Numbers 21:21-30

Defeat of Sihon and Og

21 Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:

22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

24 Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.

25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements.

26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

27 That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt; let Sihon’s city be restored.

28 “Fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon’s heights.

29 Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have overthrown them; Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have demolished them as far as Nophah, which extends to Medeba.”

Numbers 21:21-30 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

• 1. S Genesis 32:3
• 2. Numbers 32:33; Deuteronomy 1:4; Deuteronomy 2:26-27; Joshua 2:10; Joshua 12:2,4; Joshua 13:10; Judges 11:19-21; 1 Kings 4:19; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalms 135:11; Psalms 136:19; Jeremiah 48:45
• 3. S Exodus 23:23
• 4. S Numbers 20:17
• 5. Numbers 20:21
• 6. Deuteronomy 2:32; Joshua 13:18; Joshua 21:36; Judges 11:20; Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:21,34
• 7. Numbers 20:18
• 8. Deuteronomy 2:33; Deuteronomy 3:3; Deuteronomy 29:7; Psalms 135:10-11; Amos 2:9
• 9. ver 35; Deuteronomy 3:4
• 10. S Genesis 32:22; Numbers 32:33; Judges 11:13,22
• 11. S Genesis 19:38; Deuteronomy 2:37; Joshua 13:10
• 12. Numbers 13:29; Judges 10:11; Amos 2:10
• 13. Judges 11:26
• 14. ver 30; Numbers 32:3; Deuteronomy 1:4; Deuteronomy 29:7; Joshua 9:10; Joshua 12:2; Isaiah 15:4; Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:2,34
• 15. ver 21; Deuteronomy 29:7; Psalms 135:11
• 16. Numbers 13:29
• 17. ver 11
• 18. ver 13
• 19. Jeremiah 48:45
• 20. S Numbers 11:1
• 21. S ver 15
• 22. Numbers 22:41; Deuteronomy 12:2; Joshua 13:17; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 19:5
• 23. Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 18:2; Psalms 60:8; Isaiah 25:10; Jeremiah 48:46
• 24. Judges 10:6; Judges 11:24; Ruth 1:15; 1 Kings 11:7,33; 2 Kings 23:13; Jeremiah 48:7,46
• 25. Isaiah 15:5
• 26. Isaiah 16:2
• 27. Numbers 32:3; Joshua 13:9,17; Nehemiah 11:25; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18,22
• 28. Joshua 13:16; 1 Chronicles 19:7