sihon Summary and Overview

striking down. The whole country on the east of Jordan, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, was possessed by the Amorites, whose king, Sihon, refused to permit the Israelites to pass through his territory, and put his army in array against them. The Israelites went forth against him to battle, and gained a complete victory. The Amorites were defeated; Sihon, his sons, and all his people were smitten with the sword, his walled towns were captured, and the entire country of the Amorites was taken possession of by the Israelites (Num. 21:21-30; Deut. 2:24-37). The country from the Jabbok to Hermon was at this time ruled by Og, the last of the Rephaim. He also tried to prevent the progress of the Israelites, but was utterly routed, and all his cities and territory fell into the hands of the Israelites (compare Num. 21:33-35; Deut. 3:1-14; Ps. 135: 10-12; 136:17-22). These two victories gave the Israelites possession of the country on the east of Jordan, from the Arnon to the foot of Hermon. The kingdom of Sihon embraced about 1,500 square miles, while that of Og was more than 3,000 square miles.

(warrior) king of the Amorites when Israel arrived on the borders of the promised land. #Nu 21:21| (B.C. 1451.) Shortly before the time of Israel's arrival he had dispossessed the Moabites of a splendid territory, driving them south of the natural bulwark of the Amen. Ibid. #Nu 21:26-29| When the Israelite host appeared, he did not hesitate or temporize like Balak, but at once gathered his people together and attacked them. But the battle was his last. He and all his host were destroyed, and their district from Amen to Jabbok became at once the possession of the conqueror.

SI'HON (sweeping away), a king of the Amorites who lost his dominions in consequence of his refusal to permit the Hebrews to pass through them on their way from Egypt to Canaan. Sihon himself was slain in battle, his army was routed, Heshbon, his capital, was taken, and his country distributed between Reuben and Gad." Num 21:21-30; Deut 1:4; Deut 2:24-32; Josh 13:15-29.

King of the Amorites. Shortly before Israel's approach he had dispossessed Moab of all their territory N. of Arnon. An Israelite poet celebrates Sihon's victory, glorifying Heshbon as the city from whence "a flame" went forth "consuming Ar of Moab," so that "Moab's sons their idol ("Chemosh") rendered fugitives, and yielded his daughters into captivity unto Sihon"! then by a sudden startling transition the poet introduces Israel's triumph in turn over Sihon. "We ("Israelites") have shot at them, Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, with fire even unto Medeba." Israel begged leave to pass peaceably through the Amorite land by the king's highway, but "Sihon gathered all his people" and came to Jahaz (between Dibon and Medeba) and fought against Israel and was defeated. Churlishness and unprovoked violence bring their own punishment (Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 18:12; Numbers 21:21-31). So Israel gained all the Amorite territory, from the Arnon to the Jabbok. Josephus says that every man in the nation fit to bear arms fought in the Amorite army against Israel (Ant. 4:, section 2). The struggle was a desperate one; no mere human force enabled Israel, heretofore unused to warfare, to subdue so formidable a king and conqueror as Sihon. Pride of conquest was his snare.