Numbers 21 31

Numbers 21:31 kjv

Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

Numbers 21:31 nkjv

Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

Numbers 21:31 niv

So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.

Numbers 21:31 esv

Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.

Numbers 21:31 nlt

So the people of Israel occupied the territory of the Amorites.

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 31 Meaning

Numbers 21:31 marks a significant moment in Israel's wilderness journey. It states that after the defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, Israel took permanent possession of their territory. This verse signifies the initial fulfillment of God's promise to give land to His people, establishing their first settled presence beyond the initial wanderings, in the region east of the Jordan River. It also serves as a testament to God's power and faithfulness in delivering His people and executing judgment against wicked nations.

Numbers 21 31 Context

Numbers 21:31 is part of a narrative detailing Israel's movement towards the promised land after their extended wilderness wanderings. Chapters 20 and 21 recount challenging events including Kadesh, Aaron's death, and various confrontations. Crucially, immediately preceding this verse are the accounts of Israel's victory over Arad, followed by their successful plea to bypass Edom. Most directly, Numbers 21:21-30 details the refusal of Sihon, king of the Amorites, to grant Israel passage and the subsequent decisive battle where Israel defeated Sihon and captured all his cities, from Heshbon to Arnon. This victory opened up the land of Gilead and Bashan, east of the Jordan, allowing Israel to settle. This settlement represented a pivotal moment, shifting from transient wandering to an established presence in preparation for the greater conquest of Canaan. Historically and culturally, this marks a confrontation with a powerful Transjordanian kingdom, with the victory showcasing Yahweh's supremacy over local deities and a foreshadowing of God delivering land to His people as He promised Abraham.

Numbers 21 31 Word analysis

• Thus (כֵּן - ken): This particle often functions as a summation or consequence, signifying that what follows is a direct result or conclusion of the preceding events. Here, it indicates Israel's dwelling in the Amorite land is the established outcome of the victory over Sihon and Og.
• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el): Refers to the collective people descended from Jacob, God's chosen nation. Their settlement emphasizes their corporate identity and their specific role as recipients of God's covenant promises, especially regarding the land.
• lived (וַיֵּשֶׁב - wayyeshev from יָשַׁב - yashav): This verb means "to dwell," "to settle," "to inhabit." It denotes a permanent, settled existence, distinct from merely passing through or temporary encampment. This verb highlights the fulfillment of land possession, indicating the start of a settled existence after nomadic life. It implies God’s provision of a permanent dwelling place.
• in the land of (בְּאֶרֶץ - be'eretz): Signifies direct physical presence and possession of a defined territory. The preposition "in" (בְּ) denotes occupation within a specific geographic boundary. This is not merely crossing but taking ownership.
• the Amorites (הָאֱמֹרִי - ha'Emori): A powerful Canaanite people group inhabiting regions east and west of the Jordan River. In biblical narratives, they are often portrayed as formidable warriors and are singled out for their iniquity (Gen 15:16), making their defeat a clear act of divine judgment. Their subjugation showcases God's power over human strength and fortified cities.

Words-group analysis:

• "Thus Israel lived": This phrase highlights a divine enabling. Israel's dwelling was not by their own power alone, but through God's intervention, making them recipients of His grace and covenant faithfulness. It marks a transition from transient wanderers to landowners.
• "lived in the land of the Amorites": This directly links the physical presence of Israel to the conquered territory. It concretely fulfills parts of the Abrahamic land promise and emphasizes God's judgment against the Amorites, whose land became Israel's inheritance. It asserts Israel's sovereignty over a previously occupied, foreign territory.

Numbers 21 31 Bonus section

The "Amorites" are sometimes used in a broader sense in the Old Testament to represent all the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan or Transjordan, particularly those who were powerful and idolatrous. The defeat of the Amorites in Numbers 21:21-30 was an indispensable precursor to the conquests under Joshua, providing Israel with a base of operations east of the Jordan and significantly boosting their morale and faith in Yahweh. This episode established a precedent for how God would drive out the other nations before Israel. The occupation of this land (Gilead and Bashan) directly led to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh requesting it as their inheritance in Numbers 32, before the full conquest of Canaan west of the Jordan, adding further strategic and historical weight to this verse.

Numbers 21 31 Commentary

Numbers 21:31 succinctly describes a foundational step in Israel's journey from bondage to promise: their permanent settlement in the Transjordanian territory of the Amorites. This brief declaration stands as a powerful testimony to God's unfailing faithfulness to His covenant promises, specifically regarding the land inheritance first declared to Abraham. It directly results from God empowering Israel to decisively defeat the formidable King Sihon and his Amorite kingdom. This act was not merely a military conquest but a divine judgment against the Amorites' cumulative iniquity. For Israel, it marked an end to forty years of nomadic life and the beginning of settled habitation, even before crossing the Jordan into Canaan proper. This successful occupation served as a tangible sign and reassurance of God's power and intent to fulfill the entirety of His promises for the land. It taught Israel that God battles for His people, paving the way for them to dwell in places He designates for them.