Ammonites, an ancient Semitic people often at war with the Hebrews. They lived east of the Jordan River. Their capital was Rabbath Ammon—the Philadelphia of Roman times, now Amman, capital of Jordan. According to the Bible, the Ammonites were descendants of Lot, and were therefore related to the Hebrews (Genesis 19:30-38). They were defeated by the Hebrews under Jephthah and under King Saul, and were conquered by David. Later they regained their independence, continuing as a separate people until about the third century B.C.