Numbers 21:21-24

Two Victories

21 1Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,
22 "2Let me pass through your land. We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king's highway until * we have passed through your border."
23 3But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to 4Jahaz and fought against Israel.
24 Then 5Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the 6border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

Numbers 21:21-24 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.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Deuteronomy 2:26-37; Judges 11:19
  • 2. Numbers 20:16, 17
  • 3. Numbers 20:21
  • 4. Deuteronomy 2:32
  • 5. Amos 2:9
  • 6. Deuteronomy 2:37

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "smote," so with Gr and Lat
  • [b]. M.T. reads "strong"
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