Deuteronomy 3ASV
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Deuteronomy3

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1Then 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.

2And 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.

3So 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.

4And 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.

5All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many.

6And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.

7But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves.

8And 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);

10all 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 Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.)

12And 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:

13and 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.

14Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day.)

15And I gave Gilead unto Machir.

16And 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;

17the 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.

18And 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.

19But 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,

20until 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.

21And 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.

22Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you.

23And I besought Jehovah at that time, saying,

24O 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?

25Let me go over, I pray thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.

26But 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.

27Get 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.

28But 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.

29So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 3.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The conquest of Og king of Bashan. (1–11). The land of Gilead and Bashan. (12–20). Moses encourages Joshua. (21–29).

vv1-11

Og was very powerful, but he did not take warning by the ruin of Sihon, and desire conditions of peace. He trusted his own strength, and so was hardened to his destruction. Those not awakened by the judgments of God on others, ripen for the like judgments on themselves.

vv12-20

This country was settled on the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: see Nu 32. Moses repeats the condition of the grant to which they agreed. When at rest, we should desire to see our brethren at rest too, and should be ready to do what we can towards it; for we are not born for ourselves, but are members one of another.

vv21-29

Moses encouraged Joshua, who was to succeed him. Thus the aged and experienced in the service of God, should do all they can to strengthen the hands of those who are young, and setting out in religion. Consider what God has done, what God has promised. If God be for us, who can be against us, so as to prevail? We reproach our Leader if we follow him trembling. Moses prayed, that, if it were God's will, he might go before Israel, over Jordan into Canaan. We should never allow any desires in our hearts, which we cannot in faith offer up to God by prayer. God's answer to this prayer had a mixture of mercy and judgment. God sees it good to deny many things we desire. He may accept our prayers, yet not grant us the very things we pray for. It God does not by his providence give us what we desire, yet if by his grace he makes us content without, it comes to much the same. Let it suffice thee to have God for thy Father, and heaven for thy portion, though thou hast not every thing thou wouldst have in the world. God promised Moses a sight of Canaan from the top of Pisgah. Though he should not have the possession of it, he should have the prospect of it. Even great believers, in this present state, see heaven but at a distance. God provided him a successor. It is a comfort to the friends of the church of Christ, to see God's work likely to be carried on by others, when they are silent in the dust. And if we have the earnest and prospect of heaven, let these suffice us; let us submit to the Lord's will, and speak no more to Him of matters which he sees good to refuse us.

Cross References

Deuteronomy 3

The original historical account of Israel's conquest of Og, king of Bashan, summarized here.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v26Numbers 27:12-14thematic

God's command to Moses to view the land from the mountain and die due to rebellion.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

The fulfillment of God's promise to let Moses see the land of promise from Pisgah.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v13Numbers 32:39-42thematic

The specific accounts of Jair and Machir taking possession of Gilead and Bashan.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v18Numbers 32:20-24thematic

The original pledge of the Transjordan tribes to cross Jordan armed before their brethren.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v26Deuteronomy 1:37thematic

Moses repeats that the Lord was angry with him "for your sakes."

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v28Numbers 27:18-23thematic

The formal commissioning and charge given to Joshua to succeed Moses.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

Celebrates God's great deliverance in smiting great nations, specifically Sihon and Og.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v11Amos 2:9thematic

Describes the immense height of the Amorites, illuminating Og's giant stature.

Supported by John Calvin

v14Joshua 13:13thematic

Notes that Israel failed to expel the Geshurites and Maachathites from Jair's borders.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Joshua 12:5thematic

Defines the exact borders of Og's kingdom, including Hermon, Salcah, and Bashan.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v112 Samuel 12:26thematic

Mention of Rabbah of the Ammonites, where Og's giant bedstead was kept.

Supported by JFB

v26Numbers 20:7-12thematic

The historical sin of Moses at Meribah which provoked God's wrath.

Supported by JFB

The previous victory over Sihon, referenced by God to encourage Moses.

Supported by Matthew Poole