Deuteronomy 3:8-17

Deuteronomy 3:8-Esther : gives an account of the distribution, between Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, of the territories taken from the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og.

Deuteronomy 3:8 . beyond Jordan: see Deuteronomy 1:1.

Deuteronomy 3:9. The same mountain bore the names ( a) Hermon, i.e. sacred mount, perhaps the root is that of the verb “ to devote” ( Deuteronomy 2:34 *), cf. harem (Arabic), temple, women’ s enclosure; ( b) Sirion, the Sidonian name; ( c) Senir (so read in Deuteronomy 4:48 for “ Sion” ), the Amorite name. Yet in 1 Chronicles 5:23 and Ca. Deuteronomy 4:8 Senir and Hermon are differentiated.

Deuteronomy 3:10 continues Deuteronomy 3:8, Deuteronomy 3:9 being an editorial insertion.— plain: the elevated plateau N. of the Arnon on which Moab lay ( Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 13:9).— Gilead here includes the two halves (so Numbers 32:29). In Deuteronomy 2:36 * the southern, in Joshua 13:31 the northern half is alone meant.

Deuteronomy 3:11 . his . . . iron: render, “ his sarcophagus was a sarcophagus of black-basalt.” The Heb. barzel is used not only for iron, but also for black-basalt, one-fifth of which is usually iron ( Deuteronomy 8:9). Huge black-basalt sarcophagi have been discovered in the region here spoken of. There is a later and fuller version of the narrative of Deuteronomy 3:12-Proverbs : (settlement of the E. Jordan tribes) in Numbers 3:21-Zechariah : *. The two accounts differ in many respects.

Deuteronomy 3:14-Esther : (supplementary notices of the territory of the E. Jordan tribes) is evidently a late and clumsy compilation, repeating, and in part contradicting Deuteronomy 3:12 f., designed probably to reconcile Deuteronomy 3:12 f. with * Numbers 32:39; Numbers 32:41 *, from which Deuteronomy 3:14 f. is in part taken.

Deuteronomy 3:14 . Jair, i.e. Havvothjair: Numbers 32:41 * (P).— unto this day: Deuteronomy 2:22 *.

Deuteronomy 3:16 . Omit (with LXX) the words, “ The middle . . . thereof,” or render, “ the middle of the Wady being the border (or boundary).”

Deuteronomy 3:17 . slopes: the same Heb. word occurs in Numbers 21:15.