Numbers 21:29

_WHEREFORE THEY THAT SPEAK IN PROVERBS SAY, COME INTO HESHBON, LET THE CITY OF SIHON BE BUILT AND PREPARED:_ WHEREFORE THEY THAT SPEAK IN PROVERBS, х_ HAMOSHªLIYM_ (H4911)] - parables, sententious sayings; also songs, poems, 'the members of which, by the laws of parallelism, consisted of two hemistichs similar in form and sense' (Gesenius). [The Septuagint, Dia touto erousin hoi ainigmatistai, wherefore the minstrels say (see Augustine, 'Question 45: in Num.')] This song of victory, which is probably another extract from "the book of the wars of the Lord," and popularly sung by the Hebrews-not an Amorite composition, as some think-fully corresponds to the preceding description. It is of a strongly satirical cast, breathing contempt alike for both classes of pagan inhabitants who had been thrust out of the land, and in a tone of jubilant delight, unaccompanied, however, by any expressions...

21-35 Sihon went with his forces against Israel, out of his own borders, without provocation, and so ran upon his own ruin. The enemies of God's church often perish by the counsels they think most wisely taken. Og, king of Bashan, instead of being warned by the fate of his neighbours, to make peace with Israel, makes war with them, which proves in like manner his destruction. Wicked men do their utmost to secure themselves and their possessions against the judgments of God; but all in vain, when the day comes on which they must fall. God gave Israel success, while Moses was with them, that he might see the beginning of the glorious work, though he must not live to see it finished. This was, in comparison, but as the day of small things, yet it was an earnest of great things. We must prepare for fresh conflicts and enemies. We must make no peace or truce with the powers of darkness, nor...

CHEMOSH - The national God of the Moabites (compare the marginal references). The name probably means “Vanquisher,” or “Master.” The worship of Chemosh was introduced into Israel by Solomon 1Ki 11:7; 2 Kings 23:13. It was no doubt to Chemosh that Mesha, king of Moab, offered up his son as a burnt-offering 2 Kings 3:26. In the first six lines Numbers 21:27 the poet imagines for the Amorites a song of exultation for their victories over Moab, and for the consequent glories of Heshbon, their own capital. In the next lines Numbers 21:29

EXPOSITION THE END OF JOURNEYS, THE BEGINNING OF VICTORIES (Numbers 21:10 Numbers 22:1). NUMBERS 21:10 THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD, and pitched in Oboth. In the list of Numbers 33:1, there occur two other stations, Zahnonah and Phunon, between Mount Hor and Oboth. Phunon may be the Pinou of Genesis 36:41, but it is a mere conjecture. All we

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, or would do so, Chemosh their god not being able to preserve them, but obliged to deliver them up: thus the composers of this song insult the god of the Moabites, as it was usual for conquerors so to do; see Isaiah 10:10, though some think these are the words of the Israelites, mak

CHAPTER 21 Murmuring and Conquest _ 1. Opposition of King Arad (Numbers 21:1)_ 2. Murmuring and the fiery serpents (Numbers 21:4) 3. The serpent of brass (Numbers 21:8) 4. Journeying and singing again (Numbers 21:10) 5. Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21) The first victory is here recorded. The Lord delivered Canaanites into the hands of Israel, and according to their vow they utterly destroyed them and their cities. But in spite of this victory the people became again discouraged because of the w

THE CONQUEST OF THE AMORITES. This narrative presupposes the position reached in Numbers 21:13 (not in Numbers 21:20), for the embassy to Sihon would naturally be despatched before the Amorite border was crossed. Numbers 21:23. Jahaz: the Jahzah of Jeremiah 48:21, probably not far from Dibon. Numbers 21:24. Jabbck: the modern Nahr ez-Zerka. WAS STRONG: read (LXX) was Jazer (Numbers 21:32)....

_The victories over Sihon and Og_. See the parallel account in Deuteronomy 2:24 to Deuteronomy 3:13. The previous verses have described the Israelites" march through the territory occupied by the Amorites on the north of the Arnon, and their arrival at one of the glens which cleave the western edge of the plateau, close to the spot where it ran into the Jordan valley. The narrative now returns to the earlier point, described in Numbers 21:13, when they were still on the eastern border of the Amorites. Since the town of Heshbon commanded the glens, it would have been impossible to penetrate into them unless the town had first been captured; but the writer has arranged his material in the present order for

O PEOPLE OF CHEMOSH— Here, in the poetical strain, he apostrophises the Moabites, who worshipped the God Chemosh, and are therefore called, _the people of Chemosh,_ Judges 11:24. 1 Kings 11:7. Jeremiah 7:13. For it is at all times to be remembered, the better to understand the Scriptures, that every nation had peculiar gods, which were deemed their immediate guardians and protectors, and were accordingly worshipped by them with particular honours. _Chemosh_ is thought by some to be another name for Baal-peor, whom the Israelites were afterwards enticed to worship in _Shittim_ with obscene rites; see ch. xxv. Hence Milton, Par. Lost, book i. ver. 406. Next _Chemos,_ th' obscene dread of Moab's sons

H. VICTORY OVER SIHON AND OG vv. 21-35 TEXT Numbers 21:21. And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22. Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders. 23. And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 24. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25. And Israel took all these cities; and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out