Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 3

Verses 1-7

Deuteronomy 3:1-7 . A shorter account of the victory over Og, king of Bashan, occurs in Numbers 21:33-35, based on the present passage, the first person plural being changed to the third to suit the new context.

Verses 8-17

Deuteronomy 3:8-17 gives an account of the distribution, between Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, of the territories taken from the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og.

Deuteronomy 3:8 . beyond Jordan: see Deuteronomy 1:1.

Deuteronomy 3:9. The same mountain bore the names ( a) Hermon, i.e. sacred mount, perhaps the root is that of the verb “ to devote” ( Deuteronomy 2:34 *), cf. harem (Arabic), temple, women’ s enclosure; ( b) Sirion, the Sidonian name; ( c) Senir (so read in Deuteronomy 4:48 for “ Sion” ), the Amorite name. Yet in 1 Chronicles 5:23 and Ca. Deuteronomy 4:8 Senir and Hermon are differentiated.

Deuteronomy 3:10 continues Deuteronomy 3:8, Deuteronomy 3:9 being an editorial insertion.— plain: the elevated plateau N. of the Arnon on which Moab lay ( Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 13:9).— Gilead here includes the two halves (so Numbers 32:29). In Deuteronomy 2:36 * the southern, in Joshua 13:31 the northern half is alone meant.

Deuteronomy 3:11 . his . . . iron: render, “ his sarcophagus was a sarcophagus of black-basalt.” The Heb. barzel is used not only for iron, but also for black-basalt, one-fifth of which is usually iron ( Deuteronomy 8:9). Huge black-basalt sarcophagi have been discovered in the region here spoken of. There is a later and fuller version of the narrative of Deuteronomy 3:12-20 (settlement of the E. Jordan tribes) in Numbers 3:21-38 *. The two accounts differ in many respects.

Deuteronomy 3:14-17 (supplementary notices of the territory of the E. Jordan tribes) is evidently a late and clumsy compilation, repeating, and in part contradicting Deuteronomy 3:12 f., designed probably to reconcile Deuteronomy 3:12 f. with * Numbers 32:39; Numbers 32:41 *, from which Deuteronomy 3:14 f. is in part taken.

Deuteronomy 3:14 . Jair, i.e. Havvothjair: Numbers 32:41 * (P).— unto this day: Deuteronomy 2:22 *.

Deuteronomy 3:16 . Omit (with LXX) the words, “ The middle . . . thereof,” or render, “ the middle of the Wady being the border (or boundary).”

Deuteronomy 3:17 . slopes: the same Heb. word occurs in Numbers 21:15.

Verses 18-20

Deuteronomy 3:18-20 . The E. Jordan tribes had promised to help the others to conquer the territory W. of the Jordan ( Numbers 32:28-32 *).

Verses 21-29

Deuteronomy 3:21-29 . Moses encourages his successor ( Deuteronomy 3:21 f. absent from Numbers 3:32)and prays, though in vain, to be allowed to cross the Jordan ( Deuteronomy 3:23-29 recorded here only).

Deuteronomy 3:24 b. Which of the gods in whose existence and power the heathen believe can perform the mighty things which Thou hast wrought? The words do not necessarily prove that the writer believed in the real existence of heathen deities ( cf. Exodus 15:11 (J), Deuteronomy 18:11 (E), Psalms 71:19; Psalms 77:13, etc., see Deuteronomy 6:4).

Deuteronomy 3:25 . beyond Jordan: Deuteronomy 1:1 *.— that goodly mountain: render, “ that good (fertile) mountainous country.”

Deuteronomy 3:26 . See Deuteronomy 13:7 *.

Deuteronomy 3:27 . See Deuteronomy 34:1-4.