Deuteronomy 3:17. The plain The low country toward Jordan. The sea of the plain That is, that salt sea, which before that dreadful conflagration was a goodly plain. read more
From Kadesh to Jordan (2:1-3:29)God told the Israelites that if they went through the land of Edom, they were not to seize any territory. This was partly because Edom was Israel’s brother nation (being descended from Esau), and partly because the Edomites’ territory, formerly possessed by the Horites, had been given them by God (2:1-7). Similar restrictions applied to Israel’s relations with the nations of Moab and Ammon, both of which were also related to Israel (being descended from Lot).... read more
Chinnereth. Afterward called Gennesaret, compare Numbers 34:11 .Joshua 19:35 . So called from its shape, kinnor , a harp. the plain. Hebrew. 'Arabah . See Deuteronomy 1:1 . Ashdoth-pisgah = the springs of Pisgah. Note the Figure of speech Polyonymia ( App-6 ) in this verse. read more
Ver. 16. Half the valley, and the border, even unto the river Jabbok— Or, What is between the river and its border, as far as to the river Jabbok. Wat. Regionem intermediam. Houb. See Joshua 12:2. read more
Ver. 17. Under Ashdoth-pisgah— Under the declivities of Pisgah, Hiller. Hierophut. pars II. p. 70. Subter clivum Phasga. Houb. "From the mountain of Quarantania," says Dr. Shaw, "the very same, perhaps, where the two spies concealed themselves, Jos 2:16 we have a distinct view of the land of the Amorites, of Gilead, and of Bashan, the inheritance of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasseh. This tract, in the neighbourhood particularly of the river Jordan, is, in many... read more
16. from Gilead—that is, not the mountainous region, but the town Ramoth-gilead, even unto the river Arnon half the valley—The word "valley" signifies a wady, either filled with water or dry, as the Arnon is in summer, and thus the proper rendering of the passage will be—"even to the half or middle of the river Arnon" (compare :-). This prudent arrangement of the boundaries was evidently made to prevent all disputes between the adjacent tribes about the exclusive right to the water. read more
A. God’s past dealings with Israel 1:6-3:29Moses began this first "sermon" by reviewing God’s faithfulness to Israel. God had been faithful in bringing the nation from Sinai to her present location, and by giving her victory over her Transjordanian enemies. He also reminded the people of the future blessings that she could anticipate. read more
5. A review of the distribution of the conquered land 3:12-20The division of the land of these two Amorite kings among two and one-half Israelite tribes (cf. Numbers 32) further fulfilled God’s promise to give the land to His people. This extensive portion of real estate was part of the land God promised to Abraham. Moses’ earlier description of this conquest stressed Israel’s role in taking this land (Numbers 32), but in this one he stressed that it was God who gave it to them (Deuteronomy... read more
Review Of The Journey (concluded)1-11. The conquest of Og, king of Bashan. See Numbers 21:33 to Numbers 35:5. The ruins of these cities remain to this day: see on Numbers 21:33.9. Sirion] means ’glittering like a polished shield,’ and corresponds, therefore, to the name Mt. Blanc. The Hermon range is mostly covered with a cap of snow. In Deuteronomy 4:48; Hermon is also called ’Sion,’ which means the same as Sirion, if indeed it is not a clerical error for that word. 10. Salchah] still existing... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 3:15-16
Deuteronomy 3:15-16. Gilead That is, the half part of Gilead. To Machir That is, unto the children of Machir, son of Manasseh, for Machir was now dead. Half the valley Or rather, to the middle of the river: for the word rendered half, signifies commonly middle, and the same Hebrew word means both a valley and a brook, or river. And this sense is agreeable to the truth, that their land extended from Gilead unto Arnon, and, to speak exactly, to the middle of that river; for as... read more