Ammonites were old enemies. Originally they had pressed Israel from the S. and E. as the Aramæ ans had done from the N. Then they occupied the territory E. of the Jordan from Jabbok to the Arnon. Jephthah defeated and David completely overthrew them (Judges 11:32; 2 Samuel 12:31). According to Amos, their warfare, at least on one occasion, was characterised by great cruelty. They ripped up the pregnant women of Gilead in order to exterminate their enemy (Amos 1:13). Such barbarous practices are referred to elsewhere in the OT (2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 13:16; Nahum 3:10, etc.). Amos foresees that the Ammonites will meet with the punishment they deserve. Rabbah (Amos 1:14) their capital (cf. 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26; 2 Samuel 12:29; Jeremiah 49:2 *), a city about 25 miles NE. of the N. end of the Dead Sea, will suffer the ravages of war. The war-cry of the enemy, the wild cry of attack or the triumphant shout of victory, will be heard. The onrush and onslaught of the enemy will sweep on with a crash like the tempest in times of tornado. So great will be the overthrow that Milcom (so read for their king in Amos 1:15), the national god of the Ammonites, will be carried away into captivity.
Related Commentaries of Amos 1:13
Amos 1:13-15
13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.