Moses, typically portrayed as lawgiver and mediator, here emerges as military commander receiving direct divine battle instructions, showcasing his rare role as warrior-leader alongside his more familiar prophetic identity.
Deuteronomy 3
Defeat of Og King of Bashan
1Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan. Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
2The LORD said to me, “Don’t fear him; for I have delivered him, with all his people and his land, into your hand. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
3So the LORD our God also delivered into our hand Og, the king of Bashan, and all his people. We struck him until no one was left to him remaining.
4We took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we didn’t take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
5All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls.
6We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.
7But all the livestock, and the plunder of the cities, we took for plunder for ourselves.
8We took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon.
9(The Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir.)
10We took all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
11(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.)
Division of the Transjordan Territory
12This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites;
13and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh—all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. (The same is called the land of Rephaim.
14Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth Jair, to this day.)
15I gave Gilead to Machir.
16To the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and its border, even to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
17the Arabah also, and the Jordan and its border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward.
18I commanded you at that time, saying, “The LORD your God has given you this land to possess it. All of you men of valor shall pass over armed before your brothers, the children of Israel.
19But your wives, and your little ones, and your livestock, (I know that you have much livestock), shall live in your cities which I have given you,
20until the LORD gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then you shall each return to his own possession, which I have given you.”
21I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, “Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So shall the LORD do to all the kingdoms where you go over.
22You shall not fear them; for the LORD your God himself fights for you.”
Moses' Prayer and God's Refusal
23I begged GOD at that time, saying,
24“Lord GOD, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours?
25Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.”
26But the LORD was angry with me because of you, and didn’t listen to me. The LORD said to me, “That is enough! Speak no more to me of this matter.
27Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you shall not go over this Jordan.
28But commission 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 you shall see.”
29So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.
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Theme
Moses recounts Israel's decisive victory over Og, king of Bashan, completing their conquest of the Transjordan region. He then describes the distribution of this conquered territory among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, establishing their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The chapter concludes with Moses' personal plea to enter the Promised Land, which God denies due to his previous disobedience, though he is permitted to see it from Mount Pisgah.
Context
This chapter continues the historical review begun in chapter 1, completing the account of Transjordan conquests before Moses transitions to legal instruction in chapter 4.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-11 Defeat of Og King of Bashan Israel conquers the giant king Og and his sixty fortified cities with God's assurance of victory.
- 12-17 Distribution of Transjordan Territory Moses allocates the conquered lands to Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh with detailed boundary descriptions.
- 18-20 Military Obligations of Eastern Tribes The settled tribes must still send warriors to help conquer the land west of Jordan.
- 21-22 Encouragement to Joshua Moses reassures Joshua of God's continued presence and power for future battles.
- 23-29 Moses' Denied Request God refuses Moses' plea to enter the Promised Land but allows him to view it from Pisgah.
Defeat of Og King of Bashan
3:1–3:11 narrative narration triumphant
Moses describes the defeat of Og, the giant king of Bashan, and the conquest of his sixty fortified cities. This victory demonstrated God's power over seemingly impossible enemies and secured more territory for Israel east of the Jordan.
person_contrast
Moses, typically portrayed as lawgiver and mediator, here emerges as military commander receiving direct divine battle instructions, showcasing his rare role as warrior-leader alongside his more familiar prophetic identity.
Division of the Transjordan Territory
3:12–3:22 narrative narration hopeful
Moses allocates the conquered Transjordan territory to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, with the condition that their warriors help conquer the land west of the Jordan. He encourages Joshua not to fear, promising that God will fight for Israel.
person_contrast
Moses uniquely shifts from lawgiver to land-distributor here, using the possessive "I gave" six times while emphasizing tribal unity through conditional inheritance.
Moses' Prayer and God's Refusal
3:23–3:29 law narration mournful
Moses pleads with God to enter the Promised Land but is refused due to Israel's disobedience, and is commanded to prepare Joshua as his successor. This passage highlights the consequences of collective sin and the transition of leadership.
person_contrast
Moses, typically portrayed as the obedient lawgiver, here becomes a desperate petitioner whose personal longing to enter Canaan is denied despite his acknowledgment of God's unmatched power.
Insights
Moses uniquely shifts from lawgiver to land-distributor here, using the possessive "I gave" six times while emphasizing tribal unity through conditional inheritance.
Moses, typically portrayed as the obedient lawgiver, here becomes a desperate petitioner whose personal longing to enter Canaan is denied despite his acknowledgment of God's unmatched power.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Deuteronomy 3:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 21:33 Lexical
They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to bat…
Joshua 12:4 Lexical
and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Joshua 13:12 Lexical
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for…
Joshua 13:31 Lexical
Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of…
Deuteronomy 1:4 Lexical
after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Deuteronomy 3:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 21:34 Lexical
The LORD said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You…
Numbers 21:26 Lexical
For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken al…
Joshua 12:2 Lexical
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 2:24 Lexical
“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorit…
Deuteronomy 1:4 Lexical
after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Deuteronomy 3:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 13:12 Lexical
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for…
2 Kings 10:11 Lexical
So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his pries…
Joshua 11:8 Lexical
The LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth…
Joshua 10:33 Lexical
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him no one rem…
Joshua 8:22 Lexical
The others came out of the city against them, so they were in the middle of Israel, some on this side, and some on that…
Deuteronomy 3:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 4:13 Lexical
Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region…
Joshua 13:30 Lexical
Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which ar…
Nehemiah 9:22 Lexical
Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land…
Psalms 135:11 Lexical
Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
Numbers 32:33 Lexical
Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Deuteronomy 3:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Isaiah 2:15 Lexical
for every lofty tower, for every fortified wall,
Deuteronomy 28:52 Lexical
They will besiege you in all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout al…
2 Chronicles 8:5 Lexical
Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
Nehemiah 3:13 Lexical
Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its ba…
Ezekiel 38:11 Lexical
You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, al…
Deuteronomy 3:6 1 reference
Deuteronomy 3:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 11:14 Lexical
The children of Israel took all the plunder of these cities, with the livestock, as plunder for themselves; but every ma…
Deuteronomy 2:35 Lexical
Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.
Deuteronomy 20:14 Lexical
but the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plu…
Joshua 8:2 Lexical
You shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, except you shall take its goods and its livestock fo…
Joshua 8:27 Lexical
Israel took for themselves only the livestock and the goods of that city, according to the LORD’s word which he commande…
Deuteronomy 3:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 12:1 Lexical
Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan towa…
Deuteronomy 4:48 Lexical
from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Siyon (also called Hermon),
Numbers 21:13 Lexical
From there they traveled, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the…
Deuteronomy 2:24 Lexical
“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorit…
Joshua 12:2 Lexical
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 3:9 2 references
Lexicals 2
Deuteronomy 3:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 13:31 Lexical
Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of…
Deuteronomy 1:4 Lexical
after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtarot…
Numbers 21:33 Lexical
They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to bat…
Joshua 13:12 Lexical
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for…
Joshua 12:4 Lexical
and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Deuteronomy 3:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 13:12 Lexical
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for…
Joshua 12:4 Lexical
and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
1 Kings 7:2 Lexical
For he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 26:8 Lexical
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall…
Exodus 36:9 Lexical
The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one…
Deuteronomy 3:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 10:33 Lexical
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which…
Joshua 12:2 Lexical
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
Deuteronomy 2:36 Lexical
From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there w…
1 Chronicles 26:32 Lexical
His relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom King David made oversee…
Joshua 12:6 Lexical
Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a posses…
Deuteronomy 3:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 32:33 Lexical
Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
1 Kings 4:13 Lexical
Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region…
Joshua 13:31 Lexical
Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of…
Joshua 13:12 Lexical
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (who was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for…
Joshua 12:4 Lexical
and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
Deuteronomy 3:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 4:13 Lexical
Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region…
Joshua 12:5 Lexical
and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and h…
Joshua 13:11 Lexical
and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;
Numbers 32:41 Lexical
Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair.
Joshua 13:30 Lexical
Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which ar…
Deuteronomy 3:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 12:2 Lexical
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon,…
2 Kings 10:33 Lexical
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which…
Numbers 21:24 Lexical
Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children…
Joshua 13:16 Lexical
Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the v…
Judges 11:13 Lexical
The king of the children of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when he came up…
Deuteronomy 3:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 12:3 Lexical
and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to…
Deuteronomy 4:49 Lexical
and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
Joshua 13:27 Lexical
and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the J…
Joshua 18:19 Lexical
The border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at…
Numbers 34:12 Lexical
The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders around…
Deuteronomy 3:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 1:15 Lexical
until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD y…
Joshua 12:7 Lexical
These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad…
Joshua 22:4 Lexical
Now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, t…
Deuteronomy 4:47 Lexical
They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the J…
Joshua 24:8 Lexical
“‘I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into…
Deuteronomy 3:21 1 reference
Deuteronomy 3:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 9:26 Lexical
I prayed to the LORD, and said, “Lord GOD, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance that you have redeemed through…
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Isaiah 10:12 Lexical
Therefore it will happen that when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish t…
Isaiah 30:15 Lexical
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in q…
Psalms 71:16 Lexical
I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
Deuteronomy 3:25 2 references
Deuteronomy 3:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 12:3 Lexical
and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to…
Deuteronomy 4:49 Lexical
and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
1 Kings 7:25 Lexical
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the…
Joshua 16:6 Lexical
The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed…
Joshua 17:10 Lexical
Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the no…
Deuteronomy 3:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 31:7 Lexical
Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with thi…
Joshua 1:6 Lexical
“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give th…
Deuteronomy 31:23 Lexical
He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring the children of Israel i…
Joshua 10:25 Lexical
Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all your…
Deuteronomy 1:38 Lexical
Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Deuteronomy 3:29 2 references
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