Deuteronomy 3NASB
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Deuteronomy3

New American Standard

1“Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og, king of Bashan, came out with all his people to meet us in battle at Edrei.

2But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have handed him and all his people and his land over to you; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.’

3So the Lord our God also handed over to us Og, king of Bashan, with all his people, and we struck them until no survivor was left.

4We captured all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

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

6We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city.

7But all the animals and the spoils of the cities we took as our plunder.

8“So at that time we took the land from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of Arnon to Mount Hermon

9(Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir):

10all the cities of the plateau, all Gilead, and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

11(For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by the usual cubit.)

12“So we took possession of this land at that time. From Aroer, which is by the Valley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead and its cities I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

13The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob. (As to all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim.

14Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, that is, Bashan, and named it after his own name: Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)

15To Machir I gave Gilead.

16To the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead even as far as the Valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley as a border, and as far as the river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;

17the Arabah also, with the Jordan as a border, from Chinnereth even as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

18“Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it; all you valiant men shall cross over armed ahead of your brothers, the sons of Israel.

19However, your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you,

20until the Lord gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return, each man to his possession which I have given you.’

21And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; the Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.

22Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the One fighting for you.’

23“I also pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying,

24‘Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?

25Please let me cross over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country, and Lebanon.’

26But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; instead, the Lord said to me, ‘Enough! Do not speak to Me any more about this matter.

27Go up to the top of Pisgah and raise your eyes to the west, the north, the south, and the east, and see it with your eyes; for you shall not cross over this Jordan.

28But commission Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across leading this people, and he will give to them, as an inheritance, the land which you will see.’

29So we remained in the valley opposite 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