Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites. God announces judgment on Ammon with the prophetic formula 'the days come, saith the LORD' (hineh yamim ba'im ne'um-YHWH). The phrase 'alarm of war' translates teru'ah (תְּרוּעָה), a shout or blast—specifically the war cry or trumpet blast signaling battle. God Himself will cause this alarm to sound in Rabbah, Ammon's capital (modern Amman, Jordan), announcing their destruction.
And it shall be a desolate heap (tel shemamah, תֵּל שְׁמָמָה)—a 'tel' is an archaeological mound formed by successive destructions and rebuildings. Rabbah, once a fortified city, will become a ruin pile. Her daughters shall be burned with fire refers to the surrounding villages (Hebrew idiom: daughter-towns dependent on the mother-city). Complete devastation is prophesied.
The reversal is stunning: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD. Ammon had occupied Israelite territory in Gad (verse 1), 'inheriting' what belonged to Israel. God promises to reverse this—Israel will repossess their land and even inherit Ammonite territory. This demonstrates the lex talionis (law of retaliation) principle: as Ammon did to Israel, so it will be done to them. Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 echo this—vengeance belongs to God, who will repay.
Historical Context
Ammon descended from Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughter (Genesis 19:38). Throughout Israel's history, Ammon proved hostile—they hired Balaam to curse Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3-4), oppressed Israel during the judges period (Judges 10-11), and Hanun humiliated David's ambassadors (2 Samuel 10:1-5). When Babylon destroyed Judah (586 BC), Ammon gloated and seized Israelite territory (Ezekiel 25:3, 6; Zephaniah 2:8-9). Jeremiah 40:14 reveals Ammon's king conspired to assassinate Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Ammon around 582 BC in his campaign against surrounding nations. Archaeological evidence shows destruction layers at Ammonite sites from this period. The Ammonites eventually merged with surrounding peoples and disappeared from history, while Israel survived exile and returned to their land.
Questions for Reflection
How does God's judgment on Ammon for seizing Israel's inheritance demonstrate His faithfulness to covenant promises?
What does the reversal—'Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs'—teach about God's justice and the ultimate futility of opposing His purposes?
In what ways do nations and individuals today 'inherit' what belongs to God's people, and how should we respond in light of God's sovereignty?
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Analysis & Commentary
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites. God announces judgment on Ammon with the prophetic formula 'the days come, saith the LORD' (hineh yamim ba'im ne'um-YHWH). The phrase 'alarm of war' translates teru'ah (תְּרוּעָה), a shout or blast—specifically the war cry or trumpet blast signaling battle. God Himself will cause this alarm to sound in Rabbah, Ammon's capital (modern Amman, Jordan), announcing their destruction.
And it shall be a desolate heap (tel shemamah, תֵּל שְׁמָמָה)—a 'tel' is an archaeological mound formed by successive destructions and rebuildings. Rabbah, once a fortified city, will become a ruin pile. Her daughters shall be burned with fire refers to the surrounding villages (Hebrew idiom: daughter-towns dependent on the mother-city). Complete devastation is prophesied.
The reversal is stunning: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD. Ammon had occupied Israelite territory in Gad (verse 1), 'inheriting' what belonged to Israel. God promises to reverse this—Israel will repossess their land and even inherit Ammonite territory. This demonstrates the lex talionis (law of retaliation) principle: as Ammon did to Israel, so it will be done to them. Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 echo this—vengeance belongs to God, who will repay.