Berean Study Bible Wanderings in the WildernessIsrael withdrew from the border of Canaan after refusing to enter the land God had promised them. Their retreat marked the beginning of the judgment announced at Kadesh-barnea, where the unbelieving generation would not enter the land. Deu 1:45 And you returned and wept before the LORD,… and headed for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, They traveled southward toward the wilderness, retracing the route associated with God’s deliverance from Egypt. Instead of advancing into Canaan, Israel returned to a life of wandering under God’s discipline. Deu 1:40 But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness… as the LORD had instructed me, Moses carried out God’s command despite the nation’s rebellion. The direction of Israel’s journey was determined by the LORD, not by the people’s desires or fears. Deu 1:42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight,… and for many days we wandered around Mount Seir. Israel remained near the territory of Edom, the descendants of Esau, until the condemned generation had passed away. The long delay showed the seriousness of disobedience while preparing a new generation to enter the land. Deu 1:2 It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea.… At this time After forty years of wilderness wandering, the generation that had refused to enter Canaan had died. Israel stood on the eastern side of the Jordan, moving toward the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their journey was shifting from judgment for unbelief to preparation for conquest. Deu 1:6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed… the LORD said to me, God continued to direct Moses as Israel’s covenant leader. The nation’s route, conflicts, and boundaries were not determined by human strategy but by the LORD’s command. Deu 1:42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight,… “You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; Israel’s long encampment in the region of Mount Seir followed the generation’s unbelief at Kadesh-barnea. The years of wilderness wandering fulfilled God’s judgment while preserving the nation for the next stage of His covenant purpose. Deu 1:6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed… turn to the north The people were to leave Edom’s rugged territory and begin moving toward the lands east of the Jordan. This change marked the end of the wilderness judgment for the new generation and the beginning of their approach to Canaan under God’s direction. Deu 3:27 Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west… and command the people: God directs Moses to prepare Israel for a peaceful passage near Edom. Moses serves as the appointed leader through whom the Lord gives instructions to the nation. Jos 1:11 Go through the camp and tell the people,… ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, The Edomites were related to Israel through Esau, Jacob’s brother. Their shared ancestry required Israel to recognize Edom’s land and people as kin, despite the long history of conflict between the two nations. Num 20:14-17 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom,… the descendants of Esau, Esau was the father of the Edomite people, who had established themselves as a distinct nation apart from Israel. God had given them their own inheritance and territory. Gen 36:9 This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites… who live in Seir. Seir was the mountainous homeland of Edom, southeast of the Dead Sea. Israel’s route toward Canaan brought them near this established Edomite territory. Gen 36:8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir. They will be afraid of you, Reports of the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt and His care for them in the wilderness had made surrounding peoples fearful. Edom knew Israel was a large people traveling under God’s protection. Exo 15:15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;… so you must be very careful. Israel was not to exploit Edom’s fear or provoke conflict. They were to pass through with restraint, respecting the boundaries God had assigned to the descendants of Esau. Jos 23:11 Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD… Do not provoke them, Israel was to avoid conflict with the descendants of Esau, the Edomites. Though they would later face hostility from Edom, God required Israel to recognize the boundaries He had established. Num 20:14-17 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom,… for I will not give you any of their land, The land of Edom was not part of Israel’s promised inheritance. God had assigned Canaan to Jacob’s descendants and Mount Seir to Esau’s descendants. Num 20:21 So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through… not even a footprint, Israel was forbidden to claim even the smallest part of Edomite territory. God’s command left no room for conquest or settlement there. Act 7:5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground.… because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession. Esau, Jacob’s brother, had settled in the region of Seir, and his descendants possessed it as their inheritance. God’s care over nations extended beyond Israel, and His allotment of land stood according to His purpose. Jos 24:4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir… You are to pay them in silver Israel was to deal honestly with Edom as they passed through its territory. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, and the Lord had given them their land as an inheritance. Israel was not permitted to seize what God had assigned to another nation, but was to pay a fair price for what it received. Gen 23:16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out…… for the food you eat Though Israel was traveling under God’s care, they were to obtain provisions lawfully rather than burden or exploit the people of Edom. Their conduct showed that God’s command concerning Edom differed from His command to take possession of Canaan. Gen 42:3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain… and the water you drink.’” Water was essential for travelers and livestock in the dry regions east of the Jordan. Israel was to respect Edom’s wells and supplies by purchasing what it needed. The instruction demonstrated God’s provision for Israel while requiring peaceable and just conduct toward a neighboring people. Num 20:19 “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied…… Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. Israel’s survival and prosperity were not the result of human strength alone. God had provided for their labor and sustained them under the covenant He made with their fathers. Deu 15:10 Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved… He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. For forty years, the LORD guided and preserved the nation through a harsh and dangerous land. He supplied food and water, protected them from destruction, and led them toward the land He had promised. Deu 1:31 and in the wilderness, where the LORD your God carried you… The LORD your God has been with you these forty years, His presence remained with Israel despite their rebellions, complaints, and failures. The wilderness years disciplined the generation that left Egypt while preparing their children to enter Canaan. Exo 33:14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you…”… and you have lacked nothing. God met every necessary need throughout the journey. Their continued existence in the wilderness testified to His faithful provision and care. Deu 8:9 a land where you will eat food without scarcity,… So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. Israel bypassed Edom because the Lord had given Mount Seir to Esau’s descendants. Though Edom and Israel were often hostile, they were related peoples through Esau and Jacob, and Israel was forbidden to seize or provoke them. Num 20:14-21 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom,… We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, The route through the Arabah connected the southern wilderness with the ports of Elath and Ezion-geber near the Gulf of Aqaba. Turning from it kept Israel from entering Edomite territory and avoided a conflict God had prohibited. 1Ki 9:26 King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships… and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab. Israel continued northward east of the Dead Sea toward Moab. Like Edom, Moab possessed land the Lord had assigned to its people, so Israel’s journey proceeded according to God’s direction rather than conquest. Jdg 11:18 Then Israel traveled through the wilderness… Then the LORD said to me, God continued to direct Moses as Israel traveled through the wilderness, making clear that their route and conduct toward surrounding nations were governed by His command. Deu 1:42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight,… “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, Moab descended from Lot through his son Moab and occupied territory east of the Dead Sea. Israel was not to treat Moab as an enemy or seek to take its land. Jdg 11:17-18 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom,… for I will not give you any of their land, The land Israel would receive was determined by God, not by military opportunity or national ambition. Moab lay outside the inheritance promised to Israel. Jdg 11:15-18 “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away… because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.” Ar was a principal Moabite territory. God had assigned it to Lot’s descendants, and Israel was required to respect that boundary. Gen 19:36-38 Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant… (The Emites used to live there, Before Moab became the homeland of Lot’s descendants, the Emites were among the earlier peoples who occupied the territory east of the Dead Sea. Gen 14:5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied… a people great and many, They were a numerous and powerful people, and their removal marked a significant event in the land’s history. Deu 7:1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… as tall as the Anakites. Their unusual stature and military strength made them comparable to the formidable Anakites. Yet the land ultimately passed to the Moabites, showing that even powerful peoples could be displaced according to God’s purpose. Num 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak… Like the Anakites, Like the Anakites, they were people of great size and strength, remembered as formidable inhabitants of the land. The Anakites lived in Canaan and were feared by Israel’s spies because of their stature and military presence. Num 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak… they were also regarded as Rephaim, They were also regarded as Rephaim, among the ancient giant peoples known in the region. Their strength and numbers made them a formidable obstacle to those seeking to possess the land. Deu 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant… though the Moabites called them Emites. The Moabites knew them by their own name and remembered them as former inhabitants of the territory that Moab later occupied. Gen 14:5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied… The Horites used to live in Seir, The Horites were the earlier inhabitants of the mountainous region of Seir, south of the Dead Sea in present-day Jordan. Their name means “cave-dwellers.” Before Edom became established there, this land was occupied by these ancient people. Gen 14:6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir,… but the descendants of Esau drove them out. Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, displaced the Horites and took control of Seir. Their possession of the land formed part of the territory God allotted to Esau’s family. Gen 36:8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, The Horites were removed, and the Edomites established their own communities in Seir. Edom thereafter became the enduring homeland of Esau’s descendants. Gen 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites… just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.) Israel’s occupation of Canaan was comparable in outcome, though it followed God’s specific promise and command. Both Edom and Israel received defined lands, showing that the Lord directs the boundaries and inheritance of nations. Jos 21:43 Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn… “Now arise and cross over the Brook of Zered.” God commanded Israel to leave the wilderness route and advance toward the land promised to their fathers. The Zered marked the end of the generation condemned to die in the wilderness after refusing to enter Canaan. Crossing it signaled that the years of judgment were complete and that a new generation was moving forward under God’s direction. Jos 1:2 Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise… So we crossed over the Brook of Zered. Israel obeyed and passed beyond the boundary of their long wandering. The crossing marked a new stage in their journey, bringing them nearer to the land God had pledged to give them. As at the Red Sea and later at the Jordan, God’s guidance brought His people from one decisive stage of their history into another. Num 21:12-13 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered.… The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook of Zered After Israel refused to enter Canaan from Kadesh-barnea, the nation spent many years wandering in the wilderness. Crossing the Brook of Zered marked the end of that generation’s wilderness journey and Israel’s approach to the land east of the Jordan. Deu 1:19 And just as the LORD our God had commanded us,… was thirty-eight years, The thirty-eight years completed most of the forty years appointed for Israel’s unbelieving generation. This delay revealed the lasting consequences of rejecting God’s command at Kadesh. Num 14:33-34 Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness… until that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, This fulfilled God’s judgment on the men counted for war who refused to enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb from that generation survived to enter Canaan. Num 14:29 Your bodies will fall in this wilderness… as the LORD had sworn to them. God carried out His judgment exactly as He had declared. His word remained certain through the years of wandering, preserving a new generation to receive the land. Deu 1:34-35 When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry… Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, God actively carried out His judgment on the Israelites who had rebelled after the report of the spies. Their refusal to trust His promise and enter the land brought the sentence He had declared. Jdg 2:15 Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD… to eliminate them from the camp, The unbelieving generation was removed from Israel during the wilderness years. Their deaths preserved God’s purpose of bringing a new generation into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. Num 16:26 And he warned the congregation, “Move away now… until they had all perished. The judgment was completed exactly as God had said. Those counted in the first generation, apart from Caleb and Joshua, died in the wilderness, and Israel was prepared to move forward into the Promised Land. Num 14:35 I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things… Now when all the fighting men among the people had died, The generation numbered at Sinai had died in the wilderness, fulfilling the Lord’s judgment after Israel refused to enter Canaan in unbelief. Only Joshua, whose name means “The Lord is salvation,” and Caleb remained from the adult generation that left Egypt. With the years of wandering complete, Israel was ready to move forward under a new generation that would inherit the land God had promised to their fathers. Num 14:29-35 Your bodies will fall in this wilderness… the LORD said to me, God spoke directly to Moses as Israel journeyed toward the Arnon Valley. Moses led the nation under divine instruction, receiving God’s commands concerning their route, their dealings with neighboring peoples, and the land Israel would possess. Deu 1:42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight,… “Today Israel was to act at God’s appointed time as the wilderness journey gave way to the approach toward Canaan. Deu 11:26 See, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse— you are going to cross The people were to continue forward in obedience, following the route God had established for them. Jos 1:11 Go through the camp and tell the people,… the border of Moab Moab, descended from Lot, was not included in Israel’s inheritance, and its territory was to be respected. Num 21:13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side… at Ar. Ar was an important Moabite city near the Arnon region, marking Israel’s passage along Moab’s boundary. Num 21:15 even the slopes of the wadis that extend… But when you get close to the Ammonites, As the Israelites approached the territory east of the Jordan and north of Moab, they neared the land of the Ammonites, descendants of Lot through his younger daughter. Though related to Israel through Abraham’s family, the Ammonites were a distinct people whose land God had allotted to them. Num 21:24-25 And Israel put him to the sword and took possession… do not harass them or provoke them, Israel was forbidden to begin hostilities or seek to take their territory. God required His people to respect the boundaries He had established for neighboring nations. Deu 23:3-6 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants… for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. Their land was not included in Israel’s promised inheritance. Israel was to wait for and receive the territory God had appointed for them in Canaan. Jdg 11:15-18 “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away… I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.” God had granted Ammon its land because of Lot’s connection to Abraham. The command showed that the Lord rules over every nation and assigns lands according to His purpose. Gen 19:36-38 Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant… (That too was regarded as the land of the Rephaim, This land also was regarded as having been inhabited by the Rephaim, a people known for their great stature. Deu 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan had remained of the remnant… who used to live there, The Rephaim used to live there before the Lord drove them out and gave the land to the descendants of Ammon. Num 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak… though the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. Their defeat and removal showed that the land’s earlier inhabitants, however strong, could not prevent God from establishing the people He chose there. Gen 14:5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied… They were a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites. The Rephaim were remembered as a powerful and imposing people, comparable in stature to the Anakites whose presence had terrified Israel’s spies. Their strength and size made them formidable inhabitants of the land. Deu 9:2 The people are strong and tall, the descendants of… But the LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, Their defeat came by God’s sovereign action. Though the Ammonites were descendants of Lot rather than of Israel, the Lord had appointed a territory for them and removed the earlier inhabitants before them. Deu 9:3 But understand that today the LORD your God goes across… who drove them out and settled in their place, The Ammonites took possession of the land once occupied by the Rephaim and established themselves there. Their settlement showed that the Lord directs the boundaries and fortunes of nations and fulfills His purposes in giving land to those He has appointed. Psa 78:55 He drove out nations before them and apportioned…… just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, had settled in the rugged region of Seir southeast of the Dead Sea. God had assigned that land to Esau’s line, and Israel was forbidden to seize it. Jos 24:4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir… when He destroyed the Horites from before them. The Horites were Seir’s earlier inhabitants. God removed them, allowing the Edomites to take possession of the land, just as He would later remove Canaanite peoples before Israel. Gen 14:6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir,… They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. Edom’s continued occupation of Seir showed that God had established their inheritance and preserved it through generations. Their settlement provided a historical parallel to Israel’s coming possession of the land God had appointed for them. Gen 36:43 These were the chiefs of Edom, according to… And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, The Avvim inhabited the coastal plain of Canaan, living in settlements that extended southward toward Gaza. Their territory lay in a strategic region connecting Egypt and the Levant. Jos 13:3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron… were destroyed by the Caphtorites, The Caphtorites displaced the Avvim and took control of their land. Their arrival reflects the migrations and conflicts that reshaped Canaan before Israel entered the land. Gen 10:14 The Pathrusites, the Casluhites (from whom the Philistines… who came out of Caphtor Caphtor was the homeland of the Caphtorites, commonly associated with Crete or the eastern Mediterranean islands. From there they migrated to the Canaanite coast, becoming connected with the peoples later known as the Philistines. Amo 9:7 “Are you not like the Cushites to Me, O children of Israel?”… and settled in their place.) The Caphtorites permanently occupied the Avvim’s former territory, including the region around Gaza. Their settlement prepared the setting for the Philistine cities that would later oppose Israel. 2Ch 28:18 The Philistines had also raided the cities…
The Defeat of SihonIsrael had reached the boundary between Moab and Amorite territory. The Arnon Valley, likely modern Wadi Mujib, marked the end of a long period of wilderness travel and the beginning of Israel’s advance toward the land God had promised. Num 21:13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side… See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Sihon ruled from Heshbon over a strong Amorite kingdom east of the Jordan. Though his territory and military strength presented a real obstacle, God had already determined the outcome and granted Israel the land. Deu 3:2 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him… Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. Israel was to act on God’s command by confronting Sihon and claiming the territory. The victory would establish Israel’s control over the region east of the Jordan and demonstrate that God was fulfilling His promise to give His people the land. Deu 1:21 See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you.… This very day Israel stood at a decisive point in its journey, with the wilderness generation gone and the land east of the Jordan before them. 1Ki 20:13 Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel… I will begin to put The coming victories would not rest on Israel’s strength alone. God Himself would direct events and establish His purpose for His covenant people. Jos 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin… the dread and fear of you Israel’s enemies would recognize that the God who delivered them from Egypt and preserved them in the wilderness was fighting for them. Deu 11:25 No man will be able to stand against you;… upon all the nations under heaven. News of Israel’s advance would spread beyond a single battlefield, making God’s power known among the surrounding peoples. 1Ch 14:17 And David’s fame went out into every land… They will hear the reports of you The defeat of Sihon and the victories that followed would confirm that Israel was moving toward Canaan under God’s command. Jos 5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan… and tremble in anguish because of you.” Fear would weaken the nations opposing Israel, not merely because of Israel’s army, but because of the Lord’s judgment and protection over His people. Psa 48:4-6 For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.… So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth Israel was camped on the eastern side of the Jordan, north of the Arnon River, as the nation prepared to enter the land God had promised. Jos 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, I sent messengers Moses sought communication before conflict, sending an official delegation to state Israel’s intentions. Num 20:14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom,… with an offer of peace Israel requested safe passage and promised not to seize land or cause harm, showing that war was not their first aim. Deu 20:10 When you approach a city to fight against it,… to Sihon king of Heshbon, Sihon ruled an Amorite kingdom centered at Heshbon, controlling territory Israel needed to cross on its northward journey. Num 21:24-26 And Israel put him to the sword and took possession… saying, The message formally presented Israel’s request to travel through Sihon’s land without provoking war. Num 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not… “Let us pass through your land; Israel asked the Edomites for peaceful passage as they traveled toward the land God had promised them. Although Edom descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, the two nations had a troubled history. Israel nevertheless sought to honor Edom’s territory and avoid unnecessary conflict. Num 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not… we will stay on the main road. They pledged to use the established King’s Highway, a principal route east of the Dead Sea, rather than entering fields, towns, or private land. Their request made clear that they intended to move through quickly without burdening the people or damaging their resources. Num 20:19 “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied…… We will not turn to the right or to the left. Israel promised not to leave the road or take possession of any part of Edom’s land. Their restraint reflected God’s command that Edom’s territory was not to be taken by Israel. Deu 5:32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you;… You can sell us food to eat Israel requested provisions from Edom without taking anything by force. The people needed food for their journey and sought to deal peacefully with those whose land they approached. Gen 43:1-2 Now the famine was still severe in the land.… and water to drink Water was essential for a large nation traveling through dry country. Israel asked only for what was necessary to continue the journey. Exo 17:2-6 So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water…”… in exchange for silver. They offered full payment for food and water, showing that they did not intend to burden or exploit Edom. Gen 47:14-17 Joseph collected all the money to be found… Only let us pass through on foot, Israel asked permission to travel through the land without settling there, taking territory, or provoking conflict. Num 20:17-19 Please let us pass through your land. We will not… just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir The Edomites, descended from Esau, occupied the rugged country of Seir south and southeast of the Dead Sea. Though related to Israel through Esau and Jacob, Edom had refused Israel passage through its territory. Yet the Israelites were able to obtain food and water from them during their journey. Gen 36:8 So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir. and the Moabites who live in Ar The Moabites descended from Lot and lived east of the Dead Sea, with Ar as an important Moabite city. Israel was instructed not to seize Moabite land, since God had given it to Lot’s descendants. Like the Edomites, the Moabites provided necessary provisions as Israel traveled near their borders. Num 21:28 For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city… did for us, Edom and Moab did not join Israel’s conquest or grant unrestricted access through their lands, but they permitted commerce that supplied Israel’s needs. God preserved peace with these related nations while leading His people toward Canaan. Num 20:19 “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied…… until we cross the Jordan Israel’s journey would end at the Jordan River, the boundary separating the wilderness from the land promised to their fathers. Crossing it would mark the beginning of Israel’s entrance into Canaan. Jos 1:11 Go through the camp and tell the people,… into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.” Canaan was not being claimed merely by military strength or national ambition. The land was God’s gift to Israel in fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jos 1:2-4 Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise… But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, Sihon ruled the Amorite kingdom centered at Heshbon east of the Jordan. Israel had sought peaceful passage, but he treated their approach as a threat and refused them access. Num 21:23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.… for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, God permitted and directed Sihon’s hardened resolve within His purpose for Israel. Sihon remained responsible for his hostile decision, yet his resistance became the means by which God brought judgment on the Amorite king and gave Israel victory. Exo 4:21 The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, …… that He might deliver him into your hand, Israel’s conquest of Sihon was not achieved by military strength alone but by God’s action in giving their enemy over to them. The victory opened the land east of the Jordan for Israel’s possession. Deu 3:2 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him… as is the case this day. Moses points to Sihon’s defeat and the occupied territory as established facts, confirming that God had fulfilled what He promised Israel. Deu 4:38 to drive out before you nations greater and mightier… Then the LORD said to me, God spoke directly to Moses as Israel approached the territory east of the Jordan. Moses served as the appointed leader through whom the Lord directed the nation’s movements and military actions. Deu 1:42 But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight,… “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Sihon ruled an Amorite kingdom centered at Heshbon, controlling land Israel needed to pass through and occupy. God had already determined the outcome, giving Israel assurance that Sihon’s resistance would not prevent their advance. Deu 3:2 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him… Now begin to conquer and possess his land.” Israel was commanded to act on God’s promise by engaging Sihon in battle and taking possession of his territory. The victory over Sihon marked the beginning of Israel’s inheritance east of the Jordan and prepared the nation for the conquest of Canaan. Deu 1:21 See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you.… So Sihon and his whole army Sihon, king of the Amorites, gathered all his forces to oppose Israel. His mobilization showed that he regarded Israel’s passage through the region as a serious threat to his kingdom. Num 21:23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.… came out for battle Rather than allowing Israel to pass peacefully, Sihon advanced to meet them in open conflict. His attack defied the Lord’s purpose to give Israel possession of the land east of the Jordan. Deu 3:1 Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan… against us Israel, led by Moses, faced Sihon while traveling toward the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The battle became part of the Lord’s fulfillment of that promise. Psa 124:2-3 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,… at Jahaz. Jahaz lay east of the Jordan in the region later assigned to Reuben. Israel’s victory there marked the defeat of Sihon’s Amorite kingdom and opened the way for Israel’s settlement in the Transjordan. Jdg 11:20 But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass… And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, Israel’s victory over Sihon was attributed to the LORD, not merely to military strength. Sihon, king of the Amorites, had refused Israel peaceful passage and came out to fight. His defeat demonstrated that God was fulfilling His promise to give Israel the land east of the Jordan and to protect them as they approached Canaan. Num 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him,”… and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army. Sihon’s defeat was complete, including his royal household and military forces. The fall of his kingdom gave Israel control of the Amorite territory from the Arnon River to the Jabbok and opened the Transjordan for Israel’s settlement. Num 21:35 So they struck down Og, along with his whole army… At that time Israel was nearing the end of its wilderness journey and recounting the victories God had given as He prepared the nation to enter the land He had promised. Deu 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes… we captured all his cities Sihon, king of the Amorites, had refused Israel peaceful passage and marched against them. Israel defeated him and took the fortified cities of his kingdom east of the Jordan. Deu 3:4-5 At that time we captured all sixty of his cities.… and devoted to destruction the people of every city, God’s judgment fell upon the Amorites through Israel’s conquest. Their cities and inhabitants were devoted to destruction (Hebrew: herem), completely consecrated to God through destruction, leaving no part of the captured population to remain and influence Israel with idolatry. Jos 11:11-12 The Israelites put everyone in Hazor to the sword.… including women and children. The judgment was complete, reflecting the seriousness of the Amorites’ longstanding wickedness and God’s purpose to preserve Israel as a people set apart for Him. 1Sa 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote… We left no survivors. Israel carried out the command fully, marking the defeat of Sihon’s kingdom and securing territory that would later be given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. Jos 10:40 So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country… We carried off for ourselves After defeating the Amorites, Israel took the spoils permitted to them, as was common in ancient warfare. Their victory and the resources gained from it came through the Lord’s faithfulness in giving them the land east of the Jordan. Deu 20:14 But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else… only the livestock The animals were preserved as valuable provisions for the people, supplying food, labor, and wealth as Israel continued its journey. Jos 8:2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho… and the plunder from the cities Goods from the conquered towns became part of Israel’s spoil, while the cities themselves were brought under judgment for their persistent rebellion and idolatry. Jos 11:14 The Israelites took all the plunder and livestock… we captured. Israel’s conquest of Sihon’s territory was complete. The fall of these fortified cities demonstrated that no Amorite power could prevent the Lord from giving His people the land He had promised. Jos 11:12 Joshua captured all these kings and their cities.… From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, Aroer stood at the northern edge of the Arnon Gorge, the boundary separating Moab from the Amorite kingdom ruled by Sihon. Israel’s victories began at this southern border and extended northward through the territory east of the Jordan. Jos 13:16 The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley,… along with the city in the valley, Israel captured the settlement within the Arnon Valley as well as Aroer above it. Even the difficult terrain of the gorge did not prevent the complete defeat of Sihon’s cities. Jos 13:9 The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley,… even as far as Gilead, The conquest reached north into Gilead, a fertile highland region later occupied by Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. The breadth of the territory showed that Israel had taken the full extent of the Amorite land assigned to them. Deu 3:13 To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead… not one city had walls too high for us. Fortified cities could not withstand Israel because the Lord gave them victory. Their strength did not rest in military skill or numbers but in God’s faithfulness to His promise. Deu 9:1 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan… The LORD our God gave us all of them. Moses credited every success to the Lord, who delivered Sihon’s kingdom into Israel’s hands. The conquest demonstrated that God was fulfilling His covenant promise to give His people the land east of the Jordan. Deu 3:2-3 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him… But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites, Israel did not attack the Ammonites, descendants of Lot and relatives of Israel through Abraham. The Lord had assigned their territory to them and forbade Israel from taking it. Jdg 11:15-18 “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away… or the land along the banks of the Jabbok River, The Jabbok marked part of the boundary between the Amorite kingdom Israel conquered and the territory protected for Ammon. Israel’s campaign remained within the limits God had established. Num 21:24-25 And Israel put him to the sword and took possession… or the cities of the hill country, The elevated and fortified towns east of the Jordan were not seized when they lay within the Ammonite sphere of land. Israel took only the cities belonging to Sihon, king of the Amorites. Jos 11:21-22 At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim… or any place that the LORD our God had forbidden. Their restraint showed that the conquest was not driven by territorial ambition but by obedience to God’s command and His allocation of land among the nations. Exo 19:12-13 And you are to set up a boundary for the people… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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