New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Deuteronomy 3
1
Next, we turned and went up along the road toward Bashan. Og, the king of Bashan, marched out with his whole army. They fought against us at Edrei.
Reference
2
The Lord said to me, "Do not be afraid of Og. I have handed him over to you. I have also handed over his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon. Sihon was the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon."
Reference
3
So the Lord our God also handed Og, the king of Bashan, and his whole army over to us. We struck them down. We didn't leave any of them alive.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 21:35
4
At that time we took all of his cities. There were 60 of them. We took the whole area of Argob. That was Og's kingdom in Bashan.
Reference
📍 Argob
Parallel theme
1 Kings 4:13
5
All of those cities had high walls around them. The city gates were made secure with heavy metal bars. There were also large numbers of villages that didn't have walls.
6
We completely destroyed them. We did to them just as we had done to Sihon, the king of Heshbon. We destroyed all of their cities. We destroyed the men, women and children.
Reference
7
But we kept for ourselves the livestock and everything else we took from their cities.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 2:35
8
So at that time we took the territory east of the Jordan River. We captured it from those two Amorite kings. The territory goes all the way from the Arnon River valley to Mount Hermon.
📍 Mount Hermon
10
We captured all of the towns on the high flatlands. We took the whole land of Gilead. And we captured the whole land of Bashan as far away as Salecah and Edrei. Those were towns that belonged to Og's kingdom in Bashan.
📍 Salecah
11
Og, the king of Bashan, was the only Rephaite left. His bed was made out of iron. It was more than 13 feet long and six feet wide. It is still in the Ammonite city of Rabbah.
Reference
📍 Rabbah
12
I divided up the land we took over at that time. I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the territory north of Aroer by the Arnon River valley. It includes half of the hill country of Gilead together with its towns.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 2:36
13
I gave the rest of Gilead to half of the tribe of Manasseh. I also gave them the whole land of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. The whole area of Argob in Bashan used to be known as a land of the Rephaites.
📍 Locations
14
Jair took the whole area of Argob. He was from the family line of Manasseh. Argob goes all the way to the border of the people of Geshur and Maacah. It was named after Jair. So Bashan is called Havvoth Jair to this very day.
Reference
📍 Argob
15
I gave Gilead to Makir.
16
But I gave to the tribes of Reuben and Gad the territory that reaches from Gilead down to the Arnon River valley. It reaches all the way to the Jabbok River. The Jabbok is the northern border of Ammon. The middle of the Arnon River valley is its southern border.
Reference
17
The western border of Reuben and Gad is the Jordan River in the Arabah Valley. It reaches from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It runs below the slopes of Pisgah.
Reference
📍 Locations
18
Here is the command I gave at that time to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. I said, "The Lord your God has given you this land as your very own. But all of your strong men must be prepared for battle. They must cross over ahead of the rest of your fellow Israelites.
19
"But your wives and children can stay in the towns I've given you. You can keep your livestock there too. I know you have a lot of livestock.
20
Let your families and livestock stay in those towns until the Lord gives peace and rest to the other tribes, just as he has given you peace and rest. And let them stay until the other tribes have taken over the land the Lord your God is giving them. That land is across the Jordan River. After that, each of you may go back to the land I've given you as your very own."
Reference
References God
Joshua 22:4
21
At that time I gave Joshua a command. I said, "Your own eyes have seen everything the Lord your God has done to Sihon and Og. He will do the same thing to all of the kingdoms in the land where you are going.
22
Don't be afraid of them. The Lord your God himself will fight for you."
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 44:3
References God
Deuteronomy 20:4
Deuteronomy 1:30
Joshua 10:42
2 Chronicles 20:29
2 Chronicles 13:12
References Lord
Exodus 14:14
2 Chronicles 20:17
Numbers 21:34
23
At that time I made my appeal to the Lord. I said,
24
"Lord and King, you have begun to show me how great you are. You have shown me how strong your hand is. You do great works and mighty acts. There isn't any god in heaven or on earth that can do what you do.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:25
Psalm 145:6
References God
Exodus 15:11
Psalm 71:19
Deuteronomy 11:2
Psalm 86:8
2 Samuel 7:22
Psalm 89:8
References Lord
Psalm 35:10
Psalm 89:6
25
Let me go across the Jordan River. Let me see the good land that is beyond it. I want to see that fine hill country and Lebanon."
26
But the Lord was angry with me because of what you did. He wouldn't listen to me. "That is enough!" the Lord said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.
Reference
27
Go up to the highest slopes of Pisgah. Look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes. But you are not going to go across that Jordan River.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 27:12
28
"So appoint Joshua as the new leader. Help him to be brave. Give him hope and strength. He will take these people across the Jordan. You will see the land. But he will lead them into it to take it as their own."
Reference
Summary of Deuteronomy 3
Deuteronomy chapter 3 picks up Moses' recapping of Israel's victories on the east side of the Jordan River. Having defeated Sihon, king of Heshbon, Israel turned north to meet Og, the king of Bashan, whom the Lord also delivered into Israel's hands. Moses then speaks about his desire to enter the Promised Land, which was denied, and the giving of Joshua the command to lead Israel across the Jordan.
Israel turned north and fought against Og, king of Bashan, who had great dominion and mighty men and chariots. Moses remembered how Og and his people had come out to oppose Israel at Edrei, when the Lord had given him word that Og's forces, men, and territory would be delivered into Israel's hands.
Israel vanquished Og and his forces, as they had with Sihon, and they laid siege to all of his great cities with their iron gates and bars. The victory was a notable one, as Bashan was a land filled with walled strongholds and mighty men.
The Israelites destroyed all the cities and their inhabitants as the Lord had commanded. Their possessions and beasts of burden were claimed as spoil. The great cities and land of Bashan and Og were added to Israel's conquests east of the Jordan.
Moses then spoke of the borders and area of the land which Israel had conquered. They went from the Arnon to Gilead and Bashan, with Og's kingdom encompassing the region of Argob, the land of many strong holds.
Israel had crossed over their enemies and gained a great territory from these two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River. These victories were important for they both tested the armies of Israel and provided much needed land for the tribes.
The land was apportioned among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for they had much cattle which required pasture. The tribe of Reuben inherited the land south of Gilead, and Gad the land to the north. The half tribe of Manasseh received Bashan. The chief man of the tribe of Manasseh, Jair, took the land of Argob and its cities and renamed them Havoth-jair.
Another district called Gilead went to Machir, the son of Manasseh. It stretched toward Geshur and Maachathi, and Moses names Bashan as once being called the land of the giants.
Moses reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh that their possession of land east of the Jordan did not absolve them of helping the rest of the Israelites to obtain their own share. Until the remaining tribes received their allotment, the fighting men of those tribes were to be with the rest of the Israelites when crossing the Jordan and fighting the battles of the Lord.
Their womenfolk, children, and cattle could remain in the cities and land which Moses had apportioned to them but their fighting men were to go with their brethren until the latter had possession of their land. This fulfilled the words spoken by the Lord to Moses in the previous chapter, for Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were free to remain in their inheritance once the rest of the tribes had received theirs.
Once these tribes had obtained their own land, then the men of the aforementioned tribes could return to their people and possessions. It was not enough that they had been freed to take possession of the land which they had requested to hold.
Moses then spoke of his great desire to cross over into the land which the Lord had promised to Israel, which he had seen to be a land flowing with milk and honey. He longed to see the mountains, the goodly land, and the Lebanon.
The Lord, however, had been grieved at the disobedience of Moses in the waters of Meribah-kadesh, when Moses had disobeyed the orders of the Lord and had struck the rock which brought forth water. Moses would not be permitted to enter the land which he had guided Israel across the wilderness for thirty years. He was instead commanded to go up to the summit of Pisgah and look upon the land of Gilead, Bashan, and all the land of the Amorites, stretching out to the west, north, south, and east, which he would not be permitted to enter.
He was commanded to encourage and strengthen Joshua, whom the Lord had chosen to lead the people across the Jordan and into their inheritance. It was the Lord who gave the orders, for the leadership of Israel would be transferred from Moses to Joshua over the Jordan.
The chapter closes with Moses remaining where the Lord had commanded him to, for he had guided Israel from Egypt to the wilderness. It was now Joshua's turn to do the same.
The great theme of Deuteronomy 3 is that Israel's victories were not due to their own might but to the Lord who had fought for them. Moses reminds the people time and time again that the victories over Sihon and Og were not due to the superiority of Israel but because the Lord had given them into the hands of Israel. Og was a giant with mighty cities, yet the Lord had fought for Israel and delivered the enemy into their hands.
Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had been given the inheritance of Bashan and Gilead, yet Israel as a whole still needed to take possession of the land on the west side of the Jordan. Their inheritance would not keep them from aiding their brothers to obtain the land which the Lord had given them. Responsibility was a matter of great importance to Moses.
Finally, Moses spoke of his disappointment that he would not be permitted to cross over into the land which Israel had conquered. He had fought alongside Joshua, but Joshua would now take over Moses' role as leader.
At this point in Deuteronomy, Israel is very close to reaching Canaan, their promised land. The wilderness years have passed and the victories over the Amorites have been achieved, and the east side of the Jordan is conquered. The Israelites have learned from their experiences that it is only with the aid of the Lord that they can overcome their enemies. Moses has guided them for many years but Joshua is now to lead them into their inheritance. Deuteronomy 3 is one of victory, inheritance, responsibility, and leadership.
Israel turned north and fought against Og, king of Bashan, who had great dominion and mighty men and chariots. Moses remembered how Og and his people had come out to oppose Israel at Edrei, when the Lord had given him word that Og's forces, men, and territory would be delivered into Israel's hands.
Israel vanquished Og and his forces, as they had with Sihon, and they laid siege to all of his great cities with their iron gates and bars. The victory was a notable one, as Bashan was a land filled with walled strongholds and mighty men.
The Israelites destroyed all the cities and their inhabitants as the Lord had commanded. Their possessions and beasts of burden were claimed as spoil. The great cities and land of Bashan and Og were added to Israel's conquests east of the Jordan.
Moses then spoke of the borders and area of the land which Israel had conquered. They went from the Arnon to Gilead and Bashan, with Og's kingdom encompassing the region of Argob, the land of many strong holds.
Israel had crossed over their enemies and gained a great territory from these two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River. These victories were important for they both tested the armies of Israel and provided much needed land for the tribes.
The land was apportioned among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for they had much cattle which required pasture. The tribe of Reuben inherited the land south of Gilead, and Gad the land to the north. The half tribe of Manasseh received Bashan. The chief man of the tribe of Manasseh, Jair, took the land of Argob and its cities and renamed them Havoth-jair.
Another district called Gilead went to Machir, the son of Manasseh. It stretched toward Geshur and Maachathi, and Moses names Bashan as once being called the land of the giants.
Moses reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh that their possession of land east of the Jordan did not absolve them of helping the rest of the Israelites to obtain their own share. Until the remaining tribes received their allotment, the fighting men of those tribes were to be with the rest of the Israelites when crossing the Jordan and fighting the battles of the Lord.
Their womenfolk, children, and cattle could remain in the cities and land which Moses had apportioned to them but their fighting men were to go with their brethren until the latter had possession of their land. This fulfilled the words spoken by the Lord to Moses in the previous chapter, for Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were free to remain in their inheritance once the rest of the tribes had received theirs.
Once these tribes had obtained their own land, then the men of the aforementioned tribes could return to their people and possessions. It was not enough that they had been freed to take possession of the land which they had requested to hold.
Moses then spoke of his great desire to cross over into the land which the Lord had promised to Israel, which he had seen to be a land flowing with milk and honey. He longed to see the mountains, the goodly land, and the Lebanon.
The Lord, however, had been grieved at the disobedience of Moses in the waters of Meribah-kadesh, when Moses had disobeyed the orders of the Lord and had struck the rock which brought forth water. Moses would not be permitted to enter the land which he had guided Israel across the wilderness for thirty years. He was instead commanded to go up to the summit of Pisgah and look upon the land of Gilead, Bashan, and all the land of the Amorites, stretching out to the west, north, south, and east, which he would not be permitted to enter.
He was commanded to encourage and strengthen Joshua, whom the Lord had chosen to lead the people across the Jordan and into their inheritance. It was the Lord who gave the orders, for the leadership of Israel would be transferred from Moses to Joshua over the Jordan.
The chapter closes with Moses remaining where the Lord had commanded him to, for he had guided Israel from Egypt to the wilderness. It was now Joshua's turn to do the same.
The great theme of Deuteronomy 3 is that Israel's victories were not due to their own might but to the Lord who had fought for them. Moses reminds the people time and time again that the victories over Sihon and Og were not due to the superiority of Israel but because the Lord had given them into the hands of Israel. Og was a giant with mighty cities, yet the Lord had fought for Israel and delivered the enemy into their hands.
Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had been given the inheritance of Bashan and Gilead, yet Israel as a whole still needed to take possession of the land on the west side of the Jordan. Their inheritance would not keep them from aiding their brothers to obtain the land which the Lord had given them. Responsibility was a matter of great importance to Moses.
Finally, Moses spoke of his disappointment that he would not be permitted to cross over into the land which Israel had conquered. He had fought alongside Joshua, but Joshua would now take over Moses' role as leader.
At this point in Deuteronomy, Israel is very close to reaching Canaan, their promised land. The wilderness years have passed and the victories over the Amorites have been achieved, and the east side of the Jordan is conquered. The Israelites have learned from their experiences that it is only with the aid of the Lord that they can overcome their enemies. Moses has guided them for many years but Joshua is now to lead them into their inheritance. Deuteronomy 3 is one of victory, inheritance, responsibility, and leadership.