Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 253
21:10-26
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241
The Israelites traveled next to Oboth and camped there. Then they went
on to I ye-abarim, in the wilderness on the eastern border of Moab. From
there they traveled to the valley of Zered Brook and set up camp. Then
they moved out and camped on the far side of the Arnon River, in the
wilderness adjacent to the territory of the Amorites. The Arnon is the
boundary line between the Moabites and the Amorites. For this reason
The Book of the Wars of the Lord speaks of “the town of Waheb in the area
of Suphah, and the ravines of the Arnon River, and the ravines that extend
as far as the settlement of Ar on the border of Moab.”
From there the Israelites traveled to Beer, which is the well where the
Lord said to Moses, “Assemble the people, and I will give them water.”
There the Israelites sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!
Yes, sing its praises!
Sing of this well,
which princes dug,
which great leaders hollowed out
with their scepters and staffs.”
Then the Israelites left the wilderness and proceeded on through Mattanah, Nahaliel, and Bamoth. After that they went to the valley in Moab
where Pisgah Peak overlooks the wasteland.
The Israelites sent ambassadors to King Sihon of the Amorites with this
message:
“Let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through
your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells.
We will stay on the king’s road until we have passed through your
territory.”
But King Sihon refused to let them cross his territory. Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel in the wilderness, engaging them
in battle at Jahaz. But the Israelites slaughtered them with their swords
and occupied their land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They
went only as far as the Ammonite border because the boundary of the
Ammonites was fortified.
So Israel captured all the towns of the Amorites and settled in them,
including the city of Heshbon and its surrounding villages. Heshbon had
