Deuteronomy 2 24

Deuteronomy 2:24 kjv

Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

Deuteronomy 2:24 nkjv

" 'Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle.

Deuteronomy 2:24 niv

"Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.

Deuteronomy 2:24 esv

'Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle.

Deuteronomy 2:24 nlt

Moses continued, "Then the LORD said, 'Now get moving! Cross the Arnon Gorge. Look, I will hand over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and I will give you his land. Attack him and begin to occupy the land.

Deuteronomy 2 verses

Deuteronomy 2 24 Meaning

Deuteronomy 2:24 is a pivotal divine command to the Israelites, marking a shift from their years of wilderness wandering to the commencement of active conquest of the Promised Land. God instructs them to immediately prepare, move forward, and cross the strategic Valley of the Arnon. He assures them that He has already, by His divine decree, given Sihon, the powerful Amorite king of Heshbon, and his entire territory into their complete control. The command then directs Israel to initiate the process of taking possession of this land by engaging Sihon in battle, signifying that while victory is divinely guaranteed, human obedience and participation are required.

Deuteronomy 2 24 Context

Deuteronomy 2 is part of Moses' retrospective address to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they are to enter the Promised Land. This chapter recounts Israel's forty years of wandering and the divine instructions they received concerning nations they were not to provoke: Edom (Esau's descendants), Moab, and Ammon (descendants of Lot), as God had given those lands to them. This context highlights God's sovereignty over all nations and His specific instructions for Israel's conduct.

Verse 24 marks a crucial transition. After peaceful passage around kindred nations, God now explicitly commands military engagement against Sihon, king of the Amorites, a non-kindred, formidable enemy occupying strategic territory east of the Jordan. This is the first offensive conquest the new generation is commanded to undertake, signifying the commencement of dispossessing the inhabitants of Canaan, as foretold to Abraham and justified by the wickedness of the Amorites. The narrative then immediately (in Deut 2:26-37) details the defeat of Sihon, emphasizing that the battle and victory were of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 2 24 Word analysis

• ‘Arise (קוּם - qum):

  • Meaning: To stand up, get up, arise, establish. It denotes immediate readiness and a call to action.
  • Significance: Not a passive waiting, but an active, decisive movement initiated by God's command. It implies ending stagnation and preparing for the next step.

• Set out (נְסַע - _nasa‘):

  • Meaning: To pull up, depart, journey, break camp.
  • Significance: Complements "arise" by indicating physical movement forward, a departure from their current position. It is the practical execution of the readiness to act.

• Pass through (עֲבֹר - ‘abor):

  • Meaning: To cross over, go over or through, traverse.
  • Significance: Refers to crossing the geographical boundary of the Arnon Valley. This crossing signifies stepping from a period of restricted movement into one of aggressive territorial gain. It represents a point of no return for the upcoming conflict.

• the Valley of the Arnon:

  • Significance: A significant geographical feature. The Arnon River forms the natural northern boundary of Moab and historically was a demarcation point. Crossing it represents entering territory designated for conquest, symbolizing transition and imminent conflict.

• Behold (רְאֵה - re'eh):

  • Meaning: Look, see, indeed. An imperative to pay close attention to what follows.
  • Significance: Introduces a divine declaration of utmost importance, highlighting the certainty and gravity of God's pronouncement. It commands Israel's faith and attention.

• I have given (נָתַתִּי - natati):

  • Meaning: A perfect tense verb, "I have given."
  • Significance: Crucial for understanding divine sovereignty. The act of "giving" is already completed in God's divine counsel and will. It is a foregone conclusion. This pre-assures victory before the battle even begins, laying a foundation for Israel's faith and obedience. The victory is not earned by Israel's might but granted by God's power.

• into your hand (בְּיָדְךָ - b’yad'kha):

  • Meaning: An idiom meaning "into your power," "under your control," or "for you to defeat."
  • Significance: This phrase is a common biblical expression indicating full and complete victory or possession. God grants full dominion and control over the enemy and their land.

• Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land:

  • Significance: Specifies the first major military target. Sihon was a powerful and formidable king who controlled a key region east of the Jordan, posing a significant challenge. Naming him and his territory adds concreteness to God's command and promise. The Amorites were one of the major peoples inhabiting Canaan whose wickedness justified their displacement (Gen 15:16).

• Begin to take possession (הָחֵל רָשׁ - hachel rash):

  • Meaning: "Begin to possess," "commence dispossessing."
  • Significance: The first word ("begin") signifies initiating the process, transitioning from passive belief to active participation. The second word ("take possession") emphasizes the objective: to displace the current inhabitants and occupy the land as rightful heirs. It highlights that Israel has a role in actualizing God's declared will.

• contend with him in battle (הִתְגָּרֵה־בוֹ מִלְחָמָה - hitgareh-vo milhamah):

  • Meaning: "Engage him in war," "provoke him to battle."
  • Significance: The command for direct military engagement. While the victory is guaranteed by God ("I have given"), Israel must actively "contend" or fight. This underscores the co-existence of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in fulfilling God's purposes. It is a literal call to warfare.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • “Arise, set out, and pass through the Valley of the Arnon.”: This is a direct, imperative call to action. It conveys urgency, movement, and a specific geographical target, marking the end of wandering and the beginning of directed conquest. It emphasizes Israel's immediate role in fulfilling the divine plan.
  • “Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land.”: This is the divine declaration, the theological bedrock of the command. It assures victory before the battle begins. The emphasis is on God's prior act of sovereign determination and provision. This eliminates fear and doubt, fostering faith and confidence for the coming engagement.
  • “Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle.”: This phrase connects God's sovereign act to human responsibility. Israel is to "begin" the process of conquest (take possession) through direct engagement (contend in battle). It demonstrates that divine promise does not negate the need for human effort and obedience in executing God's will. The promise fuels the action.

Deuteronomy 2 24 Bonus section

• The defeat of Sihon and later Og (Deut 3:1-7) was strategically crucial. Their territories east of the Jordan provided a strong base for Israel before crossing the Jordan into the heart of Canaan. These initial victories also served as a profound spiritual confidence-builder for the generation poised to conquer the rest of the Promised Land.
• The memory of God giving Sihon into Israel's hand is repeatedly recalled in subsequent biblical literature, from Joshua to the Psalms and Nehemiah, serving as a foundational example of God's faithfulness, power, and Israel's obedience (or lack thereof).
• The Arnon Valley (Wadi Mujib) is a deep and imposing gorge, forming a significant natural barrier. Crossing it would have required effort and faith, symbolizing overcoming natural obstacles through divine command.

Deuteronomy 2 24 Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:24 encapsulates a profound theological truth: God’s sovereignty works in tandem with human responsibility. The verse marks a pivotal shift for Israel from peaceful co-existence with Edom, Moab, and Ammon to divinely mandated conquest of Sihon's territory. "Arise, set out, and pass through" commands immediate and resolute action, indicating the end of their previous wandering. Crucially, God declares, "Behold, I have given," signifying that the victory is already a settled fact in His eternal purpose. This assurance serves as the ultimate motivation and guarantee for Israel. However, this divine fiat does not eliminate the need for Israel's active participation; they must "begin to take possession and contend with him in battle."

This verse highlights that divine promise and human effort are not mutually exclusive but complementary. God guarantees the outcome, but Israel must engage in the process. The victory is not earned by their strength but received through faith and obedience, demanding active warfare to claim what has already been promised. This principle has profound resonance for believers: God promises victory over sin, provides spiritual weapons, and secures our inheritance, yet we are called to actively put on the armor of God, resist evil, and walk in faith to realize His promises in our lives.