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Numbers 21:21-35
New Catholic Bible
Numbers 21:21-35
New Catholic Bible
21 Victory over Sihon and Og.[a] Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let us pass through your land. We will not wander into the fields nor into the vineyards. We will not drink water from any well. We will pass along the King’s Highway until we have crossed over your borders.”
23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to cross over his border. Sihon gathered all of his people and marched out into the desert against Israel. He went out to Jahaz and fought with Israel.
24 But Israel put him to the sword and occupied his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok up to the Ammonite territory (for the boundary with the Ammonites was fortified). 25 Israel captured all of these cities, and Israel settled in all of the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all of its surrounding villages. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, for he had fought with the former king of Moab, conquering all of his lands up to the Arnon. 27 [b]This is why those who speak in proverbs say,
“Come to Heshbon, let it be built.
Let Sihon’s city be restored.
28 For fire went out from Heshbon,
a flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab,
the lords of the heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, Moab.
You have perished, O people of Chemosh.[c]
He has given up his sons as fugitives,
his daughters as captives to Sihon,
the king of the Amorites.
30 But we have shot at them,
Heshbon has perished even as far as Dibon.
We have laid them waste up to Nophah,
which extends to the Medeba.”
31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent out spies to Jazer, and they captured those villages, driving out the Amorites who lived there. 33 They then turned and went along the road to Bashan.[d] Og, the king of Bashan, went out with all his people to battle them in Edrei.
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him and all his people and land into your hands. You will do to him what you did to Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon.” 35 So they killed him and his sons and all of his people until there was not a single one alive, and they conquered his land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 21:21 God fights alongside his people; nothing can resist him. These incidents will remain as exemplars for Israel and will be repeatedly extolled in national songs (see Pss 135:11; 136:10-20).
- Numbers 21:27 An ancient Amorite song of victory, taken over by the Israelites.
- Numbers 21:29 Chemosh is the god of the Moabites. See Jdg 11:24; 1 Ki 11:7.
- Numbers 21:33 Bashan: a region on the border between present day Syria and Jordan. Og: a legendary giant; see Deut 3:11.
Numbers 21:21-35
New International Version
Numbers 21:21-35
New International Version
Defeat of Sihon and Og
21 Israel sent messengers(A) to say to Sihon(B) king of the Amorites:(C)
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.(D)”
23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.(E) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,(F) he fought with Israel.(G) 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword(H) and took over his land(I) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,(J) but only as far as the Ammonites,(K) because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites(L) and occupied them,(M) including Heshbon(N) and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon(O) king of the Amorites,(P) who had fought against the former king of Moab(Q) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.(R)
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.(S)
It consumed(T) Ar(U) of Moab,
the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(V)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(W)
You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(X)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(Y)
and his daughters as captives(Z)
to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 “But we have overthrown them;
Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.(AA)
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which extends to Medeba.(AB)”
31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.(AC)
32 After Moses had sent spies(AD) to Jazer,(AE) the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan(AF),(AG) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.(AH)
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.(AI)”
35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.(AJ) And they took possession of his land.(AK)
New International Version (NIV) 
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