Deuteronomy 1 4

Deuteronomy 1:4 kjv

After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

Deuteronomy 1:4 nkjv

after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.

Deuteronomy 1:4 niv

This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

Deuteronomy 1:4 esv

after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and in Edrei.

Deuteronomy 1:4 nlt

This took place after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated King Og of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth.

Deuteronomy 1 verses

Deuteronomy 1 4 Meaning

Deuteronomy 1:4 highlights a pivotal moment in Israel's history just prior to entering the Promised Land: God's decisive victory over two formidable Amorite kings, Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. This verse serves as a crucial reminder to the Israelites, and to Moses who recounts it, of God's power, faithfulness, and His ability to defeat mighty enemies. It validates their potential success in the upcoming conquest, demonstrating that the land can be subdued through divine intervention, despite the apparent strength of the indigenous peoples.

Deuteronomy 1 4 Context

Deuteronomy 1:4 occurs in Moses' initial speech to the Israelites in the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the Promised Land. This address, recorded over several chapters, serves as a recap of their forty years of wilderness wandering and a renewed covenant instruction. Specifically, Dt 1:4 immediately follows the statement that Moses spoke these words in the fortieth year, after a long journey (vv. 1-3). Moses' historical prologue reminds the people of their journey from Horeb (Mt. Sinai) to Kadesh-Barnea, their refusal to enter the land (v. 26ff), and the subsequent divine judgment leading to forty years of wandering. However, to counterbalance the grim reality of the past judgment, Moses promptly brings to mind recent, undeniable victories—the defeat of Sihon and Og—which took place towards the end of their wilderness journey. This serves to instill confidence and faith in God for the final conquest of Canaan, emphasizing that the obstacles before them, though formidable, are conquerable with God's help. It also implicitly highlights the difference between the fear and unbelief of the previous generation and the opportunity for faith and obedience for the current generation.

Deuteronomy 1 4 Word analysis

• after he had struck down (בְּהַכֹּתֹו֙ - bə·hak·kō·ṯōw): This phrase, from the Hebrew verb nakah (נָכָה), "to strike, smite, kill," in its Hiphil infinitive construct form, signifies a decisive and complete defeat, not merely a skirmish. The "he" refers to the LORD, acting through Israel. This immediate attribution to God underscores divine initiative and power behind the military victory, setting the theological stage for understanding subsequent conquests. It suggests God Himself engaged the enemies of His people.
• Sihon king of the Amorites (סִיחֹ֣ן מֶֽלֶךְ־הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י - Sî·ḥōn me·leḵ hā·’ĕ·mō·rî):
  • Sihon: A powerful historical king whose domain was east of the Jordan, a significant impediment to Israel's advance. His refusal to grant passage was a direct challenge to Israel's divinely ordained journey.
  • Amorites (’ĕ·mō·rî): One of the pre-Israelite peoples of Canaan, frequently depicted as formidable and pagan. Their defeat signifies the initial fulfillment of God's promise to dispossess the wicked inhabitants of the land (Gen 15:16). Their perceived strength makes the victory even more impressive as a testament to God's power.
• who lived in Heshbon (הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ - hay·yō·šêḇ bə·Ḥeš·bō·wn): Heshbon was a key strategic and well-fortified city, functioning as Sihon's capital. Its capture represented a significant military feat, indicating Israel's ability, with God's help, to overcome strongholds and gain territorial control. The location highlights the concrete, geographical nature of God's fulfillment of His promises.
• and Og king of Bashan (וְעוֹג֙ מֶֽלֶךְ־הַבָּשָׁ֔ן - wə·‘Ōḡ me·leḵ hab·Bā·šān):
  • Og: Another king of immense stature, one of the last of the Rephaim (Dt 3:11), signifying his legendary strength and military prowess. His defeat, even more so than Sihon's, was proof of God's ability to conquer even the mightiest human foes.
  • Bashan (Bā·šān): A fertile, militarily significant region known for its strongholds. Its conquest secured vital resources and provided strategic depth, serving as a foretaste of the rich land Israel was about to inherit.
• who lived in Edrei (הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב בְּאֶדְרֶֽעִי׃ - hay·yō·šêḇ bə·’Ed·rə·‘î): Edrei was a fortified city and Og's capital. Like Heshbon, its fall underscored the effectiveness of divine intervention in dismantling enemy strongholds. This geographical detail specifies the precise extent of God's triumphant provision for Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "after he had struck down Sihon... and Og...": This phrase serves as a powerful verbal noun, emphasizing the completed action and its direct divine agency. It frames the entire proceeding as God's deed, setting a precedent that the remaining conquests will likewise be empowered by Him. It reminds the audience that God has already prepared the way by dealing with the first major obstacles.
• "Sihon king of the Amorites... and Og king of Bashan": The dual mention of these kings underlines the scale and scope of God's initial victories east of the Jordan. They represent the two most formidable adversaries Israel faced before crossing into Canaan, whose defeats dispelled any notion that the land's inhabitants were unconquerable.
• "who lived in Heshbon... who lived in Edrei": These phrases specify the capitals and by extension the entire domains of these kings. This indicates a full and territorial conquest, not just isolated battles. It gives concrete proof of Israel's divinely enabled success in dispossessing the Amorites, directly fulfilling part of the covenant promise.

Deuteronomy 1 4 Bonus section

The explicit naming of "Sihon" and "Og" along with their strongholds ("Heshbon" and "Edrei") provides undeniable historical and geographical anchor points, underscoring the tangibility of God's mighty acts for Israel. These were not mythical foes but known regional powers whose downfall sent ripples of fear and respect throughout the broader land of Canaan, as evidenced by Rahab's confession in Joshua 2. Moses' re-narration of these events in Deuteronomy is also performative, intended not just as a historical record but as an act of prophetic teaching and exhortation. By reminding the new generation of these triumphs, he seeks to implant within them the courage and faith that their parents lacked. The Amorites, as a significant Canaanite group, were a common point of contention and resistance against Yahweh's claim over the land; their initial, devastating defeat east of the Jordan was a polemic against their idolatrous worship and a direct display of Yahweh's supreme authority over the region and its rulers.

Deuteronomy 1 4 Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:4 functions as Moses' potent opening argument, demonstrating God's consistent faithfulness and power, even amidst Israel's past failures. By recalling the recent, comprehensive defeat of Sihon and Og, Moses reassures the new generation that the God who enabled them to conquer mighty kings and fortified cities east of the Jordan is the same God who will lead them to victory in Canaan proper. This verse establishes a critical theological precedent: the battle for the land is fundamentally God's battle, fought on Israel's behalf. It contrasts sharply with the earlier generation's failure due to unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea, highlighting that the true challenge is not the strength of the enemy but Israel's trust and obedience. The victory over Sihon and Og served as an object lesson that no foe is too strong for the Lord. Practically, this verse teaches that past victories, though granted by God, are meant to build faith for future challenges. Just as God brought down physical strongholds for Israel, He equips believers today to overcome spiritual strongholds, reminding us that with Him, seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome.