^21–22Israel sent emissaries to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, “Let us cross your land. We won’t trespass into your fields or drink water in your vineyards. We’ll keep to the main road, the King’s Road, until we’re through your land.”

^23–27But Sihon wouldn’t let Israel go through. Instead he got his army together and marched into the wilderness to fight Israel. At Jahaz he attacked Israel. But Israel fought hard, beat him soundly, and took possession of his land from the Arnon all the way to the Jabbok right up to the Ammonite border. They stopped there because the Ammonite border was fortified. Israel took and occupied all the Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its surrounding villages. Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon king of the Amorites. He had attacked the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far north as the river Arnon. That is why the folk singers sing,

Come to Heshbon to rebuild the city,

restore Sihon’s town.

^28–29Fire once poured out of Heshbon,

flames from the city of Sihon;

Burning up Ar of Moab,

the natives of Arnon’s heights.

Doom, Moab!

The people of Chemosh, done for!

Sons turned out as fugitives, daughters abandoned as captives

to the king of the Amorites, to Sihon.

³⁰Oh, but we finished them off:

Nothing left of Heshbon as far as Dibon;

Devastation as far off as Nophah,

scorched earth all the way to Medeba.

^31–32Israel moved in and lived in Amorite country. Moses sent men to scout out Jazer. They captured its villages and drove away the Amorites who lived there.

³³Then they turned north on the road to Bashan. Og king of Bashan marched out with his entire army to meet Moses in battle at Edrei.

³⁴God said to Moses, “Don’t be afraid of him. I’m making a present of him to you, him and all his people and his land. Treat him the same as Sihon king of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon.”

³⁵So they attacked him, his sons, and all the people—there was not a single survivor. Israel took the land.

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