Numbers 21 23

Numbers 21:23 kjv

And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

Numbers 21:23 nkjv

But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.

Numbers 21:23 niv

But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

Numbers 21:23 esv

But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.

Numbers 21:23 nlt

But King Sihon refused to let them cross his territory. Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel in the wilderness, engaging them in battle at Jahaz.

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 23 Meaning

Numbers 21:23 meticulously describes the King of Amorites, Sihon’s, response to Israel's peaceful overture for passage through his land. The verse explicitly states that Sihon not only adamantly refused Israel permission to cross his territory but proactively escalated the situation. He assembled his entire army and marched out into the wilderness to engage Israel in battle at a specific location called Jahaz. This marked a definitive turning point from attempted diplomacy to hostile military confrontation, initiated solely by Sihon’s defiance, which ultimately paved the way for divine intervention and Israel's conquest of Amorite territory.

Numbers 21 23 Context

Numbers 21 places this verse within the latter part of Israel's journey through the wilderness, just as they are approaching the Promised Land. After surviving hardships and plagues, the Israelites arrived near the Amorite kingdom, strategically located on the "King's Highway," a vital trade route. In a display of their desire for peaceful passage and respect for boundaries, Israel sent a delegation to King Sihon, assuring him they would keep to the main road and avoid any transgression. However, Sihon, despite this peaceable offer, responded with an act of outright hostility. Numbers 21:23 serves as the narrative hinge, pivoting from diplomatic overture to unprovoked military aggression by Sihon, thereby justifying Israel’s subsequent conquest. This event is portrayed not merely as a regional conflict but as a demonstration of God's plan for His people to inherit the land, even when it required confronting powerful human resistance that He Himself had sovereignly prepared for defeat (Deut 2:30).

Numbers 21 23 Word analysis

• But: A contrasting conjunction, highlighting the sharp divergence from Israel's peaceful intent to Sihon's hostile response. It emphasizes the active refusal and subsequent aggression.

• Sihon (סִיחֹן - Siychon): The powerful Amorite king, whose capital was Heshbon. He represents the formidable earthly opposition to God’s plan, but ultimately acts unwittingly in furtherance of it.

• would not allow (מָאֵן - ma’en, meaning "refused," "denied"): This Hebrew verb conveys a strong, emphatic refusal, indicating a deliberate and determined decision by Sihon.

• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yiśra’el): Refers to the collective nation of God's covenant people. The refusal and subsequent attack are directed specifically against God's chosen, making the confrontation inherently divine in scope.

• to pass through: Emphasizes the simple and non-aggressive nature of Israel's request—not to occupy or invade, but merely to transit.

• his territory (גְּבֻלוֹ - gĕvuloh, meaning "his boundary" or "his border"): Highlights the specific, defined land under Sihon's jurisdiction, making his refusal a clear territorial claim.

• Instead: Signals a complete reversal of approach by Sihon; rather than simple denial, he opts for proactive confrontation.

• Sihon gathered (וַיֶּאֱסֹף - wayye'ĕsōp̄, meaning "he gathered" or "he assembled"): Implies a conscious, strategic decision to mobilize for war, not merely a spontaneous reaction.

• all his troops (אֶת כָּל עַמּוֹ - ‘et kol ‘ammô, meaning "all his people/nation"): Signifies a full-scale military mobilization, underscoring Sihon's overconfidence and determination to confront Israel with maximum force.

• and marched out (וַיֵּצֵא - wayyēṣē’, meaning "he went out" or "came forth"): Describes an active, offensive movement. Sihon chose to leave his strongholds to engage Israel in open battle, indicating aggressive intent.

• into the desert (הַמִּדְבָּרָה - hammidbārâ, meaning "into the wilderness" or "into the desert"): The specific battle location. Perhaps Sihon thought this open terrain would favor his trained army over Israel's traveling host, ironically setting him up for divine judgment.

• against Israel: Clearly defines the direct target of Sihon's hostile actions.

• He came to: Establishes the exact geographical meeting point of the two forces.

• Jahaz (יָהְצָה - Yahṣâ): A specific and significant historical location for the decisive battle, northeast of Arnon. Its mention roots the narrative in geographical reality and pinpoints the place of Sihon’s ultimate defeat.

• and fought (וַיִּלָּחֶם - wayyilāḥem, meaning "and he fought" or "engaged in battle"): A direct statement affirming the commencement of military combat, validating Israel’s subsequent defensive, divinely sanctioned, victory.

• "But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory.": This phrase emphasizes Sihon’s deliberate and unyielding rejection of a legitimate and peaceful request. It sets the foundation for the ensuing conflict by clearly identifying the instigator of the confrontation.

• "Instead, Sihon gathered all his troops and marched out into the desert against Israel.": This part describes Sihon’s transformation from passive refusal to active aggression. By taking the initiative to mobilize his entire army and march out to meet Israel, Sihon displays an aggressive arrogance and trust in his military might, directly provoking the conflict in an open field rather than defending behind walls.

• "He came to Jahaz and fought with Israel.": This final segment pinpoints the precise location where Sihon's aggression culminated in actual combat. The fact that he "came to Jahaz" (meaning he approached Israel, not merely waiting to be attacked) underscores his offensive posture, leading directly to the pivotal battle that secured Israel's pathway to the Promised Land.

Numbers 21 23 Bonus section

The acquisition of Sihon's territory east of the Jordan, a fertile and well-settled region, was immensely significant for Israel. It provided a crucial staging ground for their eventual invasion of Canaan and a foundational area for tribal settlement for Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (Nu 32:33). This battle against a known formidable power like the Amorites also served to instill faith and unity within the Israelite camp, demonstrating God's consistent presence and power, echoing earlier triumphs like the Exodus. The event at Jahaz, culminating in the defeat of Sihon and Og of Bashan, became a celebrated moment in Israelite history, regularly recounted in Psalms (Ps 135:10-12; Ps 136:19-21) and historical summaries, signifying Yahweh’s faithfulness and might.

Numbers 21 23 Commentary

Numbers 21:23 stands as a critical juncture in Israel's journey, illustrating God’s sovereign control over human events. Sihon's aggressive refusal of peaceful passage was not merely an act of a defiant king but was, as later clarified in Deuteronomy 2:30, part of God’s plan to harden his spirit. This divine orchestration ensured Sihon’s self-destructive path, leading him to initiate a war he was destined to lose. His decision to gather his full military might and proactively march out to Jahaz against Israel demonstrates his overwhelming confidence in his own strength, ironically becoming the means by which God would deliver his formidable territory into the hands of His people. This encounter affirmed Yahweh's identity as the Divine Warrior fighting for Israel, transforming an apparent obstacle into a key fulfillment of His covenant promise to give them land. It served as a powerful lesson that no human power can thwart God's purpose, but instead, opposition is often bent to His will.