Deuteronomy 3:16-26

16 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave, from Gilead up to the wadi of Arnon, the middle of the wadi [as a] boundary and up to the Jabbok {River}, the boundary of the {Ammonites}.

17 And the {Jordan Valley} [with] the Jordan [River as its] boundary, from Kinnereth up to the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, [with] the slopes of Pisgah toward the east.

18 "And I charged you [all] at that time [when I] said, "Yahweh has given you--to [all of] you--this land to possess. All the {warriors} shall cross over, ready to fight, before your brothers, the {Israelites}.

19 Only your wives and your little children and your livestock (I know that {you have much livestock}) must stay in your towns that I have given you,

20 until Yahweh shall give rest to your brothers as [he did] to you, and also they take possession [of] the land that Yahweh your God [is] giving to them beyond the Jordan; then they may return, each [one] to his possession that I have given to them.

21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes see all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings; so Yahweh will do to all [of] the kingdoms where you are about to cross over to.

22 You shall not fear them, for Yahweh your God is the [one] fighting for you.

23 "And I pleaded with Yahweh at that time, saying,

24 'Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand, for what god [is there] in the heaven or on the earth who can do according to your works and according to your mighty deeds?

25 Let me cross over, please, and let me see the good land {that is beyond the Jordan}, this good hill country and Lebanon.'

26 But Yahweh was very angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me, and Yahweh said, '{Enough of that from you}! You shall not speak to me [any] longer about this matter!

Deuteronomy 3:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 3

In this chapter the account is carried on of the conquest of the Amorites by Israel, of Og king of Bashan, and his kingdom, De 3:1-11, and of the distribution of their country to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, De 1:12-17 and then the command to the said tribes is observed, to go out armed before their brethren, and assist them in the conquest of the land of Canaan, and then return to their possessions, De 3:18-20 and also that to Joshua not to fear, but to do to the Canaanitish kings and kingdoms what he had seen done to the two kings of the Amorites, De 3:21,22. After which Moses relates the request he made, to go over Jordan and see the good land, which was denied him, only he is bidden to look from the top of an hill to see it, De 3:23-27. And the chapter is closed with the charge he was to give Joshua, De 3:28 which was received in the valley where they abode, De 3:29.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "Reubenite"
• [b]. Hebrew "Gadite"
• [c]. A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
• [d]. A valley that is dry most of the year, but contains a stream during the rainy season
• [e]. Literally "wadi," which here refers to a flowing river
• [f]. Literally "sons/children of Ammon"
• [g]. Literally "Arabah"
• [h]. Or "Chinnereth," the Sea of Galilee
• [i]. Or the Dead Sea
• [j]. Literally "men of valor"
• [k]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [l]. Literally "livestock much [there is] to you"
• [m]. Hebrew "who"
• [n]. Literally "in the beyond of the Jordan"
• [o]. Literally "Much to you"