Deuteronomy Chapter 3

(1-8) King Og of Bashan defeated

1. Verse 2

And the LORD said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’

*When Joshua encouraged the congregation, he mentioned that Moses led the Israelites to defeat these two kings. Joshua said: God sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. (Joshua 24:12).

*When God used hornets to defeat the army of King Sihon of the Amorites, one could say that this was just a coincidence or luck. However, God once again used hornets to destroy the combat effectiveness of King Og of Bashan, proving that it was not a coincidence or luck. The same thing happens again and again, allowing the people to understand clearly that their victory was not by sword or spears. Rather, they are victorious only by relying on God and with God’s abidance..

*The hornets may refer to real hornets because God promised to send the hornets ahead of His people to conquer the land of Canaan (Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20),

Now Joshua says that God has sent hornets ahead of his people to drive out the two kings of the Amorites.

*The hornets may also be a metaphor for fear from God. Just as the hornets in the camp of the enemy creates panic and confusion, God causes fear and confusion in the enemy, making it impossible for them to fight the Israelites. (Joshua 10:10; 1 Samuel 7:10)

2. Verse 4

And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities

* These cities have strong and high walls, with gates and latches, making them invincible to man. However, they can be broken by God. Israel is victorious in battle through relying on God.

* Today we face many fortified walls that are not broken. These seem difficult to overcome, but we need to trust in the power of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

(9-22) The land east of the Jordan is given to two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh)

*Instead of craving ease and comfort, they entered Canaan with their brethren to fight till all had rest. Their wives and children stayed behind, but all their men of valor had to carry weapons and cross the river together to fight alongside their brethren until their brethren had rest and possessed the land which God had given them, before they went back to the land that was given to them.

*We should not only care about our own comfort, but rather, we should also care for others. We as brothers should bear each other’s burdens; Because we are all one body, our members must take care of each other. We must develop the spirit of sharing weal and woe, and fight together to drive out the enemy.

(23-29) Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan.

*Moses obeyed God’s will, and passed the baton to Joshua without any regrets. It was not because he was disappointed and thus passed the responsibilities to Joshua.

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