Deuteronomy 3

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER THREE

The war with Og, king of Bashan, 1, 2. He is defeated, 3. Sixty fortified cities with many unwalled towns taken, 4, 5. The utter destruction of the people, 6. The spoils, 7; and extent of the land taken, 8-10. Account of Og’s iron bedstead, 11. The land given to the Rebuenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, 12, 13. Jair takes the country of Argob, 14. Gilead is given unto Machir, 15. And the rest of the land possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, 16, 17. The directions given to those tribes, 18-20. The counsel given to Joshua, 21, 22. Moses’s prayer to God for permission to go into the promised land, 23-25; and God’s refusal, 26. He is commanded to go up to Mount Pisgah to see it, 27; and to encourage Joshua, 28. They continue in the valley opposite to Beth-peor, 29.

QUESTIONS, LESSON THREE (Deuteronomy 2:24 to Deuteronomy 3:29)

Who were the two kings of the Amorites and over what kingdoms did they rule? (Complete before proceeding)

Why did God harden Sihon’s spirit?

Who or what was Argob?

Why do you suppose the divine historian takes space in the Sacred Volume to mention the size of Og’s bedstead?

Give the basic locations of the three east-side tribes.

What special assistance were these tribes to render the rest of Israel?

What admirable quality is revealed in Moses in this lesson?

Deuteronomy 3:1-11

b. CONQUEST OF OG, KING OF BASHAN (Deuteronomy 3:1-11)

Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei. 2 and Jehovah said unto me, Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon. 3 So Jehovah our God delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. 4 And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we took not from them; threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many. 6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves. 8 And we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon; 9 (which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;) 10 all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Arnmon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.)

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:1-11

It is very important that each of the places mentioned be located by the student on the map. Locate: Edrei; Heshbon; Bashan.

Was Og a giant? How large?

Be specific about the conquest of Og, his people, his cities, villages, women, children, and cattle.

Mark out on the map the details of the area conquered.

Give at least two possible measurements of Og’s bedstead.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 3:1-11

Then we turned, and went up the road to Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 2 And the Lord said to me, Do not fear him; for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. 3 So the Lord our God gave into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we smote him until not one was left to him. 4 And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them, sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fortified with high and haughty walls, gates, and bars; besides a great many unwalled villages. 6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city, men, women, and children. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for booty for ourselves. 8 So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. 9 (The Sidonians call Hermon, Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir), 10 All the cities of the plain and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 or only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the [gigantic] Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, using the cubit of a man [the forearm to the end of the middle finger].

COMMENT 3:1-11

THEN WE TURNED, AND WENT UP THE WAY TO BASHAN (Deuteronomy 3:1)See also Numbers 21:33-35. Israel proceeds northward. Bashan is basically located in the area of the Yarmuk (Warmuk or Hieromax) river drainage, particularly its northern part. These were highlands, used especially for pasture, and soon to be occupied by the half tribe of Manasseh. This was as far north as Israel went on the east side.

OG THE KING OF BASHAN (Deuteronomy 3:1)One of the two kings of the Amorites (Deuteronomy 3:8). His kingdom extended beyond Bashan proper, northward to the slopes of mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:8 b, Joshua 12:4-5). (On his stature, see below). Israel battled these people at Edrei, located in the area of Hauran near Bashan’s southern border on the upper reaches of the Yarmuk.

THREESCORE CITIES, ALL THE REGION OF THE ARGOB, THE KINGDOM OF OG IN BASHAN (Deuteronomy 3:4)cf. Deuteronomy 3:13. The precise limits of Argob have not been determined. We may take it that Argob lay in the land of Bashan; beyond this, on available data, we cannot certainly go. The soil [of Bashan] is very fertile, composed of lava detritus. In almost every district might have been found the threescore cities.I.S.B.E.

UNWALLED TOWNSProbably better unwalled villages (R.S.V. Amplified O.T., Berkeley, etc.)in contrast to the well fortified cities just described. Besides many an open hamlet (Moffatt); besides country towns exceeding many (Rotherham).

HERMON. SIRON, SENIR (Deuteronomy 3:9)All names for the mountain whose melting snows form a chief source of the Jordan river. SION (Deuteronomy 4:48) is another name. This mountain reaches a height of nine thousand two hundred feet, and extends sixteen to twenty miles north and south. Herman is supposed to signify sacred mountain, Sirion breastplate (probably from its gleaming appearance), Senir[23] coat of mail (apparently for the same reason as the former), and Sion lifted up, probably from its height.

[23] 1 Chronicles 5:23 and Son 4:8 seem to lend weight to the idea that Senir was also the name of a specific peak on mount Hermon. The latter is sometimes used with reference to the entire anti-Lebanon range.

FOR ONLY OG KING OF BASHAN REMAINED OF THE REMNANT OF THE REPHAIM (Deuteronomy 3:11)The giant tribe that formerly occupied this territory (See Deuteronomy 2:10-11 and notes). This king was so large that his custom made bedstead[24] was nine by four cubits after the cubit of a manthat is, from the elbow to the end of the middle finger. If the cubit is here figured on a basis of eighteen inches, his bed was 13½ x 6 ft. But this is an arbitrary figure, and Og’s bed size is still uncertain to modern readers. The so-called Royal Cubit was approximately 20.6 inches, and seems to be the more ancient measurement. But most think, with Lange, thirteen and a half feet long and six feet broad, if not smaller since it is the common Hebrew cubit from the elbow downwards which is here meant.

[24] Some translators have sarcophagus. But this seems so unlikely in view of the context: Israel did not have great funeral services (let alone elaborate coffins) for the heathen kings it defeated: eres, bedstead, literally curving, is a bed upon which one reclines for rest, Amos 3:12; Amos 6:4: Psalms 6:6Lange.

Concerning this victory Mackintosh well writes, The remembrance of the Lord’s dealing with us in the past should strengthen our confidence in going on. The One who had given His people such a victory over the Amorites, who had destroyed such a formidable foe as Og, king of Bashan, and given into their hands all the land of the giants, what could He not do for them? They could hardly expect to encounter in all the land of Canaan any enemy more powerful than Og, whose bedstead was of such enormous dimensions as to call for the special notice of Moses; but what was he in the presence of his almighty creator? Dwarfs and giants are all alike to Him. The grand point is to keep God Himself ever before our eyes; then difficulties vanish. If He covers the eyes, we can see nothing else; and this is the true secret of peace, and the real power of progress. -Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God hath done.-’ And as He has done, so He will do. He hath delivered, and he doth deliver, and He will deliver. Past, present, and future are all marked by divine deliverance.[25]

[25] Notes on Deuteronomy. pp. 151, 152

Deuteronomy 3:12-17

8. EXTENT AND DIVISION OF CONQUERED EAST-SIDE LANDS (Deuteronomy 3:12-17)

12 And this land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites: 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. (The same is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Macathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day.) 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and the border thereof, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, and the Jordan and the border thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:12-17

Please refer to Numbers 22 through 33 for additional events in this period.

Upon what condition were the two-and-half tribes granted their inheritance before the other tribes? Cf. Deuteronomy 3:18-20 and Numbers 32:16-27.

Please refer to a map of the twelve tribes and memorize the location of the tribes.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 3:12-17

12 When we took possession of this land, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead and its cities; 13 The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. Itis called the land of Rephaim [of giant stature].

14 Jair son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Ma-acathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, so called to this day.

15 And I gave Gilead to Mechir [son of Manasseh].

16 And to the Reubenites and Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as the boundary of it, as far over as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites. 17 The Arabah also, with the Jordan as its boundary, from Chinnereth as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, under the cliffs [of the headlands] of Pisgah on the east.

COMMENT 3:12-17

The student should be locating the various geographical names of this chapter, and establishing the proper event with the proper place. So here we have Aroer, the Arnon river, Gilead, Bashan (Argob, see above), the Jabbok river, the Arabah, Chinnereth (either the sea of that name [i.e. the sea of Galilee] Numbers 34:11, Joshua 13:27, or the town near the sea, Joshua 19:35), the Salt (Dead) Sea, mount Pisgah (a shoulder of mount Nebo)all mentioned in describing the boundaries of the east-side tribes: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.[26] The basic boundaries of these tribes should be committed to memoryit will help you time and again in your Bible study.

[26] And this half-tribe also had an area of the west side, north of Ephriam, extending from the plain of Sharon to the Jordanthe inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. Numbers 27:1-11, Joshua 17

Moses omits much of Israel’s recent history herebut it was all doubtless fresh in the minds of his hearers. In Numbers 22:1, after Sihon and Og were smitten, we are told, And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho (See also Numbers 33:47-49)a statement that ties right in with Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 32:49; Deuteronomy 34:1; Deuteronomy 34:5; Deuteronomy 34:8 in locating Israel on the plains of Moab. The account of Balaam (the Mesopotamian seer) as he tried to carry out the wishes of Balak, king of Moaba country in league with Midian against Israelis in Numbers 22-24. His curses were turned into blessings.

Fearing the result of open war, the allied nations now undertook to corrupt Israel by their friendship and by seduction. Numbers 25:1 reads, And Israel abode in Shittim [very near or the same as their present location]; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, and many Israelites bowed down to their gods (Numbers 25:2). Many people perished by the plague that fell on the nation as a penalty (Chap. 25). After the numbering of the people (Chap. 26), the daughters of Zelophehad (descendants of Manasseh) are granted their inheritance (Numbers 27:1-11); then follows God’s command to Moses to ascend mount Abarim (Pisgah) (Numbers 27:12-14), Joshua’s appointment as leader of Israel (Numbers 27:15-23), laws for various offerings (Ch. 28), offerings for the seventh month (Ch. 29), the law of vows (Ch. 30), the slaughter of the Midianites (Ch. 31) and the settling of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh on the east side (Ch. 32), Chapter 33 gives an itinerary of Israel’s encampments to their present one … in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. from Beth-jeshimoth even unto Abel-shittim (Numbers 33:48-49). The exhortations and instructions of Moses from Numbers 33:50 to the end of Numbers are, like those in Deuteronomy, given with a view to their settlement in Canaan.

We are making no attempt in this volume at closely harmonizing, chronologically, the events of Numbers (after Chapter 22) with those of Deuteronomyonly to say that they occurred at approximately the same time and in the same general areathe plains of Moab, not far from the mouth of the Jordan.

James 1 R THE SON OF MANASSETH TOOK ALL THE REGION OF THE ARGOB (Deuteronomy 3:14)Naming them HAWOTH-JAIR, that is, the towns of Jair. He was a descendant of Manasseh, being the son of Segub (1 Chronicles 2:21-22).

Deuteronomy 3:18-20

9. WARNING AGAINST SETTLING DOWN PREMATURELY (Deuteronomy 3:18-20)

18 And I commanded you at that time, saying, Jehovah your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you, 20 until Jehovah give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth them beyond the Jordan: then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:18-20

How sad to possess so little when we could conquer so much. Did the 2½ tribes fulfill their part of the agreement? Cf. Joshua 4:12-13. What about the 9½tribes? Cf. Joshua 13:1.

Besides the lack of faith, what one thing contributed most to the failure to conquer?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 3:18-20

18 And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it; you [Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh] shall go over [the Jordan] armed before your brethren the other Israelites, all that are able for war. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle (I know that you have many cattle) shall remain in your cities which I have given you, 20 Until the Lord has given rest to your brethren, as to you, and until they also possess the land which the Lord your God has given them beyond Jordan; then shall you return every man to his possession, which I have given you.

COMMENT 3:18-20

This is the command to the east-side tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. See also Numbers 32:16-27. They were to go over the Jordan and assist their brethren in exterminating the Canaanite tribes before returning to their families on the east. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against Jehovah; and be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23). These men complied with the order (Joshua 4:12-13) but Israel did not fully expel the native people before these men returned. When Joshua was old and well stricken in years, there still remaineth yet very much land to be possessed (Joshua 13:1).

Deuteronomy 3:21-29

10. MOSES DENIED ENTRANCE INTO CANAAN (Deuteronomy 3:21-29)

21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall Jehovah do unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest over. 22 Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you.

23 And I besought Jehovah at that time, saying, 24 O Lord Jehovah, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy mighty ?Acts 25 Let me go over, I pray thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But Jehovah was wroth with me for your sakes, and hearkened not unto me: and Jehovah said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. 27 Get thee up unto the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:21-29

Read Numbers 27:15-23 for a better understanding of Moses words to Joshua.

Since God has specifically told Moses he could not go into the promised land, why did Moses make the request he did in these verses?

Is Moses saying in Deuteronomy 3:26 that it was not his fault that Jehovah was angry with him?

Our Lord requires unselfishness on the part of His leaders. Note the implications of Deu 3:28.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 3:21-29

21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Your own eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings [Sihon and Og]; so shall the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are going over [the Jordan]. 22 You shall not fear them, for the Lord your God shall fight for you. 23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, You have only begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand; for what god is there in Heaven or on earth, that can do according to Your works, and according to Your might? 25 I pray You, [will you not just] let me go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain country [with Hermon], and Lebanon? 26 But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the Lord said to me, That is enough; say no more to Me about it. 27 Get up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with your eyes; for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to possess the land which you shall see. 29 So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

COMMENT 3:21-29

Deuteronomy 3:21-22 refer to Moses-’ commission to Joshua, discussed more fully in Ch. Deuteronomy 31:7-8; Deuteronomy 31:14-23 and Numbers 27:15-23.

JEHOVAH. FIGHTETH FOR YOU (Deuteronomy 3:22)See ch. Deuteronomy 1:29-33; Deuteronomy 1:42 and notes.

LET ME GO OVER (Deuteronomy 3:25)See also Deuteronomy 1:37 and notes on the refusal of Moses-’ request.

THAT GOODLY MOUNTAIN (Deuteronomy 3:25)The marginal reading, hill country is preferred by modern translators.

GET THEE UP UNTO THE TOP OF PISGAH (Deuteronomy 3:27)See Deuteronomy 32:49 where this same mountain is also called Nebo and this mountain of Abarim (cf. Numbers 27:12). Numbers 33:47-48 speaks of Israel encamping in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. The term Abarim seems to refer to the whole range of mountains east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan. Nebo was a smaller range within this one, or more specifically, jutting out to the west from it. Deuteronomy 34:1 tells us Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against [i.e. east of] Jericho.

On this entire passage, the moral lesson drawn by Mackintosh is excellent. Now, it is most edifying to hear all this confession from the lips of Moses himself. It teaches us a fine lesson, if only we are willing to learn it. Some of us find it very hard indeed to confess that we have done or said anything wrongvery hard to own before our brethren that we have entirely missed the Lord’s mind in any particular case. We are careful of our reputation; we are touchy and tenacious. And yet, with strange inconsistency, we admit, or seem to admit, in general terms, that we are poor, feeble, erring creatures; and that, if left to ourselves, there is nothing too bad for us to say or do. But it is one thing to make a most humiliating general [confession,] and another thing altogether to own that, in some given case, we have made a gross mistake. The latter is a confession which very few have grace to make.[27]

[27] Notes on Deuteronomy, Vol. I, p. 156.