Og in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
(`ogh; Og): King of Bashan, whose territory, embracing 60
cities, was conquered by Moses and the Israelites
immediately after the conquest of Sihon, king of the
Amorites (Nu 21:33-35; Dt 3:1-12). The defeat took place at
Edrei, one of the chief of these cities (Nu 21:33; Josh
12:4), and Og and his people were "utterly destroyed" (Dt
3:6). Og is described as the last of the REPHAIM (which
see), or giant-race of that district, and his giant stature
is borne out by what is told in Dt 3:11 of the dimensions of
his "bedstead of iron" (`eres barzel), 9 cubits long and 4
broad (13 1/2 ft. by 6 ft.), said to be still preserved at
Rabbath of Ammon when the verse describing it was written.
It is not, of course, necessary to conclude that Og's own
height, though immense, was as great as this. Some, however,
prefer to suppose that what is intended is "a sarcophagus of
black basalt," which iron-like substance abounds in the
Hauran. The conquered territory was subsequently bestowed on
the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Nu
32:33; Dt 3:12,13). Other references to Og are Dt 1:4; 4:47;
31:4; Josh 2:10; 9:10; 13:12,30). The memory of this great
conquest lingered all through the national history (Ps
135:11; 136:20). On the conquest, compare Stanley, Lectures
on the History of the Jewish Church, I, 185-87.
See ARGOB; BASHAN.
James Orr
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