John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 3:5
All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars ,.... That is, all the cities in the kingdom of Bashan; and though they were, it hindered not their falling into the hands of the Israelites; and this might serve to encourage them against those fears they were possessed of by the spies, with respect to the cities in the land of Canaan; see Numbers 13:28 . besides unwalled towns a great many ; small towns and villages adjacent to the several cities, as is common. read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 3:1-11
We have here another brave country delivered into the hand of Israel, that of Bashan; the conquest of Sihon is often mentioned together with that of Og, to the praise of God, the rather because in these Israel's triumphs began, Ps. 135:11; 136:19, 20. See, I. How they got the mastery of Og, a very formidable prince, 1. Very strong, for he was of the remnant of the giants (Deut. 3:11); his personal strength was extraordinary, a monument of which was preserved by the Ammonites in his bedstead,... read more