Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To the Mountains of Abarim: Sihon Conquered
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The journey of the Israelites through the desert, as recorded in the Pentateuch, is a significant period in biblical history, marked by divine guidance, miraculous provisions, and military conquests. One of the pivotal moments in this journey is the conquest of Sihon, king of the Amorites, as the Israelites approached the Mountains of Abarim.

Context and Background

After their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years due to their disobedience and lack of faith (Numbers 14:33-34). As they neared the end of this period, they began to move towards the Promised Land, Canaan. The journey to the Mountains of Abarim represents a critical phase in their travels, as it brought them into direct conflict with the Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan River.

The Approach to the Amorite Territory

The Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, sought passage through the land of the Amorites. Moses sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, with a peaceful request: "Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, nor drink water from any well. We will travel the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory" (Numbers 21:22). This request was consistent with the Israelites' earlier approach to Edom, where they sought peaceful passage (Numbers 20:14-17).

Sihon's Refusal and the Battle

Sihon, however, refused to allow the Israelites passage through his land. Instead, he gathered his people and went out to confront Israel in battle at Jahaz. The biblical account records that the Lord delivered Sihon and his people into the hands of Israel. "But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and marched out to the wilderness to confront Israel. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified" (Numbers 21:23-24).

Significance of the Conquest

The defeat of Sihon was a significant victory for the Israelites. It marked the beginning of their conquest of the Transjordan region and demonstrated God's continued faithfulness and power in fulfilling His promises to the descendants of Abraham. The victory over Sihon also served as a morale booster for the Israelites, reinforcing their confidence in God's provision and protection as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

Settlement and Allocation of the Conquered Land

Following the conquest, the Israelites took possession of the Amorite cities, including Heshbon, which became a key city in the region. The land was later allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as part of their inheritance (Numbers 32:33). This allocation was in accordance with the divine instructions given to Moses and served as a precursor to the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel.

Theological Implications

The conquest of Sihon underscores several theological themes central to the narrative of the Israelites' journey. It highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to fulfill His covenant promises despite human opposition. The event also serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and faith in God's plan, as the Israelites' success was contingent upon their reliance on divine guidance and strength.

Conclusion

The journey to the Mountains of Abarim and the conquest of Sihon represent a crucial chapter in the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. This event not only facilitated their entry into the Promised Land but also reinforced the themes of divine faithfulness, provision, and the fulfillment of God's promises to His chosen people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 21:23-32
And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 2:32-36
Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Resources
Who was Ishmael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Negev in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Hagar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Desert: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Desert

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: All Formerly Numbered Over Twenty Years Old, Except Caleb

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Called Meribah to Commemorate the Murmuring

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Guilty Spies Slain by Plague

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Israel Seduced to Idolatry by Advice of Balaam

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Moses Commanded to Send Spies

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Moses Striking the Rock Instead of Speaking to It, Disobeys

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Murmuring of the Mixed Multitude and of Israel, for Flesh

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: People Smitten by Amalek for Going up Without the Lord

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Persons Selected As Spies

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Punishment for Rebellion

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Reubenites Obtained the Land Taken from the Amorites

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Spies Bring Back Evil Report

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: The People Anxious to Have the Land of Canaan Searched

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: The People Terrified and Rebel

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Time Occupied in Going from Kadeshbarnea to This Station

Desert: An Arid Region Having Only Sparse Vegetation

Desert: Figurative

Journey of Israel Through The Desert by a Circuitous Route

Journey of Israel Through The Desert by the Red Sea

Journey of Israel Through The Desert with Miraculous Provision

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: A Mixed Multitude Accompanied Them In

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Across the Arnon

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Across the Brook Zered

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Across the Brook Zered: Order to Pass Through Ar

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Across the Brook Zered: Orders Given Respecting Ammon

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Across the River Jordan

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Between Baalzephon and Pihahiroth

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Between Baalzephon and Pihahiroth: Exhorted to Look to God

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Between Baalzephon and Pihahiroth: Overtaken by Pharaoh

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Between Baalzephon and Pihahiroth: Red Sea Divided

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Between Baalzephon and Pihahiroth: The Cloud Removed to the Rear

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Caused Universal Terror and Dismay

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Circumcision Omitted During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Commenced from Rameses in Egypt

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Commenced in Haste

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Conducted With Regularity

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Constant Goodness and Mercy of God to Them During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Continued Forty Years: As a Punishment

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Continued Forty Years: To Prove and Humble Them

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Continued Forty Years: To Teach Them to Live on God's Word

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Date of Its Commencement

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Difficulty and Danger of

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Illustrative of the Pilgrimage of the Church

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Justice Administered During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Marked by Constant Murmurings and Rebellions

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Obstructed by the Surrounding Nations

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Order of Encamping During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Order of Marching During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Appointment of Joshua

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Balaam not Permitted to Curse Israel

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Balak Sends for Balaam

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Israel Punished

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Joshua Ordered to Cross Jordan

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Midianites Destroyed and Balaam Slain

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Moses Beholds Canaan

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Moses Dies and is Buried

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: The Law of Female Inheritance Settled

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: The Law Rehearsed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: The Law Written by Moses

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Third Numbering

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Two Spies Sent to Jericho

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: God's Choice of Aaron Confirmed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Korah Punished

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Plague Sent

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Plague Stayed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Rebellion of Korah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Sabbath Breaker Stoned

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Several of These Stations Probably Revisited

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Territory Acquired During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Their Clothing Preserved During

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Their Healthy State Commencing

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Their Number Commencing

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Red Sea

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Red Sea: Faith Exhibited in Passing

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Red Sea: Israel's Song of Praise

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Red Sea: Pharaoh and his Host Destroyed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Shur or Etham

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Sin

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Sin: Manna Sent

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Sin: Murmuring for Bread

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Through the Wilderness of Sin: Quails Given for One Night

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Almondiblathaim

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Alush

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Bamoth

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Beer or the Well

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Bene-Jaakan

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Dophkah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Ebronah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Elim

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Etham

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Eziongaber

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Haradah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hashmonah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth: Aaron and Miriam Envy Moses

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth: Delayed Seven Day for Miriam

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth: Miriam Punished by Leprosy

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Horhagidgad or Gudgodah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Ijeabarim Before Moab

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Ijeabarim Before Moab: Orders Given Respecting Moab

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Jotbathah or Land of Rivers

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: Miriam Dies and is Buried

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: Moses and Aaron Punished

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: Orders Given Respecting Edom

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: Second Murmuring for Water

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: The King of Edom Refuses a Passage

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadeshbarnea in Wilderness of Rithmah or Paran

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadeshbarnea in Wilderness of Rithmah or Paran: Spies Sent

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kehelathah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Called Taberah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Complaining Punished by Fire

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Flesh Promised

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Quails Sent for a Month

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Seventy Elders Appointed to Assist Moses

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Their Murmuring Punished

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kibrothhattaavah: Why Called Kibrothhattaavah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Libnah or Laban

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Makheloth

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Marah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Marah: Murmuring of the People on Account of Bitter Water

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Marah: Water Sweetened

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mattanah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mithcah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Moseroth or Mosera

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Hor

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Hor: Aaron Dies

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Hor: Arad Conquered

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Hor: Called Hormah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Shapher

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Aaron and his Sons Selected for Priesthood

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Covenant Made

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: God's Glory Shown to Moses

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Golden Calf Made

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Jethro's Visit

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Judges Appointed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Levites Set Apart

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Moral Law Given

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Moral Law Written on Tables

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Nadab and Abihu Destroyed for offering Strange Fire

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Order for Making the Tabernacle

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Passover First Commemorated

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: People Punished for Idolatry

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Second Numbering of the People

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Tabernacle First Set Up

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Tables of Testimony Broken

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: The Tables of Testimony Renewed

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Tribe of Levi Taken Instead of the First-Born

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Nahaliel

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Oboth

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Punon

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim: Amalek Opposes Israel

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim: Amalek Overcome

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim: Called Massah and Meribah

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim: Murmuring for Water

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Rephidim: Water Brought from the Rock

Related Terms

Day's (19 Occurrences)

Derbe (4 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Travel (25 Occurrences)

Trophimus (3 Occurrences)

Outcome (26 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Wallet (7 Occurrences)

Iconium (6 Occurrences)

Tychicus (5 Occurrences)

Pursued (75 Occurrences)

Pilgrimage (4 Occurrences)

Journeying (36 Occurrences)

Illyricum (1 Occurrence)

Bag (52 Occurrences)

Barnabas (33 Occurrences)

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)

Timothy (28 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Noon (30 Occurrences)

Juniper (7 Occurrences)

Gaius (5 Occurrences)

Pihahiroth (4 Occurrences)

Prolonging (5 Occurrences)

Pi-hahiroth (4 Occurrences)

Appii (1 Occurrence)

Alarm (26 Occurrences)

Spy (27 Occurrences)

Speed (22 Occurrences)

Scrip (7 Occurrences)

Salamis (1 Occurrence)

Staff (91 Occurrences)

Stick (47 Occurrences)

Extremity (46 Occurrences)

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)

Direction (128 Occurrences)

Journeyed (111 Occurrences)

Silas (22 Occurrences)

Traveled (104 Occurrences)

Pisidia (2 Occurrences)

Sinai (38 Occurrences)

Apollos (11 Occurrences)

Galatia (6 Occurrences)

Resting (117 Occurrences)

Sacrifices (186 Occurrences)

Transfiguration

Resting-place (211 Occurrences)

Forward (252 Occurrences)

Passing (177 Occurrences)

Cyprus (12 Occurrences)

Wilderness (304 Occurrences)

Quails (4 Occurrences)

Company (287 Occurrences)

Voyage (5 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Night's (13 Occurrences)

Neapolis (1 Occurrence)

Nin'eveh (18 Occurrences)

Uzza (10 Occurrences)

Uzzah (10 Occurrences)

Journeyings (5 Occurrences)

Luke (4 Occurrences)

Leaveth (25 Occurrences)

Worth (36 Occurrences)

Whensoever (13 Occurrences)

Wayfaring (7 Occurrences)

Forwardness (2 Occurrences)

Flashed (12 Occurrences)

Fare (13 Occurrences)

Forum (1 Occurrence)

Tired (51 Occurrences)

Tour (1 Occurrence)

Travelling (17 Occurrences)

Trogyllium (1 Occurrence)

Tunic (24 Occurrences)

Three-day (2 Occurrences)

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To the Mountains of Abarim: Og Conquered
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