Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 3

Verse 1

Bashan. Compare Numbers 21:33 , Numbers 21:34 .

came out. Og was the aggressor. Numbers 21:33 .

Verse 2

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

said. See note on Deuteronomy 2:9 .

hand. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "hands".

as = according as.

Verse 3

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . del

i vered. Compare Deuteronomy 2:36 .

Verse 4

threescore cities. They can all be seen, and counted today. (See Dr. Porter's Giant Cities of Bashan .)

region. Hebrew = "cord". Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the region marked out by it.

Argob. Compare 1 Kings 4:13 .Psalms 136:18-22

Verse 5

cities. See note on Deuteronomy 3:4 .

Verse 6

destroyed . . . destroying = devoted to destruction. Hebrew. haram . Compare Deuteronomy 7:2 .

men. Hebrew. methim = adult males. App-14 .

women. Some codices, with The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and the women".

Verse 7

spoil. For laws regulating this, see Numbers 31:0 .

Verse 8

on this side = across, a neutral term. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 .

unto. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and (or even) unto".

Hermon = high mountain.

Verse 9

Which. Note these topographical parentheses, verses: Deuteronomy 3:9 , Deuteronomy 3:11 , Deuteronomy 3:14 , Compare Deuteronomy 2:20-23 , Deuteronomy 2:29 .

Sirion = breastplate.

Shenir = coat of mail.

Verse 10

Gilead = the rough country.

Verse 11

giants. Hebrew " Rephaim ", descendants of one Rapha, a branch of the Nephilim . See App-25 .

behold. A special various reading called Sevir (see App-34 ) reads "and behold".

bedstead = bed or couch, but not the usual word which is mishkab . It is ' eres , and is exactly the same measurement as the tomb of Marduk in Babylon. The mythological significance of 'eres (Bab. irsu) is nuptial bed, or funeral couch. Probably = tomb.

iron. Probably basalt.

is it not. ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), f'or emphasis.

Rabbath was the capital of Ammon, where the temple of Milchom was: and where Og's tomb would naturally be.

children = sons.

cubits. See App-51 .

cubit of a man = a common cubit = a man's forearm.

Verse 12

at that time. Compare Numbers 32:33 ; Numbers 21:24 .Joshua 12:1-6 ; Joshua 13:8-12 , Joshua 13:15-32 .

Verse 14

coasts = borders.

Bashan-havoth-jair = the villages (or cluster of villages) of Jair in Bashan. Hebrew. Havoth = towns, used only of Jair's. Compare Numbers 32:41 .Joshua 13:30 . Jdg 10:4 . 1 Kings 4:13 . 1 Chronicles 2:23 .

unto this day: unto the time of writing. Here the time mentioned is from Numbers 21:0 to the eleventh month of the fortieth year (Deuteronomy 1:3 ).

Verse 17

Chinnereth. Afterward called Gennesaret, compare Numbers 34:11 .Joshua 19:35 . So called from its shape, kinnor , a harp.

the plain. Hebrew. 'Arabah . See Deuteronomy 1:1 .

Ashdoth-pisgah = the springs of Pisgah. Note the Figure of speech Polyonymia ( App-6 ) in this verse.

Verse 18

I commanded. See Numbers 32:20-24 .

meet for the war. Hebrew = sons of valour. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Noun), App-6 = valiant men. Emphasis on valiant. Compare 2 Samuel 2:7 . 1 Kings 1:52 .

Verse 20

return. Compare Joshua 22:4 .

Verse 22

not fear. Compare Deuteronomy 1:29 , Deuteronomy 1:30 . Ex. Deuteronomy 14:13 , Deuteronomy 14:14 .

Verse 24

Lord GOD = Adonai J ' ehovah . See App-4 . This prayer not mentioned elsewhere.

hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), put for works wrought by the hand.

Verse 25

the good land. Compare Psalms 106:24 .Numbers 13:27 .

Verse 26

wroth. See Numbers 20:12 .

said. See note on Deuteronomy 2:9 .

Verse 27

westward, &c. The points of the compass here are seaward, darkness-ward, Teman-ward, and sunrise-ward. Teman-ward (i.e. south of Edom) first used for south in Exodus 26:18 . See Numbers 27:12 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton, App-6 , emphasizing the extent of the view. not go over. Compare Numbers 27:13 .

Verse 28

charge Joshua. Compare Numbers 27:18 , Numbers 27:19 .

Verse 29

Beth-peor = the house (or temple) of Peor, where Baal was worshipped (Numbers 23:28 ; Numbers 25:3 .Numbers 4:3 , Here Moses was buried (Deuteronomy 34:6 ). It was a Moabite holy place (Numbers 25:18 ; Num 25:31 , Numbers 25:16 . Joshua 22:17 ). Allotted to Reuben (Joshua 13:20 ).