Deuteronomy 3

here remarks, ‘‘ God gave him (Sihon) over to his own inflexible humour, which was set upon violent courses; from which God did not divert him, because he intended to destroy him.” And destroyed he was; and every city, (or walled town,) containing several families of “ men, women, and children,” taken possession of; and the inhabitants treated according to the decree pronounced against those that should refuse terms of peace. (Deuteronomy 20:10-16). (See Introduction to this Book, p. 233.) In reading these dreadful accounts of God’s judgments upon the heathen, we must always bear in mind that they were transgressors born under the sentence of death, and living only, by respite of their Judge, till “‘ the measure of their iniquities was filled up.””

Nor should we forget that we also are “ under the same condemnation,” unless rescued by the mercy of God, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Chap. II. Ver. 1—29. The conquest of Og king of Bashan. —Such is the dread that mankind had of giants, that armies trembled before them, as in the instance of Goliath; ((1 Samuel 17:24).) the destruction of such a monster was, therefore, considered as no mean triumph. And yet there seems little reason for such alarm, since an arrow or a spear might penetrate between the joints of his armour as easily as those of another man. ((1 Kings 22:34).) The bedstead (as it is here called) seems to have been only a monument of his great vanity, since it could have afforded no defence in case of an attack.

Whether the Ammonites seized this as a prize, or afterwards bargained for it with the Israelites, seems quite uncertain; but we are told it was preserved “‘in Rabboth, of the children of Ammon,” probably more as a curiosity than with any other view. Israel, however, are instructed to consider their victory over Sihon and Og as a pledge of future deliverance from all their other enemies. On this occasion, Moses informs us, that when he saw what God had “begun to do” for Israel, it made him the more anxious to go over Jordan with them into the promised land, that he might witness more of the Lord’s goodness toward his people: but he is ordered to desist from this request, and to be content with viewing the good land afar off.

Thus to view, by faith, the heavenly Canaan, the New Jerusalem, is, indeed, the highest privilege to which humanity can aspire on earth. We see the blessedness of a future state marked out to us in the Scriptures; but we must die to enter it. Our affections must be purified and sublimed, before we can enjoy all that God has “ laid up for them that love him.” ((1 Corinthians 2:9).)

Notes on the verses

Ver. 10. The Emims dwelt therein.—This, with the two following verses, appear to be a parenthesis, (so marked in some university editions of our translation,) and it is suspected, by many able critics, that several similar passages, containing historical or geographical memoranda, were originally marginal notes, but afterwards inserted in the text. On the Emim, Dr. Clarke remarks, ‘‘Calmet supposes that these people were destroyed in the war against them by Chedorlaomer and his allies, (Genesis 14:5). Lot possessed their country after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are generally esteemed as giants; probably they were a hardy, fierce, and terrible people, who lived, like the wandering Arabs, on the plunder of others.”

Ver. 11. Which also were accounted giants.—The word here is not the same translated giants, (Genesis 6:4), &c. (see note there;) but Rephaim, the name of a people, first mentioned (Genesis 14:5).; and Dr. Clarke thinks that “the Emim, the Anakim, and the Rephaim, were probably the same people, called by different names in the different countries where they dwelt; for they appear originally to have been a kind of freebooters, who lived by plunder. It must be granted, however, that there were several men of this race of extraordinary stature, and hence all gigantic men were called Rephaim; but we well know that fear and public report have added whole cubits to men’s height. It was under this influence that the spies acted when they brought the disheartening report mentioned (Numbers 13:33).” _ Ver. 12. As Israel did, &c.—From hence some critics infer, that this passage must have been _ after the conquest of Canaan. Ainsworth and others think it may refer to the conquests already obtained over Sihon and Og. Ver. 13. Zered.—[The brook, or torrent Zered, takes its rise in the mountains of Moab, and, spurs from east to west, falls into the Dead sea. It seems to be the stream which Burckhardt calls Wady Beni Hammad, south of the Modjeb or Arnon, and about five hours north of Kerek.]—Bagster. Ver. 23. The Avims.—Margin, ‘“‘Avites.”” Im is the Hebrew plural masculine, and does not require, nor properly admit, the s added. This and the three preceding verses are to be considered in the same light as verses 10, 11, 12.

See above, Note on ver. 10.; 7 Ver. 29. As the children of Esau did, &c.—It does not appear that either the Edomites or Moabites permitted the Israelites to pass through their land on their first application; [though] they afterwards permitted them, and supplied them with what they wanted, for money. See (Numbers 20:21). “ But Howbégant supposes that the Edomites who granted a passage, were not the same people who refused it, but a tribe nearer to the Ammonites. See Boothroyd’s Heb. Bible, and compare our note on (Numbers 20:18). ( x. Chap. III. Ver. 1. Bashan.—Bashan, one of the most fertile districts of the Holy Land, was bounded on the west by the Jordan and lake of Genesareth, on the east by Trachonitis, on the south by the brook Jabbok, and on the north by Mount Hermon; and seems to have been composed of two or three districts,—on the south the land of Gilead, on the north the region of Argob, and east of both the plain of Hauran.

(See ver. 13—15) It was afterwards called Batanea: and seems to be now comprehended under the modern names of Belad Erbad, or El Bottein, Belad Beni Obeid, Djelaad, and Haouran. (See Burckhardt’s Travels in Syria.) It contained at one period not less than 60 walled towns, besides villages; and its rich pastures, oaks and fine cattle, were exceedingly commended. The scenery of this elevated tract is described by Buckingham as extremely beautiful; its plains covered with a fertile soil; its hills covered with forests, and at every new turn presenting the most beautiful landscapes that can be imagined. Edrei.—This town is placed by Busebius about 25 miles northward from Bostri; and mentioned by Burckhardt under the name of Draa.|—Bagster.

Ver. 4. Region of Argob.—Heb. “ Line of Argob;” alluding to the line, or cord, by which lands were measured, (Amos 7:17). ‘ Ver. 5. All his cities.—Cities are here explained to be walled towns, with gates and bars, in distinction from unwalled towns. See note on ch. i. 23. Ver. 6. Men, women, and children of every, or, ‘‘ every city of men, women, and children.”’ ’ Ver. 9. Hermon.—{Mount Hermon is the south eastern branch of Lebanon, beyond Jordan. The Chaldee Targumist, who places it at Cesarea, and Samaritan interpreter, call it toor taiga, ‘* the mountain of snow,” because of it being always covered with snow; and Jerome informs us, that it lies higher than Paneas or Cesarea Philippi, and that in the summer time snow used to be carried from thence to Tyre.

It is now called El Heish, and is comprised in the district of Kanneytra. See Burckhardt’s Travels.|–Bagster. ~ Ver. 11. His bedstead was…. of iron.—Before iron bedsteads were brought into general use, it was considered as a proof of the great weight of the giant, that a wooden frame would not support him. It is yet difficult, however, to ascertain what this bedstead was, since nothing like what we call a bedstead was then, or yet is, known in eastern countries. Parkhurst supposes it to have been a sort of ‘ mattress full of small pieces of iron,” like a coat of mail, and intended to give an idea of his ‘‘ martial roughness.”’ The late Editor of Calmet, considers it as a kind of “‘ divan, or broad settle,”

raised from the floor, on which cushions or carpets were usually spread. Amos speaks of the luxurious Israelites of his time, as ‘lying on beds (or divans) of ivory,” whereas this giant king chose rather to lie, perhaps, on massy bars of iron. Little, however, can be ascertained, as to his size, from this account. Suppose it to have been sixteen feet long, by seven wide, it does not follow that he was either so long or so wide. Who would choose to be confined to a bed like a coffin, which just fits his body? Bp. Watson says, ‘“‘ You make no allowance for the size of a royal bed; nor ever suspect that king Og might have been possessed of the same kind of vanity which occupied the mind of king Alexander, when he ordered his soldiers to enlarge the size of their beds, that they might give to the Indians, in succeeding ages, a great idea of the prodigious stature of a Macedonian.”—Apol.

for Bib. Ver. 13. Bashan, which was called the land of giants.—“ The tradition that giants formerly dwelt in this part, still remains in Arabia, only that it makes them rather taller than Moses does Og, and calls the land in which they lived, not Bashan, but Hadrach, which name occurs in (Zechariah 9:1). Ver. 14. Bashan-havoth-jair.—Or the villages of Jair, in Bashan, (Numbers xxxii. 41.) The words “ unto this day,” if originally in the text, can mean only about a twelvemonth; but the expression was probably added afterwards, as in some other cases. Ver. 25. And Lebanon.—Or, ‘‘ even Lebanon.”’—[ Lebanon is a long chain of limestone mountains, extending from near the coast of the Mediterranean on the west to the plains of Damascus on the east, and forming the extreme northern boundary of the Holy Land.

It is divided into two principal ridges running parallel to each other in a north-north-east direction; the most westerly of which was properly called Libanus, and the easterly Anti-Libanus, though the Hebrews did not make this distinction, but called both by the same name. It is computed to be fifteen or sixteen hundred fathoms in height; and the highest summits are always covered with snow. They are by no means barren, but are almost all well cultivated and well peopled; their summits being in many parts level, and forming extensive plains, in which are sown corn and all kinds of pulse. They are watered by numerous springs, rivulets, and streams of excellent water, which diffuse on all sides a freshness and fertility even in the most elevated regions.

Vineyards and plantations of olive, mulberry, and fig-trees are also cultivated in terraces formed by walls: and the soil of the declivities and hollows is most excellent, and produces an abundance of corn, oil, and wine. ]}—Bagster Ver. 29. Beth-peor.—That is, the house, or temple of Peor. See (Numbers 25:3). note. The temple gave name to the city.