Deuteronomy 2:30 kjv
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
Deuteronomy 2:30 nkjv
"But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.
Deuteronomy 2:30 niv
But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.
Deuteronomy 2:30 esv
But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.
Deuteronomy 2:30 nlt
"But King Sihon of Heshbon refused to allow us to pass through, because the LORD your God made Sihon stubborn and defiant so he could help you defeat him, as he has now done.
Deuteronomy 2 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 4:21 | And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back...I will harden his heart..." | God hardening Pharaoh's heart |
| Exo 7:3 | But I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply My signs... | God hardening Pharaoh's heart for His glory |
| Exo 9:12 | But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he heeded them not... | Divine hardening directly stated |
| Exo 14:4 | And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart...that I may be honored... | Hardening for God's glorification |
| Josh 11:20 | For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to come against Israel... | God hardening hearts for judgment (Canaanites) |
| Rom 9:17 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up..." | God's sovereign purpose in raising up/hardening |
| Rom 9:18 | So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills. | Divine sovereignty in hardening |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like channels of water... | God's control over rulers' hearts |
| Dan 4:17 | ...that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men | God's dominion over earthly kingdoms |
| Num 21:21 | Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites... | Historical account of request to Sihon |
| Num 21:23 | But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass... | Sihon's refusal reiterated |
| Num 21:24 | And Israel struck him with the edge of the sword and took possession... | Account of Sihon's defeat and land possession |
| Deut 2:24 | "Rise, set out...See, I have delivered Sihon the Amorite...into your hand." | God's pre-declaration of delivering Sihon |
| Deut 3:2 | And the LORD said to me, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him... | Confirmation of God's delivery of Sihon and Og |
| Psa 135:10-12 | He struck many nations...Sihon king of the Amorites...and gave their land... | God striking nations and giving land to Israel |
| Psa 136:19 | And Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever... | Sihon listed among those defeated by God's mercy |
| Gen 15:16 | ...for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. | Pre-existing judgment on Amorites |
| Judg 11:19-21 | ...and when Sihon did not trust Israel to pass...but gathered...and Israel defeated him. | Jephthah's historical reference to Sihon |
| Josh 24:8 | ...I brought you into the land of the Amorites...and I gave them into your hand. | God's explicit action in giving Amorite land |
| Deut 9:4-5 | Do not think in your heart, 'For my righteousness the LORD has brought me in...' | It was not Israel's righteousness, but judgment on nations. |
| Neh 9:22 | And gave them kingdoms and peoples...they took possession of the land of Sihon... | God providing kingdoms to Israel |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land..." | God giving the land as inheritance |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For promotion comes neither from the east...but God is the Judge... | God as ultimate controller of exaltation/abasement |
Deuteronomy 2 verses
Deuteronomy 2 30 Meaning
Deuteronomy 2:30 states that Sihon, king of Heshbon, refused Israel peaceful passage not merely of his own volition, but because the LORD God sovereignly intervened, making Sihon's spirit inflexible and his heart stubborn. This divine hardening was not arbitrary; it was purposeful, ensuring Sihon's subsequent defeat and the delivery of his land into Israel's possession, fulfilling God's pre-ordained plan for their inheritance.
Deuteronomy 2 30 Context
This verse is embedded in Moses' final address to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, recounting their wilderness journey and God's faithfulness. Specifically, Deuteronomy chapter 2 narrates how the Israelites, having journeyed around Edom and Moab without conflict (as commanded by God since those nations were not designated for destruction), faced a crucial juncture. They requested peaceful passage through the land of Sihon, an Amorite king. The broader historical context is God fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham to give the land of Canaan to his descendants. This required clearing the land of certain wicked nations. Sihon's territory east of the Jordan, while not initially targeted, became part of the conquest as a result of his refusal and God's intentional divine hardening, thus making way for Israel to possess vital areas that would connect to their broader inheritance.
Deuteronomy 2 30 Word analysis
But Sihon king of Heshbon: Identifies the specific opposing human agent. Heshbon was the fortified capital of the Amorites, East of the Jordan, highlighting its significance as a regional power.
would not let us pass by him: Describes Sihon's refusal, initiating the conflict. This act appears as human stubbornness but is soon revealed as part of a divine plan.
for the LORD your God: Emphasizes divine authorship of the situation. It highlights Yahweh's direct, active, and personal involvement in Israel's affairs as their covenant God. This is not merely a political dispute but a divinely orchestrated event.
hardened his spirit: Hebrew: qashah ruach (קָשָׁה רוּחַ). Qashah means "to be hard, severe, difficult." Ruach signifies spirit, breath, wind, inner disposition. So, "made his spirit rigid," "made his disposition stiff," or "made him unyielding in resolve." It refers to the hardening of his internal will or temperament, making him unpliant to Moses' request.
and made his heart obstinate: Hebrew: 'immetz levav (אִמֵּץ לְבָבוֹ). 'Immetz means "to strengthen, make firm, confirm." Levav (heart) in Hebrew culture denotes the center of one's being, including intellect, will, and emotions—not just affection. "Made his heart obstinate" means God fortified or emboldened Sihon's resolve to resist, steering his mental faculties and decision-making towards defiance. This indicates a deep-seated influence on Sihon's innermost convictions.
that He might deliver him: Hebrew: nathan (נתן) – to give, place, put. "Deliver him into your hand" indicates conquest, signifying God giving the victory and possession to Israel. This clarifies the ultimate divine purpose behind the hardening: to ensure the pre-ordained victory and the acquisition of Sihon's land as part of Israel's inheritance. God’s act was not arbitrary, but teleological.
into your hand: An idiom signifying giving control, victory, and possession. It is the transfer of power and dominion.
as it is this day: A contemporary statement from Moses' time, emphasizing that the narrated historical event had already occurred and its outcome (Sihon's defeat and Israel's possession) was an established fact. It affirms the reliability and fulfillment of God's word and actions.
Words-group: "hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate": This is a rhetorical pairing, a form of synonymous parallelism. Both phrases convey the same idea of God influencing Sihon's will towards unyielding resistance, but they reinforce the completeness and depth of the divine work on his inner being—his temperament (ruach) and his entire inner self/mind (levav). It signifies a thorough and deliberate divine act that removed any possibility of a peaceful resolution, precisely because God intended conflict and subsequent conquest.
Deuteronomy 2 30 Bonus section
The theological tension presented here, of God hardening a heart while still implying human culpability for actions, reflects a complex biblical truth often seen in passages like the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. God’s hardening does not imply a removal of moral responsibility but rather a confirmation and strengthening of pre-existing sinful tendencies, ultimately using them to fulfill His holy purposes. In Sihon's case, his unyielding nature likely predated divine intervention; God simply intensified that specific resolve to achieve His strategic goal for Israel's conquest. This specific act also highlights a crucial turning point in Israel's journey—from 40 years of nomadic wandering to active military conquest of the promised land, directly facilitated by God's strategic hardening of their enemies.
Deuteronomy 2 30 Commentary
Deuteronomy 2:30 profoundly illustrates the intricate balance between divine sovereignty and human will. It unequivocally asserts that God, for His own covenantal purposes, directly influenced Sihon's inner disposition and outward decision, causing him to refuse Israel's peaceful passage. This divine action was not a violation of Sihon's nature but a redirection or strengthening of his existing inclination towards defiance, ultimately paving the way for God's judgment upon the Amorites (whose iniquity was now complete) and securing Israel's promised inheritance. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's control over human history, demonstrating His ability to orchestrate events, even through the resistance of His adversaries, to fulfill His divine plans for His people. It highlights God's active involvement in establishing Israel in the land and serves as a foundational example of His sovereign power in redemptive history.