신명기 Chapter 3

Translation: ESV

1

"Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

Key Message

God grants victories in succession. After overcoming one challenge another awaits, and God is present through every one of them.

▸Following the conquest of Sihon's kingdom, war with Og, king of Bashan, begins.

Following the conquest of Sihon's kingdom, war with Og, king of Bashan, begins. Bashan lay in the northern region east of the Jordan, roughly corresponding to the modern Golan Heights. That Og came out to fight even after hearing of Sihon's defeat shows he chose resistance rather than surrender.

2

But the LORD said to me, 'Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.'

Key Message

God's past faithfulness is the basis for overcoming fear in the face of new challenges in the present.

▸God first says 'Do not fear him,' then gives a specific promise.

3

So the LORD our God gave into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people, and we struck him down until he had no survivor left.

Key Message

God's promises are always fulfilled. Through repeated victories God's faithfulness is confirmed.

▸As promised, God gave Og also into Israel's hand.

4

And we took all his cities at that time—there was not a city that we did not take from them—sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

Key Message

The victory God gives is complete and extends to every realm.

▸The conquest of sixty cities is recorded.

5

All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages.

Key Message

No matter how strong human defenses may be, they are powerless before the power of God.

▸The fact that all these cities were conquered despite being fortified with high walls is emphasized.

6

And we devoted them to destruction, as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon, devoting to destruction every city, men, women, and children.

Key Message

God's commands of judgment are carried out consistently. In New Testament perspective, the role of this judgment is transferred to the cross of Jesus Christ.

▸The same command to devote to destruction was carried out in Og's kingdom as in Sihon's.

7

But all the livestock and the plunder of the cities we took as our spoil.

Key Message

God's standard is complete obedience, not partial obedience.

▸The people were devoted to destruction but livestock and property were taken by Israel.

8

So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon

Key Message

The fulfillment of what God has promised is happening step by step, but certainly.

▸The extent of the conquered territory is summarized.

9

(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir),

Key Message

The same object can be named differently according to the perspective of the observer. God's creation is richly embedded in diverse cultures and languages.

▸The various names of Mount Hermon are noted.

10

all the cities of the tableland and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

Key Message

The fulfillment of God's promise takes place through specific place names and historical facts.

▸A list of the conquered cities is given, ranging from the plateau cities to the highlands, from Aroer in the south to Salecah and Edrei in the north.

11

(For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.)

Key Message

No matter how powerful or large an enemy may be, none can prevail against God.

▸Og is identified as the last survivor of the Rephaim (giants).

12

"When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities.

Key Message

Fair distribution of what God has given is the principle of community.

▸The distribution of the conquered Transjordanian land begins.

13

The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of Rephaim.

Key Message

The inheritance God gives is distributed fairly, suited to the character and needs of each tribe and family.

▸The remainder of Gilead and all of Bashan is given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.

14

Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)

Key Message

The one who boldly takes possession of the inheritance God has given will receive it.

▸Jair of the tribe of Manasseh conquered the region of Argob and named it 'Havvoth-jair' (the villages of Jair) after himself.

15

I gave Gilead to Machir.

Key Message

God gives each person a fitting inheritance.

▸Gilead is given to Machir, the son of Manasseh.

16

And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far as the river Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites;

Key Message

God's distribution is fair and has clear boundaries.

▸The southern boundary (Arnon) and northern boundary (Jabbok) of Reuben and Gad's territory are clearly defined.

17

the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

Key Message

God's promise is fulfilled in concrete geographical reality.

▸The western boundary is the Jordan River, extending from the Sea of Chinnereth (the Sea of Galilee) in the north to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea/Dead Sea) in the south.

18

"And I commanded you at that time, saying, 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel.

Key Message

Having received one's own inheritance does not exempt one from the fight for a brother's portion. Community responsibility takes priority over personal benefit.

▸Though Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had received land east of the Jordan, they were still required to participate with the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan.

19

Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you,

Key Message

God knows our practical situations and, while taking those realities into account, still requires communal responsibility.

▸Families and livestock were to remain in the Transjordanian cities already received, while only the fighting men crossed the Jordan.

20

until the LORD gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession that I have given you.'

Key Message

Communal support has a beginning and an end. God does not demand infinite sacrifice but promises the time to return to one's own inheritance.

▸The duration of communal support is clearly defined: they must fight together until the other tribes obtain rest in Canaan—until the conquest is complete.

21

And I commanded Joshua at that time, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing.

Key Message

Personal experience of witnessing what God has done becomes the most powerful foundation for faith toward the future.

▸Moses reminds Joshua of the defeat of Sihon and Og.

22

You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.'

Key Message

The conviction that God himself fights is the basis of the faith that overcomes every fear.

▸This is the core encouragement repeated throughout Deuteronomy.

23

"And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying,

Key Message

Even the greatest leader is a person who prays. Prayer is the expression of a personal relationship with God.

▸A record of Moses' personal prayer to God.

24

'O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

Key Message

True prayer begins with praise that confesses God's greatness before placing one's own requests.

▸Moses' prayer begins with praise of God's greatness.

25

Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.'

Key Message

Honestly laying before God the most earnest desire of one's heart is genuine prayer. God sometimes answers that prayer with 'No.'

▸Moses' earnest desire is expressed.

26

But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, 'Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.

Key Message

God sometimes answers prayer with 'No.' This is not refusal but is part of a larger plan.

▸God answers Moses' prayer with 'No.

27

Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.

Key Message

Even God's 'No' is not a complete refusal. When entry is not permitted, beholding is permitted. God is also pleased with faith that sees the promise.

▸While saying 'No' to Moses' prayer, God still permits him to see the Promised Land from the top of Pisgah.

28

But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.'

Key Message

God's ministry does not end with one person. Building up and encouraging the next generation of leaders is the last and most important mission of the present leader.

▸The promise that Joshua will do what Moses cannot do.

29

So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Key Message

The historical site becomes the space in which God's word is heard. When one knows the historical meaning of the place where one stands, the word is received more deeply.

▸A closing statement that returns to the geographical setting introduced in chapter 1.