Deuteronomy 3

1 "Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

2 And the LORD said unto me, `Fear him not; for I will deliver 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.'

3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

4 And 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.

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

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

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

8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side of the Jordan, from the River of Arnon unto Mount Hermon

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

10 all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. (Is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon?) Nine cubits was the length thereof and four cubits the breadth of it, according to the cubit of a man.

12 "And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, and half Mount Gilead and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the halftribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.

14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the borders of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.

15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir.

16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the River Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the River Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

17 the plain also, and the Jordan and the border thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the Salt Sea, under Pisgah eastward.

18 "And I commanded you at that time, saying, `The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it. Ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all who are meet for the war.

19 But your wives and your little ones and your cattle (for I know that ye have much cattle) shall abide in your cities which I have given you,

20 until the LORD shall have given rest unto your brethren as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond the Jordan; and then shall ye return every man unto his possession which I have given you.'

21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, `Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings; so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest.

22 Ye shall not fear them, for the LORD your God He shall fight for you.'

23 "And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,

24 `O Lord GOD, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness and Thy mighty hand; for what God is there in heaven or in earth who can do according to Thy works and according to Thy might?

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

26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me. And the LORD said unto me: `Let it suffice thee: speak no more unto Me of this matter.

27 Get thee up onto the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes; for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

28 But 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.'

29 So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.

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Deuteronomy 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The conquest of Og king of Bashan. (1-11) The land of Gilead and Bashan. (12-20) Moses encourages Joshua. (21-29)

Verse 1 1-11 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.

Verses 12-20 This country was settled on the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: see ( Numbers 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.

Verses 21-29 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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 3

In this chapter the account is carried on of the conquest of the Amorites by Israel, of Og king of Bashan, and his kingdom, De 3:1-11, and of the distribution of their country to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, De 1:12-17 and then the command to the said tribes is observed, to go out armed before their brethren, and assist them in the conquest of the land of Canaan, and then return to their possessions, De 3:18-20 and also that to Joshua not to fear, but to do to the Canaanitish kings and kingdoms what he had seen done to the two kings of the Amorites, De 3:21,22. After which Moses relates the request he made, to go over Jordan and see the good land, which was denied him, only he is bidden to look from the top of an hill to see it, De 3:23-27. And the chapter is closed with the charge he was to give Joshua, De 3:28 which was received in the valley where they abode, De 3:29.