Numbers 21:28

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [and] the lords of the high places of Arnon.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"For fire burst out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sichon. It consumed 'Ar of Mo'av, the lords of Arnon's high places.

Berean Standard Bible:

For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

American Standard Version:

For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For there is a fire^{H784} gone out^{H3318} of Heshbon^{H2809}, a flame^{H3852} from the city^{H7151} of Sihon^{H5511}: it hath consumed^{H398} Ar^{H6144} of Moab^{H4124}, and the lords of the high places^{H1181} of Arnon^{H769}.

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Commentary for Numbers 21:28

1. Themes:
- Divine Judgment: The verse reflects the theme of divine judgment, where God uses the Israelites as an instrument to punish the nations that currently occupy the Promised Land.
- Conquest and Power: It highlights the power and reach of the Israelite forces, symbolized by fire, as they conquer cities and displace ruling powers.
- Historical Enemies: The verse mentions historical enemies of Israel, such as Moab, which are often depicted as deserving of God's wrath.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt and before they enter the Promised Land.
- The Israelites, led by Moses, are making their way towards Canaan and encounter resistance from various nations, including the Moabites and their king, Sihon.
- Heshbon was the capital city of King Sihon of the Amorites, and Ar was a significant Moabite city. The "lords of the high places of Arnon" refers to the Moabite deities or rulers who were defeated by the Israelites.
- The context of this verse is part of a larger narrative where the Israelites, through God's command, are defeating nations that occupy the land God has promised to them. The defeat of Sihon and the subsequent occupation of his territory are seen as acts of God's power and faithfulness to His promises.
- The "fire" and "flame" in the verse are metaphorical descriptions of the swift and devastating Israelite conquest, emphasizing the totality of their victory over these enemy cities.

In summary, Numbers 21:28 is a poetic description of the Israelite victory over the Moabites and Amorites, which is part of the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and the fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. The verse uses the imagery of fire to convey the impact of the Israelites' conquest, which is seen as an execution of God's judgment upon the nations occupying the land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H784
   There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼêsh
   Pronunciation: aysh
   Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2809
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶשְׁבּוֹן
   Transliteration: Cheshbôwn
   Pronunciation: khesh-bone'
   Description: the same as חֶשְׁבּוֹן; Cheshbon, a place East of the Jordan; Heshbon.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3852
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶהָבָה
   Transliteration: lehâbâh
   Pronunciation: leh-aw-baw'
   Description: or לַהֶבֶת; feminine of לַהַב, and meaning the same; {a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished blade or point of aweapon}; flame(-ming), head (of a spear).
   
5. Strong's Number: H7151
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קִרְיָה
   Transliteration: qiryâh
   Pronunciation: kir-yaw'
   Description: from קָרָה in the sense of flooring, i.e.; building; a city; city.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5511
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סִיחוֹן
   Transliteration: Çîychôwn
   Pronunciation: see-khone'
   Description: or סִיחֹן; from the same as סוּחַ; tempestuous; Sichon, an Amoritish king; Sihon.
   
7. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6144
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָר
   Transliteration: ʻÂr
   Pronunciation: awr
   Description: the same as עִיר; a city; Ar, a place in Moab; Ar.
   
9. Strong's Number: H4124
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹאָב
   Transliteration: Môwʼâb
   Pronunciation: mo-awb
   Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1181
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּעֲלֵי בָּמוֹת
    Transliteration: Baʻălêy Bâmôwth
    Pronunciation: bah-al-ay' baw-moth'
    Description: from the plural of בַּעַל and the plural of בָּמָה; Baals of (the) heights; Baale-Bamoth, a place East of the Jordan; lords of the high places.
    
11. Strong's Number: H769
    There are 86 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַרְנוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼArnôwn
    Pronunciation: ar-nohn'
    Description: or אַרְנֹןlemma אַרְנן missing vowel, corrected to אַרְנֹן; from רָנַן; a brawling stream; the Arnon, a river east of the Jordan, also its territory; Arnon.