God sent various nations, including the Ammonites, into Israel as a means of judgment, as seen in historical accounts. These movements of people were not armed invasions but rather migrations that disrupted the economic and social fabric of the land. The Ammonites, along with others from Midian, Amalek, and the east, came into Israel, breaking the back of the economy and creating significant cultural hardships. This was not by human invitation but by divine direction, reflecting God's purpose in using such movements to bring about consequences for Israel's actions before Him.

Among the nations listed as ancient enemies of Israel in Psalm 83, the Ammonites are noted as part of a confederacy hostile to God's people. They are included alongside Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagarites, Gebal, Amalek, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria, all of whom historically rose up against Israel and Judah with persistent enmity. The Ammonites, like the others, rarely allied with Israel, and peace was typically achieved only through conquest and tribute. As descendants of Lot, they are specifically mentioned as being aided by Assyria in their opposition to Israel. These peoples, including the Ammonites, are seen as significant players in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, contributing to the lineage of modern groups involved in regional strife.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic destruction of Sodom, Lot and his daughters faced immense loss and fear. Having lost Mrs. Lot, who turned into a pillar of salt, and having argued with the angel about their place of refuge, they initially settled in Zoar. However, Lot was afraid to remain there, despite it being a place of safety provided by God. Instead, he took his daughters and fled to a cave in the mountains, isolating themselves from potential help and resources. In this state of despair, Lot's daughters, believing the world was ending and no men remained for them to marry, made a grave decision. They got their father drunk and lay with him, resulting in the birth of Moab and Ammon, the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites. This act of adding sin to their misery compounded their disaster, piling foolishness upon calamity. Their irrational fear and presumption that God would not provide led to a sin with lasting consequences, as the hostility between their descendants and the people of Israel persists. Their response stands as a stark example of adding insult to injury. Instead of calming down, thinking things through, or seeking the safety and guidance of Abraham, who had previously aided them and was close to God, they acted rashly. Their failure to remember God's promises through the angel and the lessons from Abraham led them to strike out on their own, worsening their troubles with further sin.