Ben-Ammi

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Jan Harmenz. Muller : Lot and his daughters , 1600

Ben-Ammi ( Hebrew בֶּן־עַמִּי, also Benammi or Engl. Ben-ammi ) is the progenitor of the Ammonites in the Tanach or Old Testament .

Biblical representation

According to the presentation in Gen. 19.30–38  EU , Lot's two daughters are taking an unusual measure, as there is no prospect of a husband in the remote mountainous region where they live. They get their father drunk and "lie down with him," which means that they have sex with him. Both daughters become pregnant on consecutive nights. The older gives birth to Moab , the younger Ben-Ammi. Lot is thus the father and at the same time the grandfather of the two, who subsequently become the progenitors of entire peoples: Moab becomes the progenitor of the Moabites , Ben-Ammi the progenitor of the Ammonites. Since Lot is a nephew of Abraham , the two brother peoples are related to the Hebrews and Israelites , respectively .

etymology

As a singular, Ben-Ammi could be related to the plural phrase “sons of my people” ( Hebrew בְּנֵי עַמִּי) in Gen 23.11  EU and Ri 14.16  EU . Then the name would have the meaning "son of my people" or "son of my clan". But עַם am can also refer to a male relative or, more precisely, the grandfather. Then Ben-Ammi would have the meaning "son of my male relative" or "son of my grandfather".

In any case, Ben-Ammi will be a folk etymological formation for the tribe name Ammon or Ammoniter found. The incest story suggests a relationship between the neighboring people and the people of Israel, but at the same time conveys a negative assessment.

literature