Numbers 21 30

Numbers 21:30 kjv

We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.

Numbers 21:30 nkjv

"But we have shot at them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. Then we laid waste as far as Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba."

Numbers 21:30 niv

"But we have overthrown them; Heshbon's dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have demolished them as far as Nophah, which extends to Medeba."

Numbers 21:30 esv

So we overthrew them; Heshbon, as far as Dibon, perished; and we laid waste as far as Nophah; fire spread as far as Medeba."

Numbers 21:30 nlt

We have utterly destroyed them,
from Heshbon to Dibon.
We have completely wiped them out
as far away as Nophah and Medeba. "

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 30 Meaning

Numbers 21:30 is a triumphant declaration, part of a "taunt song" adopted by Israel, celebrating their decisive victory over Sihon, king of the Amorites. It describes the complete desolation of Sihon's kingdom through powerful military action, emphasizing that his cities and territory from Heshbon to Dibon, extending to Nophah and encompassing Medeba, were utterly "hurled down," "laid waste," and consumed "with fire." This verse proclaims the comprehensive ruin of the Amorite power, signaling an irreversible conquest.

Numbers 21 30 Context

Numbers chapter 21 chronicles a crucial segment of Israel's journey in the wilderness towards the Promised Land. After the incident with the bronze serpent, Israel proceeds towards the territory east of the Jordan. They send messengers to Sihon, King of the Amorites, requesting peaceful passage, promising not to touch his fields or vineyards and to stay on the King's Highway. However, Sihon, in defiance of divine purpose, not only refused passage but also assembled his army to fight against Israel. The Lord intervened, delivering Sihon and his army into Israel's hand. Consequently, Israel defeated Sihon, taking possession of all his land, including his capital Heshbon, and other cities. Numbers 21:30 is a climactic part of a poetic excerpt (v. 27-30), identified as a song by "those who speak in proverbs" or bards. This song initially depicted Sihon's earlier conquests over Moab. Israel then repurposed and adapted this song, applying the imagery of fierce destruction and desolation to their conquest of Sihon. This verse, with its emphatic "we have hurled them down... and laid waste," firmly declares Israel's victory and the complete subjugation of the Amorite kingdom, illustrating the scope and finality of their divinely assisted triumph.

Numbers 21 30 Word analysis

• We have hurled them down / We have shot at them (וַנִּירָם - wannisram):

  • Root: ירה (yarah), meaning "to throw, cast, shoot."
  • Significance: Depicts a forceful, overwhelming military action. It signifies a complete and decisive overthrow, an unseating from power. It's not a gentle removal, but a violent expulsion and defeat.

• from Heshbon (חֶשְׁבּוֹן - Heshbon):

  • Significance: Heshbon was the capital of Sihon's kingdom, the strategic heartland of the Amorites. Its mention as the starting point signifies the conquest of the very seat of enemy power, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the victory.

• to Dibon (דִּיבוֹן - Dibon):

  • Significance: An important city south of Heshbon, also previously held by Sihon. Its inclusion extends the geographical range of the immediate destruction, illustrating a wide sweep of conquest. It highlights the vastness of the area that fell under Israel's power.

• and laid waste (וַנַּשִּׁים - wannashim):

  • Root: שָׁמַם (shamam), meaning "to be desolate, deserted, ruined."
  • Significance: Goes beyond mere military occupation. It implies a thorough destruction, making the area uninhabitable, empty of its former population, infrastructure, and influence. It denotes utter ruin and depopulation.

• as far as Nophah (נֹפַח - Nophah):

  • Significance: This marks a further geographical extension of the devastation, signifying that the destruction was extensive and reached even lesser-known or more distant areas within the conquered territory. It reinforces the comprehensiveness of the conquest.

• with fire (אֵשׁ - esh):

  • Significance: Fire in biblical contexts often denotes divine judgment, complete annihilation, and intense destruction. Its use here indicates the fierce and total nature of the destruction, perhaps suggesting an actual burning of cities, or metaphorically, the overwhelming force leading to complete ruin. It intensifies the imagery of devastation.

• as far as Medeba (מֵידְבָא - Medeba):

  • Significance: Another major city in the Transjordan region, serving as the ultimate geographical marker in this verse. It specifies the full extent of the devastating reach of Israel's conquest, affirming that the complete destruction extended to the very borders of the Amorite domain.

• We have hurled them down from Heshbon to Dibon:

  • This phrase forcefully announces the primary axis of Israel's victory. It conveys a strong sense of violent removal and defeat originating from the core of the enemy's strength (Heshbon) and extending its immediate effects southwards to Dibon. The use of "we" (referring to Israel, divinely empowered) indicates their active participation in the overthrow.

• and laid waste as far as Nophah; with fire as far as Medeba:

  • This section extends the scope of the destruction to its final limits, emphasizing not only capture but permanent devastation. "Laid waste" signifies depopulation and ruin, while the addition of "fire" (especially "with fire as far as Medeba") accentuates the fierceness and completeness of this ruination, likely denoting thorough destruction by burning or a metaphor for intense judgment spreading across the land. It defines the ultimate reach and intensity of the conquest.

Numbers 21 30 Bonus section

This verse is a prime example of Israel's spiritual warfare narrative, where earthly battles reflect divine purposes. By adopting and re-contextualizing a taunt song (likely Moabite) originally about Sihon's victory over Moab, Israel subtly asserts YHWH's ultimate triumph. The Amorites, who had themselves conquered others, are now utterly vanquished, demonstrating that no human power can stand against the Lord's decree. This foreshadows the broader narrative of conquest and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. The lands mentioned—Heshbon, Dibon, Nophah, Medeba—become integral to the later inheritance of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, solidifying the importance of this conquest for Israel's future settlement. The divine authorization and enabling for such fierce destruction set a precedent for future battles as Israel moved into Canaan.

Numbers 21 30 Commentary

Numbers 21:30 is a potent summation of Israel's victory over the Amorites, deliberately framed in poetic language that echoes and reverses previous regional boasts. It powerfully conveys the totality of the conquest by the Israelites under God's guidance. The strategic placement of "Heshbon" as the epicenter, "Dibon" marking the extension of the initial defeat, and "Nophah" and "Medeba" delineating the full extent of the "laid waste" territory, all paint a picture of comprehensive and irreversible desolation. The element of "fire" symbolizes the intense and unyielding nature of the destruction, reminiscent of divine judgment and the fierce might of the conquering force. This victory not only granted Israel possession of valuable territory east of the Jordan but also served as a profound testament to the Lord's unwavering power and faithfulness in delivering His people from formidable adversaries, asserting His sovereignty over all nations and their false gods.