Numbers 21:16-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:10-20

We have here an account of the several stages and removals of the children of Israel, till they came into the plains of Moab, out of which they at length passed over Jordan into Canaan, as we read in the beginning of Joshua. Natural motions are quicker the nearer they are to their centre. The Israelites were now drawing near to the promised rest, and now they set forward, as the expression is, Num. 21:10. It were well if we would do thus in our way to heaven, rid ground in the latter end of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:21-35

We have here an account of the victories obtained by Israel over Sihon and Og, which must be distinctly considered, not only because they are here distinctly related, but because long afterwards the memorial of them is distinctly celebrated, and they are severally assigned as instances of everlasting mercy. He slew Sihon king of the Amorites, for his mercy endureth for ever, and Og the king of Bashan, for his mercy endureth for ever, Ps. 136:19; 20. I. Israel sent a peaceable message to Sihon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:16

And from thence they went to Beer ,.... A place so called from a well which sprung up here, of which the following account is given: that is, the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses ; promising him to give it to the children of Israel, without asking for it; which was a very singular favour, and for which they were thankful: saying to him: gather the people together, and I will give them water ; for as they were now gone from the river Arnon, and the streams and brooks of it, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:17

Then Israel sang this song ,.... Being affected with the free favour and good will of God towards them: spring up, O well ; for the springing up of which they prayed in faith, believing in the promise of God, that it would spring up; and so encouraged one another not only to believe it, but even to sing on account of it before it actually did: sing ye unto it ; or on account of it praise the Lord for it; or "answer to it" F13 ענו לה "respondete ei", Montanus; "alternis canite... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:18

The princes digged the well ,.... The princes and heads of the several tribes: the nobles of the people digged it ; the seventy elders, according to the Targum of Jonathan: by the direction of the lawgiver ; either the Lord himself, the lawgiver of his people, who pointed out the spot, and directed the princes where to dig, that is, be did this by Moses; and who, as Jarchi thinks, is the lawgiver, and not amiss: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem render the word by Scribes, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:19

And from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth. All the Targums interpret this, and the following verse, not of the journeying of the children of Israel, but of the motion of the well, that that, from the place from whence it was given them, descended with them into the valleys, and from thence to the high places, as these words signify: and indeed those places are not mentioned in the journeys of the children of Israel, Numbers 33:1 and were not stations where they pitched,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:20

And from Bamoth, in the valley ,.... Or rather "to the valley", as the Targum of Onkelos, since Bamoth signifies high places; though, according to the Jerusalem Talmud F15 Sheviith, fol. 38. 4. , Bamoth, Baal, which seems to be the same place, was in a plain: that is in the country of Moab ; the valley belonged to Moab, into which Israel came: to the top of Pisgah ; not that the valley reached to the top, nor did the children of Israel go to the top of it, only Moses, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:21

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites ,.... Who were one of the nations of the Canaanites, and a principal and powerful one, and who were devoted to destruction, and their land designed for the people of Israel; see Genesis 15:16 , at this time Sihon was their king, to whom Moses, in the name of Israel, sent a very peaceable message from the wilderness of Kedemoth, which lay near his country, Deuteronomy 2:26 , saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:22

Let me pass through thy land ,.... Through some part of it, which would have been a shorter way to the river Jordan, over which Israel was to pass into the land of Canaan; the terms proposed, or things to be observed in their passage, which they would bind themselves strictly to, are the same that were made to the king of Edom. See Gill on Numbers 20:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:23

And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border ,.... Because he could not trust them, and confide in the promises they made, and thought it not safe to let such a body of people into any part of his dominions, Judges 11:20 and chiefly because his heart was hardened by the Lord, that he might be delivered into the hands of Israel, as was determined, Deuteronomy 2:30 , but Sihon gathered all his people together ; all that were able to bear arms out of his cities, and... read more

Group of Brands