Amos 1:13

“Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of the children of Ammon, etc.] These are the descendants of Benammi, a son of Lots, by one of his daughters, (<011938>Genesis 19:38); are distinguished from the Ammonites, (<142001>2 Chronicles 20:1); were near neighbours of the Jews, but great enemies to them, though akin: and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; (see Gill on “<300103>Amos 1:3”). Among these transgressions, for which God would punish these people, are to be reckoned, not only their ill treatment of the Gileadites after mentioned, but other sins, which are all included in this number, and particularly their idolatry; for idolaters they were, though the…”

“Ammon--The Ammonites under Nahash attacked Jabesh-gilead and refused to accept the offer of the latter to save them, unless the Jabesh-gileadites would put out all their right eyes (Sa1 11:1, &c.). Saul rescued Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonites joined the Chaldeans in their invasion of Judea for the sake of plunder. ripped up . . . women with-child--as Hazael of Syria also did (Kg2 8:12; compare Hos 13:16). Ammon's object in this cruel act was to leave Israel without "heir," so as to seize on Israel's inheritance (Jer 49:1).”

“Ammon - These who receive their existence under circumstances, in any way like those of the first forefathers of Moab and Ammon, are known to be under physical as well as intellectual and moral disadvantages. Apart from the worst horrors, on the one side reason was stupefied, on the other it was active in sin. He who imprinted His laws on nature, has annexed the penalty to the infraction of those laws. It is known also how, even under the Gospel, the main character of a nation remains unchanged. The basis of natural character, upon which grace has to act, remains, under certain limits, the same. Still more in the unchanging east. Slave-dealers know of certain hereditary good or evil…”

“Enlarge their border - By destroying all that dwelt in it, and hereafter might claim a title to it. Amos 1:14”

“1:13 Israel regarded the people of Ammon as kin who also betrayed them. The Ammonites (like the Moabites, 2:1) were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Gen 19:37-38). Ammon had been a constant threat to Gilead (see Judg 10:7-9). • In ancient times, conquering armies commonly ripped open pregnant women (2 Kgs 8:12; 15:16; Hos 13:16); they also raped the women and slaughtered the children of the towns they seized (Isa 13:16, 18; Lam 5:11; Hos 10:14; 13:16; Nah 3:10; Zech 14:2).”

“the children: Deu 2:19; Jer 49:1-6; Eze 25:2-7; Zep 2:8 and for: Deu 23:3, Deu 23:4; Jdg 10:7-9, Jdg 11:15-28; Sa1 11:1, Sa1 11:2; Sa2 10:1-8; Kg2 24:2; Ch2 20:1, Ch2 20:10; Neh 2:19, 4:7-23; Psa 83:7 because: Hos 13:16 ripped up the women with child: or, divided the mountains, enlarge. Isa 5:8; Jer 49:1; Eze 35:10; Hab 2:5, Hab 2:6 Amos 1:14”

“Ammon. - Amo 1:13. "Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon, and for four, I shall not reverse it, because they have ripped up the pregnant women of Gilead, to widen their border, Amo 1:14. I kindle fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with the war-cry on the day of slaughter, in the storm on the day of the tempest. Amo 1:15. And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes all at once, saith Jehovah." The occasion on which the Ammonites were guilty of such cruelty towards the Israelites as is here condemned, is not recorded in the historical books of the Old Testament; possibly during the wars of Hazael with Israel, when they…”