Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3 is part of the first discourse (chapters 1–4) that Moses delivers to the people in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan, as he looks back on their journey through the wilderness. Following Deuteronomy 2, which recounts the defeat of Sihon king of Heshbon, it covers the conquest of Bashan, the distribution of the land, and Moses' final plea.

Outline

• Verses 1–7 Israel fights and defeats Og king of Bashan at Edrei, captures sixty cities of the region of Argob fortified with high walls, and utterly destroys them. The livestock and spoil are kept as plunder.
• Verses 8–11 Israel takes possession of the land east of the Jordan from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. The text notes that Og was the only one left of the remnant of the Rephaim and that his bedstead of iron was nine cubits long and four cubits wide.
• Verses 12–17 This land is distributed to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Jair the son of Manasseh calls Bashan Havoth-jair, and Machir receives Gilead.
• Verses 18–22 The fighting men of the eastern tribes are to cross the Jordan armed, ahead of their brethren, while their wives, children, and livestock remain in the cities. Moses tells Joshua not to be afraid.
• Verses 23–29 Moses pleads to be allowed to cross the Jordan, but his request is refused; he is commanded to view the land from the top of Pisgah and to commission Joshua.

Key Verses

• Deuteronomy 3:22 "The LORD your God he shall fight for you" — a confession that God is the one who brings victory.
• Deuteronomy 3:26 "Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter" — the moment at which Moses' plea is refused.
• Deuteronomy 3:28 "Encourage him, and strengthen him" — preparation for the transfer of leadership to Joshua.

People and Places

• Og: King of Bashan. The Rephaim are described in tradition as an ancient people of great stature.
• Sihon: King of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.
• Jair, Machir: Descendants of the tribe of Manasseh.
• Bashan, Gilead: The northern and central regions east of the Jordan River.
• Mount Hermon: The northern limit of the conquered territory. The Sidonians called it Sirion, and the Amorites called it Shenir.
• Mount Pisgah: The mountain from which Moses was commanded to view the Promised Land.
• Rabbah: A city of the Ammonites, where Og's bedstead was kept.

Points for Reflection

• Utter destruction: Interpretations differ regarding the record that men, women, and even little children were utterly destroyed. Traditionally the account has been read as God's judgment on the sins of the Canaanite peoples; others hold that the hyperbolic conventions of ancient war accounts should also be taken into consideration.
• Why Moses did not enter: This chapter attributes the cause to the people, saying "for your sakes." The account of the incident at Meribah in Numbers 20 gives the unbelief of Moses and Aaron as the reason. Interpreters differ in how they read the two accounts together.
• The iron bedstead: Some interpret the "bedstead of iron" not as a bed made of iron but as a sarcophagus made of dark basalt.
• Connected passages: The pledge of the eastern tribes is fulfilled in Joshua 1 and 22. Moses' ascent of Pisgah is narrated in chapter 34. The "rest" of verse 20 is sometimes read alongside the discussion of rest in Hebrews 4.