Bible Dictionary

Amorite, The Amorites

People & Groups • Old Testament

The Amorites were a prominent people of Canaan before Israel’s conquest. They occupied the hill country and extensive territories east of the Jordan, including the kingdoms ruled by Sihon and Og.

Definition

The Amorites were one of the chief nations occupying Canaan before Israel’s conquest. They were associated especially with the elevated country and with extensive territories east of the Jordan, including Gilead and Bashan. Their kings Sihon and Og ruled important regions conquered by Israel.

Biblical Usage

The Amorites are described as inhabitants of the hill country and as a major people of Canaan. Israel fought Sihon and Og east of the Jordan and later encountered Amorite kings in the conquest of the land. After the conquest, little is heard of them in the biblical record.

Historical Background

Their territory extended from the heights west of the Dead Sea toward Hebron and from the Jordan valley to areas near Hermon. The name is associated with mountaineers or dwellers on summits, in contrast with inhabitants of the lowlands.

Scripture References

Numbers 13:29 Numbers 14:7 Numbers 1:7-0; Joshua 5:1 Joshua 10:6 Joshua 11:3 Judges 11:21 Judges 11:22 Numbers 21:31 Joshua 12:2 Joshua 12:3 Joshua 13:10

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(dwellers on the summits, mountaineers), one of the chief nations who possessed the land of Canaan before its conquest by the Israelites. As dwelling on the elevated portions of the country, they are contrasted with the Canaanites, who were the dwellers in the lowlands; and the two thus formed the main broad divisions of the Holy Land, (Numbers 13:29) and see (14:7; 1:7,20) “Mountain of the Amorites;” (1:44; Joshua 5:1; 10:6; 11:3) They first occupied the barren heights west of the Dead Sea, at the place called afterwards Engedi. From this point they stretched west to Hebron. At the date of the invasion of the country, Sihon, their then king, had taken the rich pasture land south of the Jabbok. This rich tract, bounded by the Jabbok on the north, the Arnon on the south, the Jordan on the west and “the wilderness” on the east, (Judges 11:21,22) was, perhaps in the most special sense the “land of the Amorites,” (Numbers 21:31; Joshua 12:2,3; 13:10; Judges 11:21,22) but their possessions are distinctly stated to have extended to the very foot of Hermon, (3:8; 4:48) embracing “Gilead and all Bashan,” (3:10) with the Jordan valley on the east of the river. (4:49) After the conquest of Canaan nothing of importance is heard of the Amorites in the Bible.

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