Deuteronomy 3:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we have another strong country, Bashan, given into Israel’s hands. The defeat of Sihon is often mentioned together with the defeat of Og, to God’s praise, because Israel’s victories began there (Psalm 135:11; Psalm 136:19-20). This chapter shows how they overcame Og, a very powerful king.

Og was a very strong man, for he belonged to the last of the giants (Deuteronomy 3:11). His great strength was so well known that the Ammonites kept his bedstead as a rare display in their main city. The bedstead was made of iron, as if wood would not have been strong enough for him. It was nine cubits long and four cubits wide, which means, by ordinary measure, it was about four and a half yards long and two yards wide. If his bed was two cubits longer than his own body, as seems likely, then he stood about three and a half yards tall, twice the height of an ordinary man. Yet Israel struck him down (Deuteronomy 3:3).

When God takes up his people’s cause, he can deal with giants as easily as with grasshoppers. No one’s strength can protect him against the Almighty. Og also had a very strong army, since he ruled sixty fortified cities, besides the unwalled towns (Deuteronomy 3:5). But all of this meant nothing when God sent Israel against him.

Og was also bold and reckless. He came out to fight against Israel (Deuteronomy 3:1). It is striking that he did not learn from the fall of Sihon and seek peace instead. He trusted in his own strength, and that pride hardened him for destruction. Those who are not moved by God’s judgments on others, but keep defying heaven, are quickly preparing themselves for the same judgment (Jeremiah 3:8).

God told Moses not to fear him (Deuteronomy 3:2). Moses himself may have already been strong in faith, but the people likely needed that warning. These fresh promises were meant to steady them. God said, “I will hand him over to you,” meaning not only that Og would not defeat them, but that Israel would defeat him. God also said, “Do to him what you did to Sihon,” so they would draw courage from their former victory and trust God for another. God does not change.

Israel also took possession of Bashan, a very desirable land. They captured all the cities (Deuteronomy 3:4), took all their spoil (Deuteronomy 3:7), and made the whole region their own (Deuteronomy 3:10). In this way, they gained the rich land east of the Jordan, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:8). This conquest was meant not only to encourage Israel in the wars of Canaan, but also to give Moses comfort before his death. Since he would not live to see their full victory and settlement, God gave him this sample of it. In the same way, the Spirit is given to believers as the first payment of their inheritance, until God fully redeems his purchased people.