Numbers 21:26 - 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, even to the Arnon.
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What does "Numbers 21:26" mean?
This verse from Numbers 21:26 provides historical context and justification for Israel's upcoming conquest of the Amorite kingdom. Let's break it down:
"For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites...": This identifies Heshbon as the capital city of Sihon, who ruled over the Amorites. This is important because the Israelites are about to defeat Sihon and take possession of his land.
"...who had fought against the former king of Moab...": This tells us that Sihon wasn't the original inhabitant of this land. He had previously waged war against the Moabites.
"...and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.": This explains that Sihon had conquered a significant portion of Moabite territory, extending as far south as the Arnon River. The Arnon River formed a natural border.
In essence, the verse is saying:
"The land the Israelites are about to take from Sihon wasn't rightfully his to begin with. He himself had conquered it from the Moabites."
Significance:
Justification for Conquest: By highlighting that Sihon had himself taken the land by force, the verse subtly justifies the Israelites taking it from him. It implies a sense of cosmic justice – Sihon took land, and now it's being taken from him.
Historical Background: It provides a brief historical overview of the region, explaining the complex relationships between the Amorites, Moabites, and Israelites.
Geographical Marker: It uses the Arnon River as a geographical marker to define the extent of the land Sihon had seized.
The verse serves to strengthen the Israelites' claim to the land they are about to conquer by showing the historical context of previous conflicts between different groups in the region. It also sets the stage for the narrative that God is acting on their behalf.
Numbers 21:26 - 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, even to the Arnon.
What does "Numbers 21:26" mean?
This verse from Numbers 21:26 provides historical context and justification for Israel's upcoming conquest of the Amorite kingdom. Let's break it down:
"For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites...": This identifies Heshbon as the capital city of Sihon, who ruled over the Amorites. This is important because the Israelites are about to defeat Sihon and take possession of his land.
"...who had fought against the former king of Moab...": This tells us that Sihon wasn't the original inhabitant of this land. He had previously waged war against the Moabites.
"...and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.": This explains that Sihon had conquered a significant portion of Moabite territory, extending as far south as the Arnon River. The Arnon River formed a natural border.
In essence, the verse is saying:
"The land the Israelites are about to take from Sihon wasn't rightfully his to begin with. He himself had conquered it from the Moabites."
Significance:
Justification for Conquest: By highlighting that Sihon had himself taken the land by force, the verse subtly justifies the Israelites taking it from him. It implies a sense of cosmic justice – Sihon took land, and now it's being taken from him.
Historical Background: It provides a brief historical overview of the region, explaining the complex relationships between the Amorites, Moabites, and Israelites.
Geographical Marker: It uses the Arnon River as a geographical marker to define the extent of the land Sihon had seized.
The verse serves to strengthen the Israelites' claim to the land they are about to conquer by showing the historical context of previous conflicts between different groups in the region. It also sets the stage for the narrative that God is acting on their behalf.