Following the Israelites’ refusal to enter the promised land in Numbers 13 and their subsequent punishment by God, the nation has to wander in the desert for 40 years. Despite their punishment, God is still with them.
In Numbers 21, the country comes across the nation of the Amorites. According to Genesis 10, the Amorites were descended from Noah’s son, Ham, through Canaan. Thus, “Amorites” can be used in a general way for “Canaanites.” By the time Moses is leading the Israelites through the wilderness in Numbers 21, “Amorites” were a group of people, a nation, with Sihon as their king.
Numbers 21 recounts how Moses kindly asked Sihon for permission to pass through his country. “We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have passed through your border” (vs 22). That is a reasonable request. Sihon turned them down and, instead, led an attack against them. That proved to be Sihon’s own undoing.
Israel fought in self-defense and defeated Sihon and the Amorites and took possession of their land and their cities (vss 24-25). This began the fulfillment of God’s promise to Father Abraham to drive out the Amorites from their land and give it to Israel (Genesis 15:12-16).
This victory over Sihon became an important historical point for the nation of Israel. “Sihon” is mentioned 37 times in the Old Testament. On the banks of the Jordan, Moses reminds Israel of their defeat of Sihon many times in Deuteronomy. As the nation conquered the land of Palestine, Joshua reminds them of Sihon. He is brought up several times in the book of Judges and in the time of King Solomon. Two psalms praise God for the victory He gave Israel over Sihon (135 & 136). Both Jeremiah and Nehemiah find a reason to refer to the defeat of Sihon over the Amorites.
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The land of Og, Bashan, was later given to the tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan. That area received above average rainfall and, because of volcanic ash, had rich farmland. Wheat was the predominant crop grown in the area so that Bashan became a “breadbasket” for Israel (ISBE, I:437). Livestock and trees are also associated with Bashan.
“Og” also made it into the history books of Israel, being mentioned 22 times in the Old Testament: Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Kings, and again in Psalms 135 & 136 and by Nehemiah. “Sihon” and “Og” are mentioned together in several texts and mentioned together twice in the same verse.
Here are some lessons we learn from Sihon and Og: 1.) God keeps His promises; 2.) God gives victory to His faithful followers; 3.) You and I should never forget God’s history. He did not want Israel to forget these battles and the victories as He had them recorded in inspired Scripture many times. Therefore, He does not want you and me to forget these victories!
–Paul Holland