Numbers 21:26-29

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 21:26

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites ,.... His royal city, where he kept his palace, where he had resided for some time, and perhaps some of his predecessors; and therefore being now in his possession when taken by the Israelites, they had a good right and title to keep it, and dwell in it: and indeed this is here given as a reason of it: who had fought against the former king of Moab ; either the king that reigned before Balak, or some king of Moab, that reigned... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:27

Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say ,.... The historical writers of those times, among the Amorites, who were usually poets, and wrote the history of the wars between the Moabites and Amorites in verse; as Homer among the Greeks wrote the wars of Troy; and the compositions of those ancient bards were short and compendious, and wrapped up in proverbial sayings, and enigmatical and figurative expressions, that they might be the better retained in memory, and therefore were called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:28

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon ,.... Not before, but after Sihon had subdued it, as Jarchi observes; and is to be understood of his soldiers going out from thence, and making desolations in the adjacent parts, like a strong fire, and the fierce flames of it there is no resisting; and so the Jerusalem Targum,"for a people mighty, and burning like fire, are gone out of Heshbon:'see Amos 1:4 , a flame from the city of Sihon: which is the same thing in other words, the city of Sihon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:29

Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone ,.... The whole country ruined, or likely to be so: O people of Chemosh ; which was the name of their idol, who is called the abomination of the Moabites, 1 Kings 11:7 , he hath given his sons that escaped ; that is, the idol Chemosh had given his sons, the men of the country that worshipped him, who escaped the sword of the Amorites, these: and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites ; who took captive what he slew not,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 21:26

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, etc. - It appears therefore that the territory now taken from Sihon by the Israelites was taken from a former king of Moab, in commemoration of which an epikedion or war song was made, several verses of which, in their ancient poetic form, are here quoted by Moses. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 21:27

They that speak in proverbs - המשלים hammoshelim , from משל mashal , to rule, to exercise authority; hence a weighty proverbial saying, because admitted as an axiom for the government of life. The moshelim of the ancient Asiatics were the same, in all probability, as the Poetae among the Greeks and Latins, the shaara among the Arabs, who were esteemed as Divine persons, and who had their name from shaara , he knew, understood; whose poems celebrated past transactions, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 21:26

Verse 26 26.For Heshbon was the city of Sihon. It is not without cause that Moses relates how the country near Heshbon had passed into the hands of the Amorites, because a long time afterwards this was sought for as a pretext for war by the Ammonites, when they saw that the people were brought into a low estate. In the time of Jephthah, therefore, having collected a great army, an irruption was made by them; and they made this their excuse, that they took up arms to recover what was their own,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 21:27

Verse 27 27.Wherefore, they that speak in proverbs. That is, an old saying, or proverbial sentence remains, and is well known. The song, however, appears to have been composed in the character of those who, when prepared to engage in war, mutually exhorted each other, “Come into Heshbon,” i.e., run to the standard of king Sihon; hasten to his home, and his chief place of abode, in order that we may thence go forth to battle. These expressions, “build and prepare,” I interpret as being used for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 21:10-35

I. THAT AFTER THE LIFTING UP OF THE BRAZEN SERPENT THE PROGRESS OF ISRAEL WAS SURPRISINGLY RAPID AND UNINTERRUPTED ; most markedly so if compared with the tedious turnings and returnings of the time before. This journey from Mount Hor to Pisgah occupied at most five mouths, as compared with the thirty-nine and a half years wasted theretofore. Even so it is with the progress of the soul towards the heavenly rest. Until Christ has been lifted up, and the... read more

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