TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
KJV (with Strong's)
Rise ye up H6965, take your journey H5265, and pass over H5674 the river H5158 Arnon H769: behold H7200, I have given H5414 into thine hand H3027 Sihon H5511 the Amorite H567, king H4428 of Heshbon H2809, and his land H776: begin H2490 to possess H3423 it, and contend H1624 with him in battle H4421.
Complete Jewish Bible
"'Get up, get moving, and cross the Arnon Valley! Here, I have put in your hands Sichon the Emori, king of Heshbon, and his land; commence the conquest, begin the battle!
Berean Standard Bible
“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.
American Standard Version
Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
World English Bible Messianic
“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Rise vp therefore, sayd the Lord: take your iourney, and passe ouer the riuer Arnon: beholde, I haue giuen into thy hand Sihon, the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possesse it and prouoke him to battell.
Young's Literal Translation
`Rise ye, journey and pass over the brook Arnon; see, I have given into thy hand Sihon king of Heshbon, the Amorite, and his land; begin to possess, and stir up thyself against him in battle.
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Commentary on Deuteronomy 2 verses 24–37
24 ¶ Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.
26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.
28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;
29 (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.
30 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.
31 And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
34 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:
35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:
37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.
God having tried the self-denial of his people in forbidding them to meddle with the Moabites and Ammonites, and they having quietly passed by those rich countries, and, though superior in number, not made any attack upon them, here he recompenses them for their obedience by giving them possession of the country of Sihon king of the Amorites. If we forbear what God forbids, we shall receive what he promises, and shall be no losers at last by our obedience, though it may seem for the present to be to our loss. Wrong not others, and God shall right thee.
I. God gives them commission to seize upon the country of Sihon king of Heshbon, Deu 2:24, Deu 2:25. This was then God's way of disposing of kingdoms, but such particular grants are not now either to be expected or pretended. In this commission observe, 1. Though God assured them that the land should be their own, yet they must bestir themselves, and contend in battle with the enemy. What God gives we must endeavour to get. 2. God promises that when they fight he will fight for them. Do you begin to possess it, and I will begin to put the dread of you upon them. God would dispirit the enemy and so destroy them, would magnify Israel and so terrify all those against whom they were commissioned. See Exo 15:14.
II. Moses sends to Sihon a message of peace, and only begs a passage through his land, with a promise to give his country no disturbance, but the advantage of trading for ready money with so great a body, Deu 2:26-29. Moses herein did neither disobey God, who bade him contend with Sihon, nor dissemble with Sihon; but doubtless it was by divine direction that he did it, that Sihon might be left inexcusable, though God hardened his heart. This may illustrate the method of God's dealing with those to whom he gives his gospel, but does not give grace to believe it.
III. Sihon began the war (Deu 2:32), God having made his heart obstinate, and hidden from his eyes the thing that belonged to his peace (Deu 2:30), that he might deliver him into the hand of Israel. Those that meddle with the people of God meddle to their own hurt; and God sometimes ruins his enemies by their own resolves. See Mic 4:11-13; Rev 16:14.
IV. Israel was victorious. 1. They put all the Amorites to the sword, men, women, and children (Deu 2:33, Deu 2:34); this they did as the executioners of God's wrath; now the measure of the Amorites' iniquity was full (Gen 15:16), and the longer it was in the filling the sorer was the reckoning at last. This was one of the devoted nations. They died, not as Israel's enemies, but as sacrifices to divine justice, in the offering of which sacrifices Israel was employed, as a kingdom of priests. The case being therefore extraordinary, it ought not to be drawn into a precedent for military executions, which make no distinction and give no quarter: those will have judgment without mercy that show no mercy. 2. They took possession of all they had; their cities (Deu 2:34), their goods (Deu 2:35), and their land, Deu 2:36. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. What a new world did Israel now come into! Most of them were born, and had lived all their days, in a vast howling wilderness, where they knew not what either fields or cities were, had no houses to dwell in, and neither sowed nor reaped; and now of a sudden to become masters of a country so well built, so well husbanded, this made them amends for their long waiting, and yet it was but the earnest of a great deal more. Much more joyful will the change be which holy souls will experience when they remove out of the wilderness of this world to the better country, that is, the heavenly, to the city that has foundations.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 24–37. Public domain.
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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 2:24 marks a pivotal turning point in Israel's wilderness journey, as Moses recounts God's direct command for the Israelites to transition from peaceful passage to active conquest. After decades of wandering and being instructed to bypass the territories of their kinsmen, God now explicitly directs them to cross the Arnon River and confront Sihon, the formidable Amorite king of Heshbon. This verse powerfully declares God's pre-ordained victory, assuring Israel that Sihon and his land have already been "given into thine hand," while simultaneously calling them to obedient action by beginning to possess the land and engage in battle.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 2:24 employs several potent literary devices that amplify its message. The most prominent is Divine Command, expressed through a series of direct imperatives ("Rise ye up, take your journey, pass over, begin to possess, contend"). This direct address underscores God's active involvement and absolute authority over Israel's destiny. Coupled with this is Divine Assurance, powerfully conveyed by the perfect tense of "I have given," which functions as a Prophetic Perfect. This grammatical construction declares a future event as already accomplished, emphasizing its certainty and God's unwavering purpose. The phrase "given into thine hand" is a powerful Idiom, common in biblical warfare narratives, symbolizing the transfer of power and guaranteed victory. Finally, the verse serves as a Foreshadowing of the broader conquest narrative, signaling the transition from peaceful passage to active warfare and setting the precedent for the numerous battles that will follow in the book of Joshua.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 2:24 is a profound theological statement on God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and the nature of His covenant with Israel. It reveals that God's promises are not contingent on human strength or strategy but are rooted in His divine decree and accomplished through His power. The command to "rise up" and "contend" despite the prior declaration of victory highlights the essential biblical tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God's assurance of victory empowers Israel to act in faith, knowing that their efforts are not in vain but are part of a larger divine plan. This passage serves as a foundational example of God leading His people into their inheritance, providing the means and the victory for what He commands. It teaches that true possession comes through obedient action, empowered by divine promise, demonstrating that God's people are called to participate actively in the fulfillment of His purposes.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 2:24 offers timeless principles for believers navigating the challenges of life today. Just as Israel stood at the precipice of a daunting military campaign, we often find ourselves facing "Arnon Rivers" – formidable obstacles, new ventures, or spiritual battles that seem overwhelming. This verse reminds us that God often declares His victory and provision before we fully engage in the struggle. Our call is to "rise up," to take the journey, and to "contend" in faith, trusting in His declared promises. God's assurance that He has already "given into thine hand" the victory does not negate our need for active obedience and strategic engagement. Instead, it empowers us to move forward boldly, confident that where God leads, He also provides the strength, wisdom, and means for what He commands. This passage encourages us to step out in faith, knowing that our efforts are not isolated but are part of God's greater plan to bring us into the inheritance He has prepared for us, whether that be spiritual growth, overcoming temptation, or fulfilling our unique calling.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God command Israel to fight after bypassing other nations?
Answer: God's command to fight Sihon after bypassing Edom, Moab, and Ammon demonstrates His sovereign control over nations and His specific purposes for Israel. The nations Israel bypassed were considered "kinsmen" (descendants of Lot or Esau), and God had already allotted their territories to them, instructing Israel not to harass them Deuteronomy 2:4-19. Sihon, however, was an Amorite king who had conquered territory from Moab and was not part of this protected group. His kingdom lay directly in Israel's path to the Promised Land. God's command to engage Sihon was a strategic and theological necessity: it was the first step in Israel's active possession of the land promised to Abraham, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant and preparing Israel for the larger conquest of Canaan. It also served as a test of Israel's obedience and faith in God's power to grant victory.
What is the significance of Heshbon and the Arnon River in this context?
Answer: The Arnon River served as a significant natural boundary, often marking the border between Moab and the Amorite kingdom of Sihon. Crossing it symbolized entering contested territory and the beginning of military engagement, marking a decisive shift from peaceful passage to active conquest. Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon's Amorite kingdom, strategically located on a major trade route. Its conquest was crucial for Israel's control of Transjordan and for opening a path to the Jordan River and the land of Canaan. The capture of Heshbon and the surrounding territory of Sihon and Og Deuteronomy 3:1-11 provided Israel with their first major land holdings east of the Jordan, setting a precedent for God's power to deliver the land into their hands.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 2:24, with its declaration of divine victory preceding human engagement, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Just as God "gave into thine hand" Sihon and his land to Israel, so too has God the Father "given" all authority and victory into the hand of His Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Christ's triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness was a divine certainty, accomplished on the cross and sealed in the resurrection. Colossians 2:15 declares that Christ "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." This is the ultimate "I have given into thine hand" moment, where the spiritual enemies that held humanity captive were decisively defeated. For believers, this means we are called to "rise up" and "contend" in spiritual warfare, not for a victory yet to be won, but from a victory already secured by Christ. We are commanded to "take your journey" into the spiritual inheritance of redemption, righteousness, and eternal life that is already ours in Christ Ephesians 1:3. Our "possession" of this spiritual land involves living out the implications of Christ's finished work, engaging in the good fight of faith 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, and entering into the rest that remains for the people of God Hebrews 4:9-10. The earthly conquest of Sihon foreshadows the spiritual conquest accomplished by Christ, enabling His followers to live in the reality of His triumph and to walk in the freedom of His finished work.