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Numbers 21:21-35
Good News Translation
Numbers 21:21-35
Good News Translation
Victory over King Sihon and King Og(A)
21 Then the people of Israel sent messengers to the Amorite king Sihon to say: 22 “Let us pass through your land. We and our cattle will not leave the road and go into your fields or vineyards, and we will not drink water from your wells; we will stay on the main road[a] until we are out of your territory.” 23 But Sihon would not permit the people of Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered his army and went out to Jahaz in the wilderness and attacked the Israelites. 24 But the Israelites killed many of the enemy in battle and occupied their land from the Arnon River north to the Jabbok, that is, to the Ammonites, because the Ammonite border was strongly defended.[b] 25 So the people of Israel captured all the Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all the surrounding towns, and settled in them. 26 Heshbon was the capital city of the Amorite king Sihon, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had captured all his land as far as the Arnon River. 27 That is why the poets sing,
“Come to Heshbon, to King Sihon's city!
We want to see it rebuilt and restored.
28 (B)Once from this city of Heshbon
Sihon's army went forth like a fire;
It destroyed the city of Ar in Moab
And devoured[c] the hills of the upper Arnon.
29 How terrible for you, people of Moab!
You worshipers of Chemosh are brought to ruin!
Your god let the men become refugees,
And the women became captives of the Amorite king.
30 But now their descendants are destroyed,
All the way from Heshbon to Dibon,
From Nashim to Nophah, near Medeba.”[d]
31 So the people of Israel settled in the territory of the Amorites, 32 and Moses sent men to find the best way to attack the city of Jazer. The Israelites captured it and its surrounding towns and drove out the Amorites living there.
33 Then the Israelites turned and took the road to Bashan, and King Og of Bashan marched out with his army to attack them at Edrei. 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him. I will give you victory over him, all his people, and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled at Heshbon.” 35 So the Israelites killed Og, his sons, and all his people, leaving no survivors, and then they occupied his land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 21:22 main road; or King's Highway.
- Numbers 21:24 because … strongly defended; some ancient translations as far as Jazer on the Ammonite border.
- Numbers 21:28 One ancient translation devoured; Hebrew the lords of.
- Numbers 21:30 Verse 30 in Hebrew is unclear.
Numbers 21:21-35
New International Version
Numbers 21:21-35
New International Version
Defeat of Sihon and Og
21 Israel sent messengers(A) to say to Sihon(B) king of the Amorites:(C)
22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.(D)”
23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.(E) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,(F) he fought with Israel.(G) 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword(H) and took over his land(I) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,(J) but only as far as the Ammonites,(K) because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites(L) and occupied them,(M) including Heshbon(N) and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon(O) king of the Amorites,(P) who had fought against the former king of Moab(Q) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.(R)
27 That is why the poets say:
“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
let Sihon’s city be restored.
28 “Fire went out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the city of Sihon.(S)
It consumed(T) Ar(U) of Moab,
the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(V)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(W)
You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(X)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(Y)
and his daughters as captives(Z)
to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 “But we have overthrown them;
Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.(AA)
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which extends to Medeba.(AB)”
31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.(AC)
32 After Moses had sent spies(AD) to Jazer,(AE) the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan(AF),(AG) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.(AH)
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.(AI)”
35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.(AJ) And they took possession of his land.(AK)
Good News Translation (GNT) 
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