Scripture: Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. Therefore the ballad singers say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built; let the city of Sihon be established. For fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed the heights of the Arnon. Woe to you, O Moab! You are undone, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives, to an Amorite king, Sihon. So we overthrew them; Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished; and we laid waste as far as Nophah; fire spread as far as Medeba.”
Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.
Numbers 21:21-35 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Moses leads Israel to Arnon. Moses then inserts a song that lists the foreign territories (with the locales) that Israel crossed over. Moses next chronicles Israel’s encampment near the Jordan at Beer, which means “well’ in Hebrew. Here, for the first time in Israel’s forty-year journey, Yahweh initiates the provision of water unprovoked by Israel’s grumbling. And Israel does their part in digging for this water source. Lastly, Moses chronicles the next leg of the journey, where they arrive at the valley of Moab by the top of Pisgah.
Today’s reading records Israel triumphing over the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og (kings of Heshbon and Bashan, respectively). While the king of Arad provoked Israel, his outnumbered army posed no real threat (see Friday’s Daily Focus). However, Sihon presented a formidable opponent. Gathering all his people, Sihon drew a battleline at Jahaz, but Israel gained the upper hand, taking possession of all of Sihon’s cities and villages. As for Og, with the Lord promising victory to the extent of what he granted over Sihon, Israel confidently pursued and annihilated all of Og’s family and people at Edrei—further solidifying control of this region east of the Jordan. As for the ballad (vv.27-30), see the below comments.
Geographic note: Sihon’s kingdom extended from the Arnon River at the midpoint of the Dead Sea (north border of Edom) to the Jabok River (which flows west into the Jordan River twenty-four miles north of the Dead Sea). Og’s kingdom extended from Mount Hermon and Salecah to the borders of the Geshurites, Maacathites, and Sihon’s kingdom.
Takeaway: Given Sihon had previously defeated the Moabites and taken possession of their land, Israel’s victory proved monumental in securing the Promised Land’s Transjordan territory. Indeed, Sihon’s land, plus the territory of Og to his north, comprised the future region of the Promised Land east of the Jordan occupied by Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. So, this victory stood in Jewish history as monumental and worthy of celebratory songs. The first three stanzas of the song (vv.27-29) are a taunt from a well-traveled chorale of the Amorites that had become familiar to Israel. The last stanza (v.30) is Israel’s addition, intended to instill fear in Balak by reminding him that they had triumphed over the king who defeated Balak, king of Moab. (More on Balak in subsequent Daily Focus devotions.)
That Israel settled in the territory of the Amorites marked a dramatic mark of accomplishment after sojourning forty years in the desert of Sinai. Still, even though this region is part of Israel’s future Promised Land, it provided only a foretaste of the land flowing with milk and honey. Many more battles were yet to be fought and won, and now was not the time to deepen roots. Finding its stride, Israel needed to keep marching under Moses’ and, eventually, Joshua’s leadership by the strength of their God, for the battles would never cease until all their enemies were devoted to destruction.
Our takeaway and part? There are two “don’t’s” and one “do.” First, don’t gloat over victories that the Lord grants us. Any advantage we gain serves to grow his kingdom and glorify his name—not ours. Sihon’s arrogance is our cautionary story. Likely, his overconfidence stemmed from a previous victory over Balak (taking possession of all his land as far as Arnon). Second, when the Lord grants us victory and expands our territory, don’t deepen our roots and build walls of protection, for the Lord is our strong tower (Proverbs 18:10-11). Moreover, there will always be new spiritual battles to win to our last breath. Meanwhile, we would do well to sing songs of victory about our mighty King Jesus, who has overcome the world and defeated our accuser and sin’s curse.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who reigns victorious over our adversary and sin’s death sentence and has prepared a place for us in your eternal Promised Land. So, please help us resist the temptation to fortify boundaries for self-preservation here on earth and instead follow your Holy Spirit’s lead to enter the fray of spiritual conflicts in this life, singing songs of victory along the way. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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