Deuteronomy 2:36

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:

From Aroer {H6177}, which is by the brink {H8193} of the river {H5158} of Arnon {H769}, and from the city {H5892} that is by the river {H5158}, even unto Gilead {H1568}, there was not one city {H7151} too strong {H7682} for us: the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} delivered {H5414} all unto us {H6440}:

From 'Aro'er, on the edge of the Arnon Valley, and from the city in the valley, all the way to Gil'ad, there was not one city too well fortified for us to capture -ADONAI our God gave all of them to us.

From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.

From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, even unto Gilead, there was not a city too high for us; Jehovah our God delivered up all before us:

Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:36 marks a triumphant declaration within Moses' recounting of Israel's journey and initial conquests before entering the Promised Land. This verse highlights the completeness of God's deliverance of territory to His people, emphasizing that no enemy city could withstand them.

Context

This verse concludes Moses' detailed account of the successful conquest of the Amorite kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon, a pivotal moment in Israel's journey (Deuteronomy 2:33). Having been refused passage through Sihon's land, and God hardening Sihon's heart to provoke war, Israel engaged in battle and utterly defeated him. The geographical markersโ€”"From Aroer, which [is] by the brink of the river of Arnon, and [from] the city that [is] by the river, even unto Gilead"โ€”delineate the extensive territory east of the Jordan River that Israel had now secured. Aroer, located on the southern bank of the Arnon River, marked the southern boundary of Sihon's kingdom, while Gilead stretched northward, encompassing a significant portion of what would become the tribal lands of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and Deliverance: The central message is unequivocally "the LORD our God delivered all unto us." This passage powerfully underscores the theme of divine assistance and intervention. Israel's victory was not due to their military might or strategic brilliance, but entirely to God's hand.
  • Completeness of Victory: The phrase "there was not one city too strong for us" emphasizes the absolute and overwhelming nature of the conquest. Every fortified city, no matter how formidable it appeared, fell before the Israelites because the Lord was fighting for them. This speaks to God's omnipotence and His ability to overcome any obstacle.
  • Fulfillment of Promise: This successful acquisition of land is a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants to give them a land. It serves as tangible evidence of God's faithfulness to His word.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "delivered all unto us" (Hebrew: ื ึธืชึทืŸ nathan, meaning "to give, place, set, deliver") emphasizes God's active role as the one who hands over or grants possession. It highlights the divine initiative in the conquest, underscoring that the land was not taken by force of human will alone, but was a gift from the Lord.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 2:36 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that when God is on our side, no challenge is truly insurmountable. Just as Israel faced cities deemed "too strong," we too encounter spiritual, emotional, or practical obstacles that seem overwhelming. This verse teaches us to trust in God's power and sovereignty, knowing that He can deliver us from seemingly impossible situations. Our victories, whether big or small, are ultimately from Him. It echoes the sentiment that with God as our helper, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 13:9

    From Aroer, that [is] upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that [is] in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

  • Deuteronomy 3:12

    ยถ And this land, [which] we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which [is] by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

  • Deuteronomy 4:48

    From Aroer, which [is] by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which [is] Hermon,

  • Psalms 44:3

    For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

  • Jeremiah 48:19

    O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, [and] say, What is done?

  • Joshua 1:5

    There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

  • Joshua 12:2

    Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, [and] ruled from Aroer, which [is] upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
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