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Israel Conquers the Amorites

21 Later, Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who conveyed this request:[a] 22 “Permit us to pass through your land. We won’t trespass in your fields or vineyards. We won’t drink water from any well, and we’ll only travel along the King’s Highway until we’ve passed through your territory.”

23 Instead of letting Israel pass through his territory, Sihon mustered his entire army and marched out to meet them in the wilderness. He arrived at Jahaz and attacked Israel. 24 But Israel defeated[b] him in battle[c] and took possession of all his lands from Arnon to Jabbok, including the Ammonites, even though the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 So Israel captured all of those cities, occupied[d] all the Amorite cities in Heshbon, and all its towns.[e] 26 Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who fought against the previous king of Moab and captured all his land from his capital city[f] to Arnon. 27 Therefore the ones who speak in proverbs say:

Come to Heshbon
    and let it be built!
        Let the city of Sihon be established!
28 A fire has gone out from Heshbon,
    and a flame from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab
    and the lords of the high places who lived in Arnon.
29 Woe to you, Moab!
    You are destroyed, you people of Chemosh!
He has given up his sons as fugitives
    and his daughters have gone into captivity
        to Sihon, king of the Amorites.
30 We’ve fired at them.
    Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon.
We’ve destroyed them as far as Nophah
    even as far as Medeba.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:21 The Heb. lacks who conveyed this request
  2. Numbers 21:24 Lit. smote
  3. Numbers 21:24 Lit. him with the edge of the sword
  4. Numbers 21:25 Lit. lived
  5. Numbers 21:25 Lit. in all its daughters
  6. Numbers 21:26 Lit. his hand