The
Israelites set out, and camped in Oboth.1
They set out from Oboth, and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness
bordering Moab towards the sunrise. From there they set out, and
camped in the Wadi Zered. From there they set out, and camped on the
other side of the Arnon,2
in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for
the Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,3
“Waheb in Suphah and the wadis.
The Arnon and the slopes of the wadis
that extend to the seat of Ar,
and lie along the border of Moab.”4
From there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”5 Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
the well that the leaders sank,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the sceptre, with the staff.”
From the wilderness to Mattanah, from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that overlooks the waste-land.6 Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of any well;7 we will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”8
But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel to the wilderness; he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.9 Israel put him to the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok,10 as far as to the Ammonites; for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong. Israel took all these towns, and Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.11 For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far as the Arnon. Therefore the ballad-singers say,
“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
let the city of Sihon be established.
For fire came out from Heshbon,
flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab,
and swallowed up the heights of the Arnon.
Woe to you, O Moab!
You are undone, O people of Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives,
and his daughters captives,
to an Amorite king, Sihon.
So their posterity perished
from Heshbon to Dibon,
and we laid waste until fire spread to Medeba.”12
Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. Moses sent to spy out Jazer;13 and they captured its villages,14 and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan; and King Og of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.15 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him; for I have given him into your hand, with all his people, and all his land. You shall do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.”16 So they killed him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left; and they took possession of his land.17
“Waheb in Suphah and the wadis.
The Arnon and the slopes of the wadis
that extend to the seat of Ar,
and lie along the border of Moab.”4
From there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”5 Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
the well that the leaders sank,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the sceptre, with the staff.”
From the wilderness to Mattanah, from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that overlooks the waste-land.6 Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of any well;7 we will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”8
But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel to the wilderness; he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.9 Israel put him to the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok,10 as far as to the Ammonites; for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong. Israel took all these towns, and Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.11 For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far as the Arnon. Therefore the ballad-singers say,
“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
let the city of Sihon be established.
For fire came out from Heshbon,
flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab,
and swallowed up the heights of the Arnon.
Woe to you, O Moab!
You are undone, O people of Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives,
and his daughters captives,
to an Amorite king, Sihon.
So their posterity perished
from Heshbon to Dibon,
and we laid waste until fire spread to Medeba.”12
Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. Moses sent to spy out Jazer;13 and they captured its villages,14 and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan; and King Og of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.15 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him; for I have given him into your hand, with all his people, and all his land. You shall do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.”16 So they killed him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left; and they took possession of his land.17
1
Movement continues to be rapid
2
Why is so much travel dictated?
3
What book is this?!?
4
Odd lines, and I am not sure what their significance could be.
5
A suddenly positive example of God's provision without controversy.
6
Yet more travel.
7
Trusting in God's provision?
8
Once again, the Israelites offer a peaceful solution first.
9
Sihon is the aggressor.
10
Israel wins, though the narrative does not say why.
11
They are settling in towns now, not camping in the wilderness?
12
This has suddenly become a ballad-happy text. What is the point of
this ballad's insertion? Is it building up King Sihon so that
Israel's victory looks impressive?
13
More spying
14
More villages possessed.
15
Another king comes aggressively, though perhaps with good reason.
16
God make clear that HE will bring victory, and implies that He has
done so before.
17
They indeed win as God had said. The language here is brutal.
Take-home: God's provision is emphasized, first through water and then through victory in battle. An abrupt transition is made from constant travel to settling in towns.
Take-home: God's provision is emphasized, first through water and then through victory in battle. An abrupt transition is made from constant travel to settling in towns.
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