Numbers 21:23-33

23 Sichon would not allow Yisra'el to pass through his border: but Sichon gathered all his people together, and went out against Yisra'el into the wilderness, and came to Yahatz; and he fought against Yisra'el.

24 Yisra'el struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Yabbok, even to the children of `Ammon; for the border of the children of `Ammon was strong.

25 Yisra'el took all these cities: and Yisra'el lived in all the cities of the Amori, in Heshbon, and in all the towns of it.

26 For Heshbon was the city of Sichon the king of the Amori, who had fought against the former king of Mo'av, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.

27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, Come you to Heshbon; Let the city of Sichon be built and established:

28 For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sichon: It has devoured `Ar of Mo'av, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.

29 Woe to you, Mo'av! You are undone, people of Kemosh: He has given his sons as fugitives, His daughters into captivity, To Sichon king of the Amori.

30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even to Divon, We have laid waste even to Nofach, Which [reaches] to Medeva.

31 Thus Yisra'el lived in the land of the Amori.

32 Moshe sent to spy out Ya`zer; and they took the towns of it, and drove out the Amori who were there.

33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and `Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edre`i.

Numbers 21:23-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 21

This chapter gives an account of the defeat of King Arad, the Canaanite, Nu 21:1-3 of the murmurings of the children of Israel, because of difficulties in travelling round, the land of Edom, for which they were punished with fiery serpents, Nu 21:4-6 and how that upon their repentance a brazen serpent was ordered to be made, and to be erected on a pole, that whoever looked to it might live, Nu 21:7-9 and of the several journeys and stations of the children of Israel, until they came to the land of the Amorites, Nu 21:10-20, when they sent a message to Sihon their king, to desire him to grant them a passage through his country; but he refusing, they fought with him, smote him, and possessed his land, concerning which many proverbial sayings were used, Nu 21:21-32 and the chapter is concluded with the defeat of Og, king of Bashan, Nu 21:33-35.