Deuteronomy 29 7

Deuteronomy 29:7 kjv

And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:

Deuteronomy 29:7 nkjv

And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.

Deuteronomy 29:7 niv

When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.

Deuteronomy 29:7 esv

And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them.

Deuteronomy 29:7 nlt

"When we came here, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them.

Deuteronomy 29 verses

Deuteronomy 29 7 Meaning

Deuteronomy 29:7 serves as a specific reminder of God's prior faithfulness and power in delivering Israel. It recounts that as Israel approached the Promised Land, powerful Amorite kings, Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan, aggressively sought to prevent their passage by engaging them in battle. Despite the might of these kings, the Lord empowered Israel to decisively defeat them, allowing Israel to conquer and possess their lands. This victory is presented as compelling evidence of God's unfailing ability to fulfill His promises and protect His people.

Deuteronomy 29 7 Context

Deuteronomy 29:7 is embedded within Moses' final address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, immediately before they enter the Promised Land. This particular speech serves as a renewal of the Mosaic Covenant established at Horeb (Sinai). Moses recounts key aspects of their forty-year wilderness journey and reminds them of God's continuous providential care and power, urging them to recommit to the covenant. The historical defeat of Sihon and Og is presented as undeniable evidence of God's might and His willingness to fight for Israel. This victory, occurring on the very edge of the promised land and securing the Transjordan region, reinforced Israel's confidence in the LORD's ability to help them conquer the greater challenges ahead in Canaan. It stands as a testament to God's faithfulness, validating the commands and blessings of the covenant about to be renewed.

Deuteronomy 29 7 Word analysis

• "When you came to this place" (ba'akam el ha'maqom hazeh): This phrase emphasizes the precise geographical and temporal point in Israel's history – their arrival at the plains of Moab, just before entering Canaan. It signifies a transition from their wilderness wanderings to the brink of possessing the promised inheritance. The "place" refers to the conquered land east of the Jordan, a physical reminder of God's prior fulfillments.
• "Sihon king of Heshbon" (Sikhon Melech Cheshbon): Sihon was an Amorite king, his capital Heshbon. He was known as a formidable and unyielding ruler whose kingdom blocked Israel's natural route to Canaan. The mention highlights a specific, significant adversary, familiar and daunting to the original audience. The explicit identification contrasts God's power with the apparent might of regional powers.
• "and Og king of Bashan" (v'Og Melech haBashan): Og was another powerful Amorite king, ruling Bashan, a fertile region famous for its strong, giant inhabitants. He was of the Rephaim, a race associated with giants, which further underscores the magnitude of God's victory. Both Sihon and Og were major regional powers; their combined defeat was a colossal military achievement by any human standard, thereby amplifying God's involvement.
• "came out to fight against us" (yatze'u likratenu lamilchamah): This phrase emphasizes the kings' aggressive initiative. They were not provoked; rather, they confronted Israel. This underlines Israel's passive, defensive stance prior to God's intervention, making it clear that the conflict and subsequent victory were not initiated by human conquest but by divine orchestration in response to hostile opposition.
• "but we struck them down" (va'nakeh otam): While literally "we struck them down," the broader biblical context (Deut 2:30, 3:3) clarifies that the true actor behind Israel's success was the LORD Himself, who "delivered" the kings into Israel's hand. Moses uses "we" to identify with the community that served as the instrument of God's will. This highlights that Israel was victorious, but only because God empowered them, showcasing divine enablement rather than solely human prowess.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan": This grouping sets the scene, identifies the protagonists, and highlights the immediate past context. It grounds the abstract covenant promises in concrete, recent historical events known to all the audience, making the subsequent call to covenant faithfulness more compelling.
• "came out to fight against us, but we struck them down": This phrase details the conflict and its swift, decisive resolution. The confrontation was instigated by the enemies, yet God turned their aggression into Israel's triumph. The "but we struck them down" indicates a decisive reversal, not through Israel's military might alone, but by God's strategic action and strength. It's a reminder of divine protection and successful conquest when relying on the LORD.

Deuteronomy 29 7 Bonus section

• The victory over Sihon and Og was psychologically crucial for Israel. Having experienced forty years of wandering, this tangible military success on the cusp of the Promised Land dispelled doubts about their ability to confront and defeat the more numerous and entrenched Canaanite nations. It provided a powerful morale boost and practical evidence that God would deliver His covenant promises regarding the land.
• The lands of Sihon and Og were notable for their fertility and strong cities. Their conquest by Israel, though described simply as "we struck them down," was a profound military and theological triumph, showing God's ability to give His people territory of immense value and strategic importance even before entering the heart of Canaan. This also explained why two-and-a-half tribes had already settled beyond the Jordan.
• This specific historical event becomes a recurring motif in Israel's songs and prayers of praise, solidifying its place as a cornerstone memory of divine intervention. It highlights how specific historical acts of God form the basis for faith and worship across generations.

Deuteronomy 29 7 Commentary

Deuteronomy 29:7 serves as a concise, powerful testimony to God's covenant faithfulness and active presence among His people. In a moment of covenant renewal, Moses deliberately recalls a very recent, tangible demonstration of divine power: the effortless conquest of two formidable Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, whose lands were now Israelite territory. This historical fact provided indisputable proof that the LORD was indeed capable of delivering on His promises, not only saving them from Egypt but also providing for them in the wilderness and granting them land. The narrative emphasis isn't on Israel's strength, but on the certainty that God fights for His people, even against seemingly insurmountable odds. This assurance of God's past and present involvement in their history served as a foundation for their commitment to the future covenant responsibilities.