Amorite Kings Defeated

21 Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon(A) king of the Amorites: 22 “Let us travel through your land. We won’t go into the fields or vineyards. We won’t drink any well water. We will travel the King’s Highway until we have traveled through your territory.”(B) 23 But Sihon would not let Israel travel through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz,(C) he fought against Israel. 24 Israel struck him with the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok,(D) but only up to the Ammonite border, because it was fortified.[a][b]

25 Israel took all the cities and lived in all these Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its villages. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken control of all his land as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the poets[c] say:

Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt;
let the city of Sihon be restored.[d]
28 For fire came out of Heshbon,
a flame from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab,
the lords of[e] Arnon’s heights.
29 Woe to you, Moab!
You have been destroyed, people of Chemosh!(E)
He gave up his sons as refugees,
and his daughters into captivity
to Sihon the Amorite king.
30 We threw them down;
Heshbon has been destroyed as far as Dibon.[f](F)
We caused desolation as far as Nophah,
which reaches as far as Medeba.[g](G)

31 So Israel lived in the Amorites’ land. 32 After Moses sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:24 LXX reads was Jazer
  2. Numbers 21:24 Or was at Az
  3. Numbers 21:27 Lit ones who speak proverbs
  4. Numbers 21:27 Or firmly founded
  5. Numbers 21:28 LXX reads Moab, and swallowed
  6. Numbers 21:30 LXX reads Their seed will perish from Heshbon; Vg reads Their yoke has perished from Heshbon
  7. Numbers 21:30 LXX reads Dibon. And their women have further kindled a fire against Moab; Hb uncertain

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.

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