SPECIAL TOPIC: AMMON

These people (like Moab) were descendants of Lot by his own daughter (cf. Gen. 19:38). Therefore, they were relatives of Abraham's family. Their territory was northeast of Moab on the eastern side of Jordan. A group known as "Amorites" lived next to the Jordan River and the Ammonites to the east, closer to the desert. Their capital was Rabbath. They were a potent rival to King Saul, but a vassal to Kings David and Solomon.

The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 334) reminds us that Ammon

rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem (cf. Ezek. 25:1-7)
their king, Baalis, encouraged Ishmael to assassinate the new Babylonian governor, Gedaliah (cf. Jer. 40:11-16)