Nehemiah 9:22 kjv
Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
Nehemiah 9:22 nkjv
"Moreover You gave them kingdoms and nations, And divided them into districts. So they took possession of the land of Sihon, The land of the king of Heshbon, And the land of Og king of Bashan.
Nehemiah 9:22 niv
"You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan.
Nehemiah 9:22 esv
"And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan.
Nehemiah 9:22 nlt
"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan.
Nehemiah 9 22 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Num 21:21-26 | Israel sent messengers to Sihon... but Sihon would not allow Israel... so Israel struck him... and took possession of his land. | Defeat of Sihon and taking his land. |
Num 21:33-35 | Then they turned... to Bashan... and Og king of Bashan went out... and the LORD said... I have given him... into your hand. | Defeat of Og and God giving the land. |
Deut 2:31-36 | The LORD said to me, 'Behold, I have begun to deliver Sihon... I will give you possession.' | God initiating the delivery of Sihon. |
Deut 3:1-7 | Then we turned... and the LORD our God delivered Og... so we struck him. | God delivering Og into their hands. |
Josh 12:1-6 | These are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel struck down and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan... | Recap of conquests East of Jordan, including Sihon and Og. |
Ps 135:10-12 | He smote many nations... Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan... and He gave their land as a heritage... | God's action in striking nations and giving land. |
Ps 136:19-22 | To Sihon, king of the Amorites... and Og, king of Bashan... and gave their land as a heritage to Israel His servant. | Specific mention of Sihon and Og and land given to Israel. |
Gen 12:7 | Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." | The initial promise of the land to Abraham. |
Gen 15:18-21 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land..." | Defining the geographical boundaries of the promised land. |
Exod 23:27-30 | I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion... I will drive out your enemies from before you. | God promises to drive out inhabitants for Israel. |
Deut 1:8 | See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers... | Command to take possession based on God's sworn promise. |
Josh 11:23 | So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance... | Fulfillment of the promise and land distribution. |
Ps 78:55 | He drove out nations before them... and allotted as a heritage for their tribes. | God expelling nations and assigning land by lot. |
Acts 7:45 | Our fathers... brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers... | Stephen's sermon affirming divine role in land conquest. |
Deut 4:38 | Driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you... to bring you in to give you their land for an inheritance. | God's power in dispossessing strong nations for Israel's inheritance. |
Isa 40:23-24 | He brings princes to nothing, He makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness... as soon as they are planted... He blows on them and they wither. | God's sovereignty over nations and their rulers. |
Neh 9:15 | You gave them bread from heaven... You brought them water from the rock... And You commanded them to go in to possess the land... | Connecting divine provision in the wilderness to the command to possess the land. |
Neh 9:24 | So the sons went in and took possession of the land... You subdued before them the inhabitants... and gave them into their hand. | The immediate consequence and affirmation of God's action from the following verse. |
Judg 2:1-2 | The angel of the LORD came up... "I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to your fathers... I will never break my covenant with you. You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants..." | Reinforcing the covenant and God bringing them to the land. |
1 Kgs 8:56 | Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise... | God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises, including land possession and rest. |
Exod 34:10-11 | "Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels... I will drive out before you the Amorite and the Canaanite..." | God's promise to actively clear the land for Israel. |
Josh 21:43-45 | Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that He swore to give to their fathers... Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed... | Full completion and reliability of God's land promise. |
Nehemiah 9 verses
Nehemiah 9 22 Meaning
This verse recalls God's gracious and powerful provision to the Israelites during their wilderness journey. It specifically highlights how God actively gave them control over the kingdoms and territories of their enemies, precisely distributing these lands as their inheritance. The defeat and subsequent taking possession of the lands belonging to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, are cited as key examples of this divine action, emphasizing God's direct involvement in securing the promised land for His people.
Nehemiah 9 22 Context
Nehemiah 9 presents a powerful and lengthy prayer offered by the Levites during a period of national repentance and dedication after the Law had been read and the Feast of Booths observed (Neh 8). The prayer serves as a profound historical survey, recalling God's faithfulness from creation through the wilderness wanderings and conquest, and contrasting it with Israel's persistent disobedience. Verse 22 specifically falls within the recounting of the wilderness generation's journey, highlighting God's direct intervention in defeating formidable foes (Sihon and Og) and granting Israel their territory east of the Jordan before they even fully entered Canaan. This verse underscores God's unfailing promise and provision despite the people's earlier rebellions, emphasizing His sovereignty in fulfilling His covenant.
Nehemiah 9 22 Word analysis
- And You gave them (וַתִּתֵּ֨ן - va-tit-tēn): The initial "and" connects this action to the continuous divine provision described earlier in the chapter. "You gave" powerfully attributes the action directly to God (second person singular), emphasizing divine initiative and agency. This is not a result of Israel's might or strategy, but God's gift.
- kingdoms (מַמְלָכ֥וֹת - mamlakhot): Plural, signifying multiple organized political entities. It indicates that Israel was given dominion over structured societies with their own rulers, not merely uninhabited land.
- and peoples (וְעַמִּ֖ים - ve-ammîm): Plural, referring to the various populations inhabiting these lands. This demonstrates the completeness of the conquest and the transfer of ownership over both the territory and its prior inhabitants.
- and divided them among them in allotted portions (וַֽתַּחֲלְקֵ֥ם לִפְאָה - va-takhalqeim lif'ah):
- "Divided" (from חָלַק, chalaq): Conveys a purposeful, orderly division or distribution, not a chaotic takeover.
- "in allotted portions" (לִפְאָה, lif'ah): Literally "to a side" or "into districts." It refers to defined, specific boundaries and allocations, foreshadowing the detailed tribal allotments in the book of Joshua. This speaks of God's precise and deliberate administration of the inheritance.
- So they took possession (וַֽיִּרְשׁוּ֙ - vayyirshu): From יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to inherit," "to possess," or "to dispossess." It highlights the concrete outcome of God's giving: Israel actively inherited and occupied the land. This word ties the divine act directly to human experience and action in taking what God provided.
- of the land of Sihon, both the land of the king of Heshbon: Sihon was an Amorite king whose territory bordered Israel's path. His refusal to grant passage (Num 21:21-26; Deut 2:26-36) led to his defeat, marking the first major conquest of significant territory east of the Jordan. Heshbon was his capital city.
- and the land of Og, king of Bashan: Og was another formidable Amorite king, known as the last of the Rephaim, a race of giants (Deut 3:11). His kingdom of Bashan, located north of Sihon's territory, was conquered immediately after Sihon (Num 21:33-35; Deut 3:1-7). These two victories were critical for securing the Transjordan region and demonstrated God's power over even the most feared adversaries.
Nehemiah 9 22 Bonus section
This verse, being part of a corporate prayer, underscores the communal understanding of divine providence in Israel's history. The remembering of specific events like the defeat of Sihon and Og would have resonated deeply with the repatriated community, who themselves were striving to re-establish their land inheritance after exile. It served as a historical precedent for God's power to restore and establish His people against odds, providing hope and courage for their present challenges. The prayer consistently points to God's steadfast love and mercy, contrasting it with Israel's consistent rebellion, highlighting that God's fulfillment of His promises is rooted in His character, not their merit.
Nehemiah 9 22 Commentary
Nehemiah 9:22 succinctly captures a pivotal moment in Israel's history, showcasing God's sovereign hand in fulfilling His promises despite Israel's earlier failures. The verse is part of a grand confession, emphasizing divine action from the outset: "You gave them... You divided them...". It's not Israel's might, but God's active gifting that led to their possession of territories belonging to powerful kingdoms. The specificity of "kingdoms and peoples" highlights the comprehensive nature of the gift, while "allotted portions" signifies a purposeful, ordered distribution, laying the groundwork for the later tribal inheritances. The defeat of Sihon and Og were crucial, providing secure territories east of the Jordan and demonstrating God's power over formidable adversaries, paving the way for the eventual entry into Canaan. This act serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in providing for His people and enabling them to claim their divine inheritance, underscoring His unchangeable commitment to His covenant.