Deuteronomy 2:36 kjv
From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:
Deuteronomy 2:36 nkjv
From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the LORD our God delivered all to us.
Deuteronomy 2:36 niv
From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the gorge, even as far as Gilead, not one town was too strong for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.
Deuteronomy 2:36 esv
From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The LORD our God gave all into our hands.
Deuteronomy 2:36 nlt
"The LORD our God also helped us conquer Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Gorge, and the town in the gorge, and the whole area as far as Gilead. No town had walls too strong for us.
Deuteronomy 2 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:18-21 | "To your offspring I give this land..." | God's promise of the land fulfilled. |
| Exod 23:27 | "I will send my terror ahead of you..." | Divine fear striking enemies. |
| Num 13:28-33 | "...The cities are great and fortified... We are not able..." | Contrasts the spies' fear with Deut 2:36 reality. |
| Num 21:21-35 | The account of Israel defeating Sihon and Og. | Direct narrative of the victory. |
| Deut 1:21 | "See, the LORD your God has given the land before you..." | God's initiative in giving land. |
| Deut 1:30 | "The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight for you..." | God's active role in battle. |
| Deut 3:2 | "...For I will deliver him and all his people and his land into your hand." | God's specific promise of victory. |
| Deut 3:22 | "Do not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you." | Reinforces divine combat for Israel. |
| Deut 7:17-18 | "If you say in your heart, 'These nations are mightier than I,'...do not be afraid." | Admonition against fear, trust in God's power. |
| Deut 9:1-3 | "...Go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you..." | God conquering despite enemy strength. |
| Deut 11:25 | "No man shall be able to stand against you..." | Universal power of God in battle. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life..." | Promise continued to Joshua. |
| Josh 10:42 | "Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel." | Echoes God fighting for Israel. |
| Josh 11:20 | "For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts..." | Divine intervention in preparing enemies for defeat. |
| Judg 11:21 | "And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his army into the hand of Israel." | Direct confirmation of God's role in Sihon's defeat. |
| 1 Sam 14:6 | "...for nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." | God's ability to save regardless of numbers. |
| Psa 44:3 | "...by your right hand and your arm and the light of your face, for you favored them." | Victory is from God, not human might. |
| Psa 135:10-12 | "He struck down many nations and slew mighty kings, Sihon king of the Amorites..." | Recalls God's deeds in taking land. |
| Jer 32:27 | "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?" | God's unlimited power. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." | God empowers His people. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's protective power for His own. |
| Heb 13:6 | "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear..." | Trust in God as a helper, overcoming fear. |
Deuteronomy 2 verses
Deuteronomy 2 36 Meaning
Deuteronomy 2:36 signifies that God ensured complete and effortless victory for the Israelites over all the cities and territories of King Sihon of Heshbon, extending from Aroer in the south to Gilead in the north. It emphasizes that this conquest was not by Israel's might but was a direct gift and act of the Lord God, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty, faithfulness to His covenant promises, and irresistible power in delivering His people from their enemies.
Deuteronomy 2 36 Context
Deuteronomy 2:36 marks the successful culmination of Israel's conquest of King Sihon's Amorite kingdom, east of the Jordan River. Following 38 years of wandering and previous instructions to bypass the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites (Deut 2:4-23) due to their ancestral ties, God specifically commanded Israel to confront Sihon. This verse, therefore, highlights the divine mandate for conquest and God's active participation in fulfilling His promise to give Israel the land. It directly contrasts with the fear and disbelief displayed by the generation that perished in the wilderness, particularly recalling their dread of the fortified cities reported by the spies (Num 13). This victory serves as concrete proof of Yahweh's power and faithfulness to the new generation poised to enter the main Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 2 36 Word analysis
- And there was not (וְלֹא, we-lo): The conjunction 'and' links this statement to the preceding narrative of Sihon's defeat, indicating a consequence or summarizing point. 'Not' emphasizes the complete absence of a certain condition.
- a city (קִרְיָה, qiryāh): Refers to any fortified human settlement, signifying strength and defense. The use of a singular term with the negative universal implies no exception, no single city, regardless of its might. This counters the earlier fears about strong, walled cities.
- too strong for us (נִשְׂגְּבָה מִמֶּנּוּ, nisgĕvāh mimmenu): This phrase implies "elevated" or "impregnable" against us. Nisgĕvāh (נִשְׂגְּבָה) from the root שׂגב (sagab), means "to be high, strong, inaccessible, fortified." The passive form signifies that no city was able to be too strong for them, not due to their own power, but due to divine action. This directly rebukes the spies' report in Numbers 13:28 that "the cities are great and fortified up to heaven."
- from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon (מֵעֲרוֹעֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת־נַחַל אַרְנוֹן, me-ʿăroʿer ʾăšer ʿal-šefat-naḥal ʾarnôn): Aroer was a strategic city marking the southern boundary of Sihon's kingdom. Its mention provides a clear geographical marker, indicating the extent of the conquest.
- even to Gilead (וְעַד הַגִּלְעָד, we-ʿad hag-Gilʿād): Gilead here refers to the northernmost extent of Sihon's territory that Israel conquered, stretching significantly north of the Jabbok River. This defines the vast scope of the divine gift.
- there was not a town that was shut up against us (לֹא הָיְתָה קִרְיָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂגְבָה מִמֶּנּוּ, lo hayetah qiryāh ʾăšer śagab mamenu): A near-repetition of the initial phrase "not a city was too strong for us." It could mean "none that was shut up from us," implying they encountered no effective resistance or fortified gates they could not overcome. This highlights the lack of significant opposition.
- The LORD our God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, Yahweh ʾEloheynu): Emphasizes God's personal relationship with Israel through the covenant. Yahweh is the covenant name, stressing His active, personal involvement. Eloheynu ("our God") highlights His exclusive and unique position as Israel's deliverer.
- delivered all to us (מְסָר כֹּל לִפְנֵינוּ, masar kōl lifneynu): Masar (מָסַר) means "to hand over, deliver up, surrender." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action by God. It unequivocally states that the entire victory was God's doing, a divine surrender of the enemy into Israel's hands, leaving no room for Israel to boast in their own strength or military prowess. "Before us" (לִפְנֵינוּ, lifneynu) indicates it was a clear and present action, effectively placed under their control.
Deuteronomy 2 36 Bonus section
The seemingly redundant phrasing, "no city was too strong for us... there was not a town that was shut up against us," is a Hebrew literary device (parallelism/repetition for emphasis) designed to stress the thoroughness and divine nature of the conquest. It functions as a dramatic irony, contrasting with the panic expressed by the first generation that God allowed to perish in the wilderness. The mention of Aroer to Gilead not only delineates the extent of the conquered territory but also subtly indicates the immense power displayed, as this was a significant land holding east of the Jordan. This victory was a pivotal moment, validating God's earlier promises to Abraham and later to Moses, reinforcing that Yahweh's will is irresistible. It sets the stage for future conquests in Canaan, demonstrating that their battles were not just human conflicts but divine undertakings with God Himself as their primary Warrior.
Deuteronomy 2 36 Commentary
Deuteronomy 2:36 serves as a powerful theological declaration, rather than merely a geographical report. It asserts the omnipotence and faithfulness of Yahweh in fulfilling His covenant promises to Israel. The phrase "no city was too strong for us" stands as a direct refutation and divine reversal of the earlier wilderness generation's fear and disbelief concerning the well-fortified Canaanite cities (Num 13:28-33). It teaches that when God commands and enables, no obstacle, no matter how formidable, can stand against His people. This verse underscores God's complete ownership of the victory; Israel was merely the instrument through which Yahweh executed His divine will. From the southernmost boundary of Aroer to the northern extent in Gilead, the land was given entirely, demonstrating that every single city fell due to God delivering them into Israel's hands, emphasizing a sweeping, unimpeded conquest and a complete trust in God's leading. It prepares the new generation mentally and spiritually for the challenges ahead, ensuring they understand that success in Canaan depends entirely on their obedience to the Lord who fights for them.