God’s Word Translation
Numbers 21:23
23Sihon wouldn’t let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon’s troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel.
Numbers 21:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
Context of Numbers 21:23
21Then Israel sent messengers to say to King Sihon of the Amorites, 22“Let us go through your country. We won’t go through any of your fields or vineyards or drink any of the water from your wells. We’ll stay on the king’s highway until we’ve passed through your territory.” Sihon wouldn’t let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon’s troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel. 24But Israel defeated them in battle and took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River. ⌞They stopped at⌟ the border of the Ammon because it was fortified. 25Israel took all those Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its villages, and lived in them.
Read all of Numbers 21Numbers 21:23 word by word
וְלֹא־נָתַ֨ן סִיחֹ֣ן אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ עֲבֹ֣ר בִּגְבֻלוֹ֒ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף סִיחֹ֜ן אֶת־כָּל־עַמּ֗וֹ וַיֵּצֵ֞א לִקְרַ֤את יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הַמִּדְבָּ֔רָה וַיָּבֹ֖א יָ֑הְצָה וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Sihonסִיחוֹןsîychôn sîychôn · SihonH5511
- would not sufferנָתַןnâthan · to give: allowH5414
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- to passעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- through his borderגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
- gatheredאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
- all his peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- and went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- into the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- and he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to Jahazיַ֫הַץהyahats yahtsâh yahtsâh · JahazH3096
- and foughtלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
Cross-references for Numbers 21:23
- Deuteronomy 2:30But King Sihon of Heshbon wouldn’t allow us to pass through. The Lord your God made him stubborn and overconfident in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.
- Deuteronomy 29:7When you came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight us, but we defeated them.
- Judges 11:20But Sihon did not trust the Israelites enough to let them go through his territory. Sihon assembled all his troops. He camped at Jahaz and attacked Israel.
- Isaiah 15:4Heshbon and Elealeh also cry out. Their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. Moab’s armed men cry out. Their courage is gone.
- Jeremiah 48:34“The cry will be heard from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz. It will be heard from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. Even the streams of Nimrim will dry up.
Commentaries on Numbers 21:23
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-35Verses 21-35 Sihon went with his forces against Israel, out of his own borders, without provocation, and so ran upon his own ruin. The enemies of God's church often perish by the counsels they think most wisely taken. Og, king of Bashan, instead of being warned by the fate of his neighbours, to make peace with Israel, makes war with them, which proves in like manner his destruction. Wicked men do their utmost to secure themselves and their possessions…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-24King Sihon's land was between Moab and Ammon. God would not allow the Israelites to invade Ammon, Edom, or Moab (Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 2:4–9). This was because they were relatives (Genesis 19:30–38; 32:3). Yet, Israel needed to cross Transjordan (the region across the Jordan River) to enter Canaan. Sihon's territory was the natural route.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. Israel sent messengers unto Sihon--The rejection of their respectful and pacific message was resented--Sihon was discomfited in battle--and Israel obtained by right of conquest the whole of the Amorite dominions.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 21:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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