So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land. So they struck downThe phrase "struck down" in Hebrew is often translated from the root word "נכה" (nakah), which means to smite, strike, or defeat. This term is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe God's deliverance of His people through military victory. The Israelites' ability to strike down their enemies is a testament to God's promise and power, as He had assured them of victory over the inhabitants of the Promised Land. This action is not merely a military conquest but a fulfillment of divine prophecy and a step towards the establishment of Israel in the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Og, his sons, and all his people Og was the king of Bashan, a region known for its fortified cities and giants. The mention of "Og, his sons, and all his people" emphasizes the totality of the victory. Og is described in Deuteronomy 3:11 as the last of the Rephaim, a race of giants, which underscores the formidable nature of the enemy. The defeat of Og and his people signifies the overcoming of seemingly insurmountable obstacles through faith and obedience to God. Historically, this victory would have been significant for the Israelites, as it demonstrated God's power over even the mightiest of foes. leaving no survivors The phrase "leaving no survivors" reflects the complete and utter defeat of the enemy, which was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern warfare. This total destruction can be understood within the context of divine judgment against the Canaanite nations, who were seen as morally corrupt and idolatrous. From a theological perspective, this act of leaving no survivors is seen as a means of purifying the land from influences that could lead Israel away from worshiping the one true God. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. and they took possession of his land The taking possession of the land is a fulfillment of God's covenant promise to the patriarchs. The Hebrew word for "possession" is "ירש" (yarash), which means to inherit or occupy. This act of taking possession is not just a physical occupation but a spiritual inheritance, as the land is a gift from God to His chosen people. Theologically, this signifies the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises and the importance of the Israelites' role in His redemptive plan. The land of Bashan, known for its fertility and strategic location, would have been a valuable addition to Israel's territory, further establishing them as a nation under God's providence. Persons / Places / Events 1. OgThe king of Bashan, a region east of the Jordan River. He was one of the last of the Rephaim, a group of giants mentioned in the Old Testament. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God, led by Moses, who were journeying to the Promised Land. They were commanded by God to conquer the lands east of the Jordan. 3. BashanA fertile region known for its strong cities and mighty warriors. It was part of the land promised to the Israelites. 4. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. 5. The BattleThe event where the Israelites, under God's command, defeated King Og and his army, taking possession of the land. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and FaithfulnessGod fulfills His promises to His people, demonstrating His sovereignty over nations and kings. This encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness in their own lives. Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' victory was a result of their obedience to God's command. Believers are reminded of the importance of following God's instructions to experience His blessings. Spiritual WarfareThe physical battles of the Old Testament symbolize the spiritual battles believers face today. Just as God delivered Og into the hands of the Israelites, He empowers believers to overcome spiritual giants. Inheritance and RestThe possession of the land signifies the rest and inheritance God provides. Believers are encouraged to find their rest in Christ, who is the fulfillment of God's promises. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the defeat of Og demonstrate God's power and faithfulness to the Israelites? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of obedience seen in this passage to our daily walk with God? 3. How does the concept of spiritual warfare in the New Testament relate to the physical battles described in the Old Testament? 4. What are some "giants" or challenges in your life that you need to trust God to overcome? 5. How can the idea of inheritance and rest in the Promised Land be applied to our understanding of eternal life in Christ? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 3:1-11Provides a detailed account of the battle against Og and the subsequent possession of his land, emphasizing God's role in delivering Og into the hands of the Israelites. Psalm 135:10-12Celebrates God's mighty acts in giving the lands of mighty kings, including Og, to Israel as an inheritance. Joshua 12:4-5Lists Og among the defeated kings, highlighting the extent of Israel's conquests under God's guidance. People Ammonites, Amon, Amorites, Arad, Canaanites, Chemosh, Israelites, Moses, Og, SihonPlaces Ar, Arad, Arnon, Bamoth, Bashan, Beer, Dedan, Dibon, Edom, Edrei, Egypt, Heshbon, Hormah, Iye-abarim, Jabbok River, Jahaz, Jazer, King's Highway, Mattanah, Medeba, Moab, Mount Hor, Nahaliel, Negeb, Nophah, Oboth, Pisgah, Red Sea, Suphah, Valley of Zered, WahebTopics Alive, Army, Driving, Heritage, Killed, Leaving, None, Overcame, Possess, Possessed, Possession, Remaining, Remnant, Slew, Smite, Smote, Sons, Struck, Survivor, SurvivorsDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 21:24-35 5572 sword Library The Poison and the Antidote 'And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compare the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7. Therefore … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Ruin and God's Remedy Man has very many wants, and he should be grateful whenever the least of them is supplied. But he has one want which overtops every other: it is the want of bread. Give him raiment, house him well, decorate and adorn him, yet if you give him not bread, his body faints, he dies of hunger. Hence it is that while the earth when it is tilled is made to bring forth many things that minister unto the comfort and luxury of men, yet man is wise enough to understand that since bread is his chief want, he … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 The Disciple, -- Master, in These Days Some Learned Men and their Followers Regard Thy... The Disciple,--Master, in these days some learned men and their followers regard Thy atonement and the redemption by blood as meaningless and futile, and say that Christ was only a great teacher and example for our spiritual life, and that salvation and eternal happiness depend on our own efforts and good deeds. The Master,--1. Never forget that spiritual and religious ideas are connected less with the head than with the heart, which is the temple of God, and when the heart is filled with the presence … Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important … John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Nations of the South-East Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the … Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! G reat and marvellous are the works of the LORD God almighty! We live in the midst of them, and the little impression they make upon us, sufficiently proves our depravity. He is great in the very smallest; and there is not a plant, flower, or insect, but bears the signature of infinite wisdom and power. How sensibly then should we be affected by the consideration of the Whole , if sin had not blinded our understandings, and hardened … John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices. Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as … Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above. That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions … John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Nature of Covenanting. A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, … John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Second Commandment Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not … Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, … G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 The Two Classes. "Two men went up into the temple to pray."--Luke xvii. 10. I now want to speak of two classes: First, those who do not feel their need of a Saviour who have not been convinced of sin by the Spirit; and Second, those who are convinced of sin and cry, "What must I do to be saved?" All inquirers can be ranged under two heads: they have either the spirit of the Pharisee, or the spirit of the publican. If a man having the spirit of the Pharisee comes into an after-meeting, I know of no better portion … Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It Numbers Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution … John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 21:35 NIVNumbers 21:35 NLTNumbers 21:35 ESVNumbers 21:35 NASBNumbers 21:35 KJV
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