Numbers 21 26

Numbers 21:26 kjv

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.

Numbers 21:26 nkjv

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon.

Numbers 21:26 niv

Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

Numbers 21:26 esv

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.

Numbers 21:26 nlt

Heshbon had been the capital of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had defeated a former Moabite king and seized all his land as far as the Arnon River.

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 26 Meaning

Numbers 21:26 serves as a crucial parenthetical explanation for Israel's military engagement and subsequent possession of the Transjordanian territory previously controlled by Sihon. It states that Heshbon, though historically associated with Moab, had become the capital of Sihon, king of the Amorites, because Sihon had conquered it and all the land north of the Arnon River from a previous Moabite king. This detail clarifies that Israel's conquest of Sihon's kingdom was legitimate and did not violate God's command to refrain from harassing or seizing land from the Moabites (Deut 2:9). Instead, Israel defeated a formidable Amorite ruler who had already usurped territory from Moab, thus acquiring land through a just war against an aggressive occupying power.

Numbers 21 26 Context

Numbers chapter 21 chronicles Israel's journey in the final stages of their wilderness wandering, moving towards the Promised Land. After instances of murmuring, the bronze serpent healing, and bypassing Edom and Moab (in obedience to divine commands not to engage them as kin), the Israelites approach the eastern side of the Jordan. This route brings them into direct contact with Sihon, the formidable Amorite king. Israel seeks peaceful passage through his territory, guaranteeing to remain on the king's highway. However, Sihon defiantly refuses and gathers his army to confront Israel at Jahaz. The ensuing battle results in a complete victory for Israel, marked by their decimation of Sihon's army and the conquest of all his cities. Verse 26 is embedded within this victory account (Num 21:21-35), providing critical background information: Heshbon, which Israel just conquered, was not historically Amorite but had been seized by Sihon from the former king of Moab. This detailed historical note serves as a vital legal and theological justification for Israel's conquest. It distinguishes Israel's actions from a typical invasion, portraying them as divinely sanctioned reclamation of territory from a powerful usurper, rather than an unprovoked attack on Moab. This historical explanation also lays the groundwork for understanding the subsequent narrative with King Balak of Moab (Numbers 22ff), clarifying why Israel's immediate actions were legitimate in the divine economy.

Numbers 21 26 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the previous statement about Israel's conquest of Sihon's territory, specifically Heshbon. It indicates that the following information is crucial to understand the legitimacy of Israel's actions.
• Heshbon (חֶשְׁבּוֹן - Cheshbon): A strategically vital city and ancient settlement located in the region of Transjordan, east of the Dead Sea. Its shifting control among Moabites, Amorites, and Israelites highlights its significance as a regional power center.
• was (הִיא הָיְתָה - hi hay'tah): Literally "she was," referring to Heshbon (a feminine noun). This phrase denotes a past state of being or condition, indicating the historical fact of Heshbon's previous ownership.
• the city of (עִיר - ir): Simple noun for a city, indicating a significant settlement or a capital city. Its designation as "the city" implies it was the central hub or capital of Sihon's kingdom.
• Sihon (סִיחוֹן - Siyhon): The powerful king of the Amorites whose territory extended from the Arnon to the Jabbok rivers. His defeat by Israel is frequently recounted in the Bible as a major victory enabled by God.
• king of the Amorites (מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי - melekh ha'Emori): Identifies Sihon's sovereign status and his ethnic affiliation. The Amorites were a prominent Semitic people in the ancient Near East, frequently encountered by Israel as powerful, indigenous inhabitants of Canaan and Transjordan, destined for disinheritance due to their wickedness (Gen 15:16).
• and he had fought against (וְהוּא נִלְחַם - w’hu nilcham): The phrase signifies a decisive past military engagement by Sihon. The verb nilcham (Niphal of lacham) emphasizes the act of going to war, indicating an aggressive action taken by Sihon against another kingdom.
• the former king of Moab (בְּמֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב הָרִאשׁוֹן - b’melekh Mo'av ha'rishon): Literally "against Moab's former/first king." This specifies that Sihon's conquest occurred against a previous Moabite ruler. This detail is crucial, as it highlights that Israel's conflict was with Sihon, not directly with Moab for their ancestral lands. It also shows a clear sequence of historical events and changing geopolitical control.
• and had taken all his land (וַיִּקַּח אֶת כָּל אַרְצוֹ - wayyiqach et kol artso): wayyiqach is a sequential imperfect, denoting "and he took," indicating the outcome of Sihon's previous war. The emphasis on "all his land" signifies a complete conquest and seizure of territory, not merely isolated skirmishes or tribute.
• from his hand (מִיָּדוֹ - miyyado): Literally "from his hand," signifying seizure, complete control, or taking possession and authority away from the Moabite king. It underscores the decisive transfer of ownership.
• as far as the Arnon (עַד אַרְנוֹן - ad Arnon): The Arnon is a major river and a prominent geographical landmark, forming a deep canyon. It served as a significant natural boundary, frequently marking the northern extent of Moabite territory and the southern boundary of Sihon's kingdom after his conquest. This detail defines the exact territorial scope of Sihon's prior victory over Moab, and therefore the legitimate boundaries of the land Israel conquered from Sihon.

Words-group analysis:

• "For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites": This opening segment lays the foundation for understanding Israel's strategic objectives and the legitimacy of their actions. It presents a key fact of the contemporary geopolitical situation: Heshbon, the center of their immediate conquest, was under Amorite, not Moabite, control.
• "and he had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land": This provides the vital backstory. It explains how Heshbon came to be Amorite. Sihon gained the land through conquest, not through ancient inheritance or peaceful agreement. This narrative pre-empts any notion that Israel was directly invading Moabite territory, highlighting their fight against a conquering usurper.
• "from his hand as far as the Arnon": This precisely delineates the geographical extent of Sihon's prior conquest from Moab, emphasizing that a substantial, defined region up to a clear natural boundary was transferred. Consequently, this precise border also defined the territory Israel justly acquired.

Numbers 21 26 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of the land's history in this verse (who possessed it previously and how it was acquired) underscores the biblical emphasis on legal claims and just warfare within God's covenant plan for Israel. It reflects a nuanced understanding of territorial rights in the ancient Near East, not just might making right.
• This verse sets the stage for later disputes, particularly Jephthah's argument with the Ammonites in Judges 11, where he uses this very history (Sihon conquering from Moab, then Israel conquering from Sihon) to establish Israel's legitimate, long-standing claim to the Transjordanian territory.
• The Amorites are consistently presented in Scripture as powerful pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan and Transjordan, often requiring divine intervention for Israel to overcome them. Their defeat, particularly that of Sihon, served as a tangible proof of God's power and faithfulness to His covenant promises, laying the foundation for Israel's entry into the main land of Canaan.

Numbers 21 26 Commentary

Numbers 21:26 offers a vital piece of historical and theological context that legitimizes Israel's pivotal conquest of Sihon's kingdom. By clarifying that Heshbon and the lands north of the Arnon River, while once Moabite, were forcibly annexed by the Amorite King Sihon, the text establishes a critical distinction: Israel's war was against an aggressive occupier, not a violation of God's command to respect the core territory of Moab. This detailed explanation portrays Israel not as an unprovoked invader, but as an agent of divine justice against a formidable usurper, thereby enabling the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh to settle legitimately in this strategically important region east of the Jordan. It highlights God's sovereignty over the nations and His faithfulness in guiding Israel according to His own principles and promised inheritance.