Then Sihon came out against us ,.... Perceiving they were upon their march towards his land or into it, he gathered all his people and went out of Heshbon their capital city, where he resided: he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz ; a city which he had taken from the king of Moab, and which in later times, after the captivity of the ten tribes, came into their hands again, Isaiah 15:4 ; see Gill on Numbers 21:21 . read more
CONQUEST OF THE KINGDOM OF SIHON . Sihon and his people were Amorites, who had settled on the east of the Jordan in Gilead. But though not included in the original promise to Abraham, God had assigned this territory to the Israelites; and, therefore, he commanded the people under Moses to cross the Amen, and take the first step towards possessing the Promised Land, by assailing Sihon, King of Heshbon, assuring them that from that day he would "put the dread and fear of them upon... read more
Warrantable warfare. Sihon, King of Heshbon, opposed with physical force the fulfillment of Israel's destiny; and, having provoked war, provokes it to his own destruction. I. THE NECESSITY FOR WAR . The question whether war is ever just and legitimate must be answered in the affirmative. Still, this does not justify all war. The majority of wars are indefensible. War is a barbarous instrument, and, as intelligence advances, can be replaced by better methods of conquest. But it... read more
The destruction of Sihon, King of the Amorites. Moses here recalls the first stage in the conquest. By Divine direction, the pilgrims are to advance upon the land of the Amorites, and they are promised an important victory over them. And here we have to notice— I. THE REASONABLE PROPOSAL MADE TO SIHON THE KING . ( Deuteronomy 2:26-29 .) This was for permission to pass through his land to Canaan, undertaking to disturb nothing and to pay for all supplies. Nothing... read more
The conquest of Sihon. Sihon, though an Amorite, was not to be unconditionally destroyed. He had, like Pharaoh, an opportunity given him of averting ruin by acceding to a most courteous and reasonable request; but, like Pharaoh in this respect also, he hardened his heart, and took the course which made his destruction inevitable. We are led to consider— I. SIHON 'S OPPORTUNITY . ( Deuteronomy 2:26-30 .) It was not given him in the hope that he would avail himself of it; for it... read more
God had determined to give Sihon and his land to the Israelites, and so certainly should this be done, that Moses is exhorted already to begin to seize, in order to possess the land. Sihon initiated hostilities by coming out with all his host to fight against Moses and the Israelites. The battle took place at Jahaz (or Jahazah, or Jahza), a town between Medeba and Dibon (Euseb.; cf. Numbers 33:45 ), afterwards belonging to the tribe of Reuben ( Joshua 13:18 ), and assigned to the Levites... read more
(cf. Numbers 21:23 ).— Jahaz ( יַהַץ , downtrodden), elsewhere Jahazah ( יַהְצָה ), a city of Moab, afterwards assigned to the tribe of Reuben, and allotted to the priests ( Joshua 13:18 ; Joshua 21:36 ; 1 Chronicles 6:63 ; Isaiah 15:4 ; Jeremiah 48:34 ). 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
came out. Sihon was the aggressor. Numbers 21:2 , Numbers 21:3 .Judges 11:20 . read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 2:24-37
God having tried the self-denial of his people in forbidding them to meddle with the Moabites and Ammonites, and they having quietly passed by those rich countries, and, though superior in number, not made any attack upon them, here he recompenses them for their obedience by giving them possession of the country of Sihon king of the Amorites. If we forbear what God forbids, we shall receive what he promises, and shall be no losers at last by our obedience, though it may seem for the present to... read more