Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

2:24-25 The wadi Arnon (see note on vv. 13-15) flowed into the Dead Sea and marked the border between Moab to the south and Amorite territory and Ammon to the north. Begin to take possession. See 1:21. Even though Heshbon lies in Transjordan, in a sense its conquest marks the beginning of possessing the Promised Land (see Josh. 12:1-6). Sihon the Amorite. See note on Deut. 1:3-4. According to Gen. 15:16, the land would be given to Israel when the iniquity of the Amorites was complete, and now that time has come. Thus the defeat of various nations represents God's punishment for their iniquity (Deut. 18:12). (See Introduction to Joshua: The Destruction of the Canaanites.) In holy war, enemies tremble before the Lord (Ex. 15:14; see also Josh. 4:24-5:1).

2:26 Heshbon was a fertile land (Song 7:4), north of Moab and Ammon on the east of the Jordan River. The offer of words of peace does not seem to match the instruction to fight in Deut. 2:24. Perhaps Israel was reluctant to obey and fight.

2:30 God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate just as with Pharaoh during the series of plagues (Ex. 9:12; 10:1-2, 20, 27; 11:9-10; 14:4, 8, 17-18). as he is this day. Expressions like this occur regularly in Deuteronomy (Deut. 4:20, 38; 6:24; 8:18; 10:15; 29:28) to give Israel confidence in God's power and faithfulness.

2:32 Jahaz is mentioned in Josh. 13:18 and 21:36-37, along with Kedemoth (Deut. 2:26).

2:34-35 devoted to destruction. The total destruction of Sihon's cities and people reflects God's instructions for battle within the Promised Land (see note on 20:16-18). This emphasis is absent in the parallel account in Numbers 21. Since God is the victor, the spoils of battle belong to him and not to Israel, hence their destruction as an act of devotion to God.

2:36-37 Aroer was on the northern bank of the Arnon. Gilead is the name given generally to the Transjordanian territory. The Jabbok River (cf. Gen. 32:22) in part marked the border of Ammon and Gilead.