Numbers 21:24
New International Version
Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.

New Living Translation
But the Israelites slaughtered them with their swords and occupied their land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They went only as far as the Ammonite border because the boundary of the Ammonites was fortified.

English Standard Version
And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong.

Berean Standard Bible
And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.

King James Bible
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

New King James Version
Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.

New American Standard Bible
Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

NASB 1995
Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

NASB 1977
Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.

Amplified Bible
Then Israel struck the king of the Amorites with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.

Christian Standard Bible
Israel struck him with the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only up to the Ammonite border, because it was fortified.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Israel struck him with the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only up to the Ammonite border, because it was fortified.

American Standard Version
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

Contemporary English Version
Israel defeated them and took over the Amorite territory from the Arnon River gorge in the south to the Jabbok River gorge in the north. Beyond the Jabbok was the territory of the Ammonites, who were much stronger than Israel.

English Revised Version
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But 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.

Good News Translation
But the Israelites killed many of the enemy in battle and occupied their land from the Arnon River north to the Jabbok, that is, to the Ammonites, because the Ammonite border was strongly defended.

International Standard Version
But Israel defeated him in battle and took possession of all his lands from Arnon to Jabbok, including the Ammonites, even though the border of the Ammonites was strong.

Majority Standard Bible
And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.

NET Bible
But the Israelites defeated him in battle and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strongly defended.

New Heart English Bible
Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was strong.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

World English Bible
Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Israel strikes him by the mouth of the sword, and possesses his land from Arnon to Jabbok—to the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon [is] strong.

Young's Literal Translation
And Israel smiteth him by the mouth of the sword, and possesseth his land from Arnon unto Jabbok -- unto the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon is strong.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Israel will smite him with the mouth of the sword, and he will possess his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the sons of Ammon: for the boundary of the sons of Ammon was strong.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was slain by them with the edge of the sword, and they possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jeboc, and to the confines of the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites, were kept with a strong garrison.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he was struck down by them with the edge of the sword, and they possessed his land from Arnon, even to Jabbok and the sons of Ammon. For the borders of the Ammonites were held by a strong fortress.

New American Bible
But Israel put him to the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and as far as Jazer of the Ammonites, for Jazer is the boundary of the Ammonites.

New Revised Standard Version
Israel put him to the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites; for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, and as far as the border of the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Israel struck him with the mouth of the sword and they possessed his land from Arnon and unto Yabaq and unto to the children of Amon, because the border of the children of Amon was strong.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Israel smote him with the slaughter of the sword, and they became possessors of his land, from Arnon to Jaboc, as far as the children of Amman, for Jazer is the borders of the children of Amman.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Defeat of Sihon
23But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. 24And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok— but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified. 25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 2:32-36
So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz. / And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army. / 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. ...

Deuteronomy 3:1-11
Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei. / But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.” / So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan and his whole army into our hands. We struck them down until no survivor was left. ...

Joshua 12:1-6
Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites struck down and whose lands they took beyond the Jordan to the east, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the Arabah eastward: / Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead, / as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah. ...

Judges 11:18-22
Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border. / And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’ / But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. ...

Psalm 135:10-12
He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings: / Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan. / He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.

Psalm 136:17-22
He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever. / and slaughtered mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever. / Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever. ...

Amos 2:9-10
Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. / And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.

Acts 13:19
And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 11:30-34
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. / By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient. / And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, ...

Deuteronomy 29:7-8
When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them. / We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 24:8
Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I destroyed them before you.

Nehemiah 9:22
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan.

Isaiah 15:1-9
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night! / Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. / In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

Israel

Numbers 32:1-4,33-42
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; …

Deuteronomy 2:31-37
And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land…

Deuteronomy 29:7
And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:

Arnon

Numbers 21:13
From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

Genesis 32:22
And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

Deuteronomy 3:16
And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

Jump to Previous
Ammon Ammonites Armed Arnon Border Boundary Children Country Edge However Jabbok Jazer Land Mouth Overcame Possessed Possession Slew Smiteth Smote Strong Strongly Struck Sword
Jump to Next
Ammon Ammonites Armed Arnon Border Boundary Children Country Edge However Jabbok Jazer Land Mouth Overcame Possessed Possession Slew Smiteth Smote Strong Strongly Struck Sword
Numbers 21
1. Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4. The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7. They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10. Various journeys of the Israelites
21. Sihon is overcome
33. And Og














And Israel put him to the sword
This phrase signifies a decisive military victory by the Israelites over Sihon, king of the Amorites. The Hebrew root for "put to the sword" is "נכה" (nakah), which means to strike or smite. This victory is not just a physical conquest but also a spiritual triumph, as it demonstrates God's faithfulness in delivering His promises to Israel. Historically, this victory is significant as it marks a turning point in Israel's journey to the Promised Land, showcasing their growing strength and God's providential guidance.

and took possession of his land
The act of taking possession is rooted in the Hebrew word "ירש" (yarash), which means to inherit or occupy. This is not merely a territorial gain but a fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham regarding the land. Theologically, it represents the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and the importance of obedience and trust in God's plan. Archaeologically, this period marks the beginning of Israel's settlement in the Transjordan region, a significant step in their establishment as a nation.

from the Arnon to the Jabbok
The Arnon and the Jabbok are significant geographical markers. The Arnon River served as a boundary between Moab and the Amorites, while the Jabbok River was a tributary of the Jordan River. These rivers define the extent of the land conquered by Israel. Historically, these boundaries are crucial as they delineate the territory that God allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. Theologically, it underscores the precision of God's promises and His attention to detail in the fulfillment of His word.

but only up to the border of the Ammonites
This phrase highlights the respect for boundaries set by God. The Israelites did not encroach upon the land of the Ammonites, as God had instructed them not to disturb the descendants of Lot (Deuteronomy 2:19). This demonstrates the importance of obedience to God's commands and respect for His sovereign decisions regarding nations and their territories. Historically, it reflects the complex relationships between the Israelites and their neighboring nations.

because it was fortified
The fortification of the Ammonite border indicates a well-defended and established territory. The Hebrew word for fortified is "עז" (az), meaning strong or mighty. This detail emphasizes the strategic and military considerations in Israel's conquests. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder that while God grants victories, He also sets limits and boundaries for His people, teaching them reliance on His wisdom and timing. Historically, it reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of fortifying cities and borders to protect against invasions, underscoring the challenges Israel faced in their conquest of the land.

(24) For the border of the children of Ammon was strong.--These words assign the reason why the conquests of the Amorites were arrested, not why the children of Israel did not take possession of the land of the Ammonites, with whom they were forbidden to meddle, and whose land they were not to occupy. (See Deuteronomy 2:19.)

Verse 24. - And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword. This was the first time that generation had seen war, if we except the uncertain episode of the king of Arad, and they could have had no weapons but such as their fathers had brought out of Egypt. It was, therefore, a critical moment in their history when they met the forces of Sihon, confident from their recent victory over Moab. We may suppose that Joshua was their military leader now, as before and after. From Arnon unto Jabbok. The Jabbok, which formed the boundary of Sihon on the north towards the kingdom of Og, and on the east towards the Ammonites, is the modern Zerka: it runs in a large curve northeast, north-west, and west, until it fails into Jordan, forty-five miles north of the mouth of the Arnon. Even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. This is perhaps intended to explain rather why the Amorites had not extended their conquests any further, than why the Israelites made no attempt to cross the border of Ammon; they had another and more sufficient reason (see Deuteronomy 2:19). Rabbah of Ammon, which stood upon the right (here the eastern) bank of the Upper Jabbok, was an extremely strong place which effectually protected the country behind it, even until the reign of David (see on 2 Samuel 11, 12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

put him
וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ (way·yak·kê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

to the sword
חָ֑רֶב (ḥā·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

and took possession of
וַיִּירַ֨שׁ (way·yî·raš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

his land,
אַרְצ֜וֹ (’ar·ṣōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

from the Arnon
מֵֽאַרְנֹ֗ן (mê·’ar·nōn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 769: Arnon -- 'a roaring stream', a wadi and stream in Moab

to
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the Jabbok—
יַבֹּק֙ (yab·bōq)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2999: Jabbok -- a river East of the Jordan

but only up to
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the border
גְּב֖וּל (gə·ḇūl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

of the Ammonites,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it was fortified.
עַ֔ז (‘az)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh


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OT Law: Numbers 21:24 Israel struck him with the edge (Nu Num.)
Numbers 21:23
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