Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:25
And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
25. all the cities ] No Amorite cities have as yet been mentioned. It is probable that a portion of the narrative, which must have contained a list of captured cities, has been lost.
the Amorites ] The name Amurr occurs in Babylonian and Assyrian texts and in the Tell-el-Amarna tablets for the inhabitants of Syria and Palestine in general, before the time of the Exodus. But the natives whom the Israelites found in and around Palestine on their arrival were by no means homogeneous, and various names, such as Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites and others, frequently appear. The name ‘Amorite’ is sometimes used for the native inhabitants generally: see Gen 15:16; Gen 48:22, Jos 24:15, Amo 2:9, 1Ki 21:26, 2Ki 21:11. But sometimes it denotes natives in particular localities; e.g. in Canaan west of the Jordan (Jos 5:1; Jos 7:7); in the district afterwards occupied by Judah (Jos 10:5 f., 12, Jdg 1:34-36); in the Negeb and to the south and east of the Dead Sea (Gen 14:7, Deu 1:7; Deu 1:44). Most frequently, however, it denotes the inhabitants of the district east of the Jordan, under the rule of Sihon and Og. Whether they were the original inhabitants who had been driven out by Moab and Ammon, but had regained their footing under the leadership of these two kings, or whether they had only first gained their territory by driving out Moab and Ammon, we do not know.
Heshbon ] The modern esbn, standing some 2940 feet above the sea, about 18 miles from the Jordan, opposite to Jericho.
all the towns thereof ] R.V. marg. ‘daughters’ is the literal meaning of the Heb. The word denotes the small towns and villages near, and dependent upon, Heshbon; cf. Num 21:32, Num 32:42, Jdg 1:27.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Heshbon – Now Heshban, a ruined city, due east of the point where the Jordan enters the Dead Sea; conspicuous from all parts of the high plateau on which it stands, but concealed, like the rest of the plateau, from the valley beneath.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Having destroyed the ancient inhabitants, Deu 2:34.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. Israel dwelt in all thecitiesafter exterminating the inhabitants who had beenpreviously doomed (De 2:34).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Israel took all these cities,…. Which lay between the rivers Arnon and Jabbok; their particular names may be seen in
Nu 32:3,
and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites; being given to the Reubenites and Gadites, who inhabited them, as their possession and inheritance, Nu 32:2:
in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof; or “daughters thereof” q. Heshbon was the metropolis or mother city, and all the towns and villages adjacent were as daughters to it; of which city more is said in the following verses, [See comments on Isa 15:4].
q “filiabus ejus”, Montanus, Munster, Fagius, Grotius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Num 21:25
And Israel took all these cities. As if speaking of something present, he uses the demonstrative pronoun, and says, “these cities,” just as if he were pointing them out to the eyes of his readers. The word which we have rendered “towns” (oppida,) (130) others translate “country-houses” (villas,) or “hamlets” (viculos.) In the Hebrew, Moses calls by the name of “daughters” all the villages and lesser towns, whose mother-city (metropolis) was Heshbon. By these words, however, Moses indicates that, by the right of war, all these places had fallen into the hands of the Israelites, as the lot of their inheritance; for, as I have lately said, God had not yet openly declared that they should be masters of this part of the country. They would consequently have over-passed their boundaries, unless these had been added to the land of Canaan. This is the reason why God openly declares that they possessed them by His authority. But when he says that the cities were destroyed, and all their inhabitants exterminated, so that neither women nor children were spared, let us understand that they dealt not thus cruelly of their own impulse, or in heedless violence, but that whatsoever was on the other side of Jordan was devoted to destruction by God, that they might always have their minds fixed on the promised land, and might never give way to listlessness, which would have been the case if an easy occupation of it had invited them to repose. Although, therefore, God delivered over the land to them hereafter, and suffered them to enrich themselves with its booty and spoils, yet He would not have it retained as a place of residence, and therefore commanded them to destroy its cities and villages, in order that they might seek their rest elsewhere. In fine, since they were abundantly disposed to be slothful, it was expedient that all snares should be removed, and that by the very desolation they might be urged forward whither God called them.
(130) “ ]Par ce mot, que nous avons translate villages, il nous faut aussi entendre les bourgades, et metairies;“ by this word, which we have translated villages, we must also understand the hamlets and farm-houses. — Fr. See marg. A.V.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) And Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites.If, as appears most probable, this and the thirty-first verse form a part of the original narrative, the word which is rendered dwelt should be rendered sojourned, or abode, and understood, in accordance with the frequent use of the word (as, e.g., in Num. 22:5; Num. 22:8), of a temporary occupation or encampment. The permanent occupation of the eastern side of the Jordan by the Israelites was subsequent to the death of Moses.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Heshbon See Jos 13:17, note.
Villages Hebrew, daughters, that is, lesser towns.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Possession of the Cities of Sihon ( Num 21:25-26 ).
Num 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 were in their possession. And subsequently they set up residence there, and throughout the whole country.
Num 21:26
‘For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.’
Then it is explained that in fact Heshbon was the royal city where Sihon dwelt, and that he and the Amorites had captured it from Moab, a description of these events then being provided in a celebration ode.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
dwelt: Num 21:31, Num 32:33-42, Deu 2:12
in Heshbon: Heshbon was situated, according to Eusebius, twenty miles east of Jordan; and Jerome, who places it at the same distance, says it was, in his time, a very considerable city. It still subsists, in ruins, under the name of Heshban. Son 7:4, Isa 15:4, Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9, Jer 48:2, Jer 48:34, Jer 48:45
villages: Heb. daughters, Eze 16:46, Eze 16:49, Eze 16:53
Reciprocal: Num 21:34 – as thou Jdg 11:20 – General Jdg 11:26 – Heshbon 1Ch 6:81 – Heshbon Jer 49:2 – her daughters
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
LIFE AT ITS NOBLEST
Israel took all these cities Israel possessed his land.
Num 21:25; Num 21:35
I. The joys of conquest are the joys of man.To face hopeless odds without fear, in quiet reliance upon the Divine word; to act strongly, and conquer to the uttermost; and then, knowing that allboth the occasion, the promise, the courage, and the victoryall are the gifts of glad and fathomless love, to pour out the full heart in glorious praise to the Great Giver, this, surely, is life at its noblest. And all thisexcept the praise, which, however, appears in Psa 135:11; Psa 136:20we find here in vv. 34 and 35:And the Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not, etc.
II. This raises a question of intensest interest: Is there any parallel to this in my life? Is there any deep-rooted evil for me to overcome in this living present, and in fearless reliance upon some omnipotent word of the Lord that has already gone forth against it? What of those weaknesses or evil habits that I know so well and fear so much? Are they not, like Og, the giant king, simply occasions for a Divine over-coming? Has not the Almightyword sounded out against them even as it did against him? Of him it was said:Fear him not; for I have delivered him into thine hand; and of them it is said:Sin shall not have dominion over you. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Be strong, therefore, in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. Yes, in Him, we, even we, may know life at its noblest!
Illustration
(1) Thou wilt pitch in Oboth, from which point and onwards there will be no further record of murmuring. This chapter was set to music by the Psalmist, who interleaved the names of these beings and the story of these battles by the mention of the ever-enduring mercy of God (Psa 106:16-26). So shalt it be with us. The experiences of life may not seem to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless, in the golden afterward they will yield food for everlasting joy, and the uncouth names of sins and foes will be woven into the music of golden lays. Wherefore lift up your heads and rejoice in anticipation of your joy, for your redemption draweth night.
(2) A beautiful little song is given in this Lesson. The princes were able to use their official rods in putting aside the brushwood which hid the well, and its discovery was greeted by songs. How often does God open springs for us which we do not acknowledge! Let us be more prone to give thanks.
(3) A friendly message was sent to Sihon the king of the Amorites, to ask him, as Edom, Moab, and Ammon had been asked before, for a free passage through his kingdom. But the friendly message was again refused. Sihon followed up his refusal by advancing against the Israelites, and was defeated in a great battle at Jahaz. This victory gave Israel possession of the whole country from Arnon to Jabbok, including the strong city of Heshbon. The Arnon was henceforth the boundary of Israel and Moab. This triumph was celebrated in a war-song which tells of Israels glorious success over the Amorites, of the former defeat of Moab, and of the way in which Israel, avenging their kinsmen, won for themselves the fertile land on the east of the Jordan (Num 21:27-31).