Deuteronomy 2:24-37

How does the account of Sihon combine peace overtures, hardening, and judgment?

Berean Standard Bible

24 “Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25 This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.” 26 So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, saying, 27 “Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left. 28 You can sell us food to eat and water to drink in exchange for silver. Only let us pass through on foot, 29 just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.” 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day. 31 Then the LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.” 32 So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army. 34 At that time we captured all his cities and devoted to destruction the people of every city, including women and children. We left no survivors. 35 We carried off for ourselves only the livestock and the plunder from the cities we captured. 36 From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them. 37 But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites, or the land along the banks of the Jabbok River, or the cities of the hill country, or any place that the LORD our God had forbidden.

What is the context?

The Lord commands Israel to begin taking Sihon’s territory. Moses nevertheless recounts sending an offer of peaceful passage and payment for food and water. Sihon refuses, and the account attributes his stubbornness to the Lord’s purpose in delivering him to Israel.

Sihon comes to battle and is defeated. The account includes the destruction of men, women, and children in the captured cities, while livestock and goods are taken. The conquest stops short of the territories the Lord had forbidden Israel to approach. Its severity and its limits are both stated.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the Lord’s hardening as allowing Sihon to become hardened, while the BSB states the Lord made him obstinate. Wesley also treats the destruction as historical divine judgment. The USCCB notes distinguish the text’s presentation of total destruction from their historical doubt that this program was literally carried out. These are material differences of interpretation; neither should be passed off as the text’s only uncontested explanation.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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