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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 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).
  2. Numbers 21:27 An ancient Amorite song of victory, taken over by the Israelites.
  3. Numbers 21:29 Chemosh is the god of the Moabites. See Jdg 11:24; 1 Ki 11:7.

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)

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King Sihon Defeated(A)

21 Then (B)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (C)“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 (D)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and [a]went out against Israel in the wilderness, (E)and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then (F)Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel (G)dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore those who speak in [b]proverbs say:

“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
Let the city of Sihon be repaired.

28 “For (H)fire went out from Heshbon,
A flame from the city of Sihon;
It consumed (I)Ar of Moab,
The lords of the (J)heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, (K)Moab!
You have perished, O people of (L)Chemosh!
He has given his (M)sons as fugitives,
And his (N)daughters into captivity,
To Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have shot at them;
Heshbon has perished (O)as far as Dibon.
Then we laid waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to (P)Medeba.”

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:23 attacked
  2. Numbers 21:27 parables