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, which 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 fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside 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 Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;
9 (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)
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, after 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 half tribe 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 coasts 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 Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah 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 that 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 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 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, that 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 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 into 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.
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the final book of the Torah. It is believed to have been written by Moses and it contains his final speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. Chapter 3 of Deuteronomy is a continuation of Moses' address to the Israelites, in which he recounts their journey and reminds them of God's promises and laws.
Before delving into the contents of chapter 3, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. The Israelites had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness after being freed from slavery in Egypt. During this time, they had disobeyed God and suffered the consequences. Now, they were on the brink of entering the Promised Land, but Moses would not be joining them. He was 120 years old and God had told him that he would not enter the Promised Land because he had disobeyed God's command at Meribah (Numbers 20:12).
Moses knew that he would not be with the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land, so he used this opportunity to remind them of God's laws and promises. He wanted to ensure that they would remain faithful to God and obey His commands even after he was gone.
The main theme of chapter 3 is the conquest of the two kings, Og and Sihon, and the land that was given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh. Moses begins by recounting how the Israelites had defeated King Sihon and taken possession of his land, including the cities of Heshbon and Bashan. These cities were known for their fortified walls and strong armies, but with God on their side, the Israelites were able to conquer them.
Moses then goes on to describe the battle with King Og, who ruled over the kingdom of Bashan. Like King Sihon, Og and his army were no match for the Israelites and they were defeated. The Israelites took possession of all the land of Bashan and Moses gave it to the half tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance.
This conquest of these two powerful kings and their kingdoms showed the Israelites that with God's help, they could defeat anyone and take possession of the land that God had promised to them. This was a reminder of God's faithfulness and power, and it gave the Israelites confidence as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
After the conquest of King Og, Moses addresses the tribes of Gad and Reuben. These two tribes had requested to stay on the east side of the Jordan River instead of crossing over into the Promised Land with the other tribes. Moses grants their request, but with a condition. The men from these tribes must still join the rest of the Israelites in conquering the land and only after the land was fully conquered could they return to their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan.
Moses also reminds them that they must not forget their brothers who would be entering the Promised Land. They were to help their fellow Israelites in conquering their land and were not to settle in their own inheritance until all the tribes had received their portion. This was a reminder of unity and brotherhood among the Israelites, and that they were all part of God's chosen people.
Throughout chapter 3, Moses emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands. He reminds the Israelites of their past mistakes and how they had suffered because of their disobedience. He also tells them that their success in conquering the land and receiving their inheritance was dependent on their obedience to God.
Moses also warns them against turning away from God and following after false gods. He knows that when the Israelites enter the Promised Land, they will be tempted by the Canaanite gods and he urges them to remain faithful to God and His laws. He reminds them that they are a holy people, set apart by God, and they must not defile themselves by worshipping other gods.
Chapter 3 of Deuteronomy serves as a reminder to the Israelites of God's faithfulness and power. The conquest of the two kings and their kingdoms showed the Israelites that with God's help, they could overcome any obstacle. It also served as a warning against disobedience and a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands.
This chapter also highlights the idea of unity and brotherhood among the Israelites. The tribes of Gad and Reuben were granted their request to stay on the east side of the Jordan, but they were still expected to help their fellow Israelites in conquering the land. This serves as a reminder that as God's chosen people, they were to work together and support one another.
Another important message in this chapter is the concept of inheritance. The land that was conquered and divided among the tribes was their inheritance from God. This was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and serves as a reminder that God is faithful to His promises. It also shows the importance of remaining faithful to God in order to receive the blessings and inheritance He has promised.
In conclusion, Deuteronomy chapter 3 is a continuation of Moses' address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, power, and the importance of obedience to His commands. It also emphasizes the themes of unity, brotherhood, and the fulfillment of God's promises. This chapter holds a significant meaning for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the land that God had promised to their ancestors, and it continues to hold relevance for believers today as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His commands.
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