RABBAH (RABBATH) of AMMON. - An ancient city (Deut. 3:11) east of the Jordan, now 'Ammān, capital of Jordan and formerly of the Ammonites (q.v.). After Joab's siege of the lower city, in which Uriah died, and David's siege of the upper city, R. lost its independence to become merely a provincial capital of David's kingdom (2 Sam. 10–12; 1 Chron. 20:1–3). It soon regained its freedom.
Excavations have revealed the tomb of Adone Nur, servant of Ammi Nadar, who reigned at the time of Ashurbanipal (c. 650 B.C.). From the Iron Age, walls on the acropolis (excavations of the Italian Mission) and two tombs have been found.
