Deuteronomy 3:3

So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

So the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} delivered {H5414} into our hands {H3027} Og {H5747} also, the king {H4428} of Bashan {H1316}, and all his people {H5971}: and we smote {H5221} him until none was left {H7604} to him remaining {H8300}.

So ADONAI our God also handed over to us 'Og the king of Bashan with all his people, and we defeated him until he had no one left.

So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan and his whole army into our hands. We struck them down until no survivor was left.

So Jehovah our God delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 3:3 is part of Moses' second discourse to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. In this section, Moses recounts the various victories God had granted them, serving as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and power. Specifically, this verse details the decisive defeat of Og, the king of Bashan, following the earlier triumph over Sihon, king of Heshbon (see Deuteronomy 2:33-36). The conquest of Og and his territory, Bashan, was significant not only because Og was a formidable king, possibly of giant stature, but also because it secured a vast, fertile land east of the Jordan River for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Sovereignty: The phrase "the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also" underscores that this victory was not merely a result of Israel's military might but a direct act of God's intervention. It emphasizes God's sovereign control over nations and His active role in fulfilling His promises to His people.
  • Complete Victory: The text states, "we smote him until none was left to him remaining." This signifies a total and comprehensive defeat, leaving no survivors or remnants of Og's forces. Such complete destruction was often commanded by God in the conquest of Canaan to prevent the idolatry and corrupt practices of the inhabitants from influencing Israel.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Promises: This victory, like others before it, demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to bring Israel into the land He promised their ancestors. It provides reassurance that God would continue to fight for them as they faced further challenges in possessing the land of Canaan. This act of divine assistance is also recalled in later biblical texts, such as Psalm 135:11 and Psalm 136:20.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "delivered into our hands" is natan b'yad (ื ึธืชึทืŸ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึทื“), which literally means "gave into the hand of." This idiom strongly implies a transfer of power or authority, highlighting that God was the one actively granting the victory and control over Og to the Israelites. The verb "smote" comes from the Hebrew nakah (ื ึธื›ึธื”), a versatile word often used to describe a decisive, often fatal, blow or striking down in battle, reinforcing the totality of the victory.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 3:3 serves as a timeless reminder that when God's people face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, God is able and willing to deliver them. Just as He delivered Og into the hands of the Israelites, God can grant us victory over the "giants" in our own lives, whether they are spiritual battles, personal struggles, or daunting challenges. This verse encourages us to remember God's past faithfulness and to trust in His active involvement in our present circumstances, knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It calls us to rely on divine power rather than solely on our own strength or strategies.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 21:35 (4 votes)

    So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

  • Deuteronomy 2:33 (2 votes)

    And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.

  • Deuteronomy 2:34 (2 votes)

    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:

  • Joshua 13:30 (2 votes)

    And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which [are] in Bashan, threescore cities:

  • Joshua 13:12 (2 votes)

    All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.