21 And Israel sendeth messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorite, saying, 22 'Let me pass through thy land, we do not turn aside into a field, or into a vineyard, we do not drink waters of a well; in the king's way we go, till that we pass over thy border.' 23 And Sihon hath not suffered Israel to pass through his border, and Sihon gathereth all his people, and cometh out to meet Israel into the wilderness, and cometh in to Jahaz, and fighteth against Israel. 24 And Israel smiteth him by the mouth of the sword, and possesseth his land from Arnon unto Jabbok—unto the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon 'is' strong. 25 And Israel taketh all these cities, and Israel dwelleth in all the cities of the Amorite, in Heshbon, and in all its villages; 26 for Heshbon is a city of Sihon king of the Amorite, and he hath fought against the former king of Moab, and taketh all his land out of his hand, unto Arnon; 27 therefore those using similes say—'Enter ye Heshbon, Let the city of Sihon be built and ready, 28 For fire hath gone out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon, It hath consumed Ar of Moab, Owners of the high places of Arnon. 29 Wo to thee, O Moab, Thou hast perished, O people of Chemosh, He hath given his sons who escape—Also his daughters—Into captivity, to a king of the Amorite—Sihon! 30 And we shoot them, Perished hath Heshbon unto Dibon, And we make desolate unto Nophah, Which 'is' unto Medeba.'
31 And Israel dwelleth in the land of the Amorite, 32 and Moses sendeth to spy out Jaazer, and they capture its villages, and dispossess the Amorite who 'is' there, 33 and turn and go up the way of Bashan, and Og king of Bashan cometh out to meet them, he and all his people, to battle, 'at' Edrei. 34 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Fear him not, for into thy hand I have given him, and all his people, and his land, and thou hast done to him as thou hast done to Sihon king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon.' 35 And they smite him, and his sons, and all his people, until he hath not left to him a remnant, and they possess his land.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 21:21-35
Commentary on Numbers 21:21-35
(Read Numbers 21:21-35)
Sihon went with his forces against Israel, out of his own borders, without provocation, and so ran upon his own ruin. The enemies of God's church often perish by the counsels they think most wisely taken. Og, king of Bashan, instead of being warned by the fate of his neighbours, to make peace with Israel, makes war with them, which proves in like manner his destruction. Wicked men do their utmost to secure themselves and their possessions against the judgments of God; but all in vain, when the day comes on which they must fall. God gave Israel success, while Moses was with them, that he might see the beginning of the glorious work, though he must not live to see it finished. This was, in comparison, but as the day of small things, yet it was an earnest of great things. We must prepare for fresh conflicts and enemies. We must make no peace or truce with the powers of darkness, nor even treat with them; nor should we expect any pause in our contest. But, trusting in God, and obeying his commands, we shall be more than conquerors over every enemy.