CHAPTER 21 FROM VICTORY THROUGH CHASTENING TO FURTHER VICTORY. The death of Aaron did indicate a new era. In this chapter we cover the first defeat of ‘the Canaanites', the dire warning and chastisement of the fiery serpents, the provision of abundant water, and the defeat of the Amorites under Sih... [ Continue Reading ]
5). THE BRAZEN SERPENT (NUMBERS 21:4). Having defeated the king of Arad Israel continued its journey from Mount Hor by ‘the way to the Reed Sea', skirting the land of Edom. As they had been hoping to take the much easier King's Highway they were greatly discouraged at the hardship of the way, for i... [ Continue Reading ]
6). JOURNEY FROM OBOTH TO THE PISGAH LOOKING TOWARDS JESHIMON (NUMBERS 21:11). From this point on there is no shortage of water, as they move via the Wadi Zered to the River Arnon. And the abundance of water seemed to them like a dream fulfilled which they celebrated in song. The battle against the... [ Continue Reading ]
(II). VICTORY IN THE WARS OF YAHWEH (NUMBERS 21:21 TO NUMBERS 25:18). Having tasted victory against the king of Arad, and come to the land of plenty, Yahweh now provided them with a series of victories forced on them by belligerent enemies. These would give them possession of the land of plenty on t... [ Continue Reading ]
SIHON REFUSES AND FACES UP TO ISRAEL (NUMBERS 21:23). Numbers 21:23 ‘And Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel.' But Sihon was determined... [ Continue Reading ]
SIHON IS DEFEATED AND HIS LAND POSSESSED UP TO THE BORDERS OF AMMON (NUMBERS 21:24). Numbers 21:24 ‘And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon. For the border of the children of Ammon was strong.' Israel defe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE POSSESSION OF THE CITIES OF SIHON (NUMBERS 21:25). Numbers 21:25 ‘And Israel took all these cities. And Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its towns.' Having defeated Sihon Israel took his cities, including Heshbon the capital city, one by one until all wer... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIUMPH SONG OF THE AMORITES (NUMBERS 21:27). Numbers 21:27 ‘That is the reason that they who speak in proverbs say, “Come you to Heshbon; Let the city of Sihon be built and established, For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon, It has devoured Ar (or ‘the cities'... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL'S TAUNT SONG AGAINST THE AMORITES (NUMBERS 21:30). We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even to Dibon, And we have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.” In an addition to the poem, which does not compare as literature with the original, Israel then taunt Sihon and the... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAEL SETTLE IN THE LAND OF THE AMORITES (NUMBERS 21:31). Numbers 21:31 ‘Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.' The passage ends triumphantly with the fact that Israel now dwelt in the land of the Amorites. The Amorite bogey (Deuteronomy 1:27; Deuteronomy 1:44) had been laid once for al... [ Continue Reading ]
2). THE DEFEAT OF OG, KING OF BASHAN (NUMBERS 21:32). The defeat of Sihon did not pass unnoticed and when Israel advanced even further northwards Og, king of Bashan decided that enough was enough. Gathering his forces he came down from the north, from northern Gilead and Bashan, and faced up to Isr... [ Continue Reading ]