Sihon King of the Amorites (Numbers 21:21-30)

2023-03-12

And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 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. (Numbers 21:23-24)

The Amorite king Sihon ruled east of the Jordan River. The Israelites asked to pass through his territory, but he refused. “And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace” (Deuteronomy 2:26). The king went out to fight Israel, for the LORD hardened him. “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day” (Deuteronomy 2:30).

Perhaps Sihon thought Israel would turn away, like in the case of Edom (Numbers 20:14-21). However, unlike Edom, who were close kin to Israel, Sihon’s army was met with battle and was defeated at Jahaz. These Amorite cities became Israelite territory. “And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain” (Deuteronomy 2:33-34).

This was significant because Heshbon, the chief city of these Amorites, had previously defeated the Moabites. That battle between the Amorites and Moab had been celebrated in proverbs by many. It was alluded to by Jeremiah, and that history would repeat itself in judgment against Moab: “They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones” (Jeremiah 48:45). This shows that when you are on the Lord’s side, He can defeat your greatest enemies. It was the power of the Lord who defeated the mighty Sihon.

This territory eventually became territory of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33).

Years later, the Ammonites wrongfully claimed that the land was theirs, and there was war between Israel under Jephthah and the Ammonites. “So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?” (Judges 11:23).

The Psalms commemorate this miraculous deliverance of the Lord. “Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan” (Psalms 135:10-11). And again, “To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalms 136:17-19).