Bible Commentary

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho. Num 22:1. The verse appears to be the continuation of P’s itinerary in Num 21:10-11; cf. Num 33:48. the steppes of Moab ] A term, peculiar to P , which denotes the open plain, immediately … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 22:1”

So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. 35. and his sons ] These words are absent from Deu 3:3; but cf. Num 2:33. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Verse 35. So they smote him, and his … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:35”

And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. 34. Edrei ] the modern Edre‘t or Der‘t, appears to have been … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:34”

And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. 33. by the way to the Bashan ] The name, which usually has the article, seems to signify ‘soft and fertile ground.’ The Bashan … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:33”

And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that [were] there. 32. The capture of Jazer stands in a curiously isolated position, after the general statement in Num 21:31. It is probably taken from another source which described the capture of several individual towns. It … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:32”

Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. Not the land of the Moabites; and by those means before mentioned; by conquering Sihon their king, they came into the possession of it, and took up their dwelling in it; this was the beginning of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:31”

We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which [reacheth] unto Medeba. 30. And we shot at them ] So the Heb. text. An extremely doubtful clause, which represents a single word in the Heb. ( ). If it is correct, the taunt … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:30”

Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 29. The verse is still ironical; the Israelites express their pity for Moab in her destruction by the Amorites. He hath given ] He gave. Chemosh, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:29”

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [and] the lords of the high places of Arnon. 28. For a fire went out from Heshbon it devoured &c.] The Amorites in the past gained possession of Heshbon, and from thence sent … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:28”

Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 27. they that speak in proverbs say ] they that recite ballads say. The Heb. mshl was ‘any suggestive saying that implied more than it actually said.’ This might be a ‘proverb,’ i.e. a sententious or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:27”