collapse all  

Text -- Numbers 21:27 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
21:27 That is why those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established!
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Heshbon a town of south-eastern Judah
 · Sihon the king of the Amorites in Moses time


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Suphah | Song | Sihon | PROVERB | Moabite | MOSES | MOAB; MOABITES | Israel | IMAGES | Heshbon | DARK SAYINGS | Canaan | BIBLE, THE, IV CANONICITY | Ar | Amorites | AMMON; AMMONITES | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Num 21:27 - -- The poets or other ingenious persons, of the Amorites or Canaanites, who made this following song of triumph over the vanquished Moabites: which is he...

The poets or other ingenious persons, of the Amorites or Canaanites, who made this following song of triumph over the vanquished Moabites: which is here brought in, as a proof that this was now Sihon's land, and as an evidence of the just judgment of God in spoiling the spoilers, and subduing those who insulted over their conquered enemies.

Wesley: Num 21:27 - -- These are the words either of Sihon speaking to his people, or of the people exhorting one another to come and possess the city which they had taken.

These are the words either of Sihon speaking to his people, or of the people exhorting one another to come and possess the city which they had taken.

Wesley: Num 21:27 - -- That which once was the royal city of the king of Moab, but now is the city of Sihon.

That which once was the royal city of the king of Moab, but now is the city of Sihon.

JFB: Num 21:27-30 - -- Here is given an extract from an Amorite song exultingly anticipating an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amo...

Here is given an extract from an Amorite song exultingly anticipating an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amorite bard ends at Num 21:28. The two following verses appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence of the usurpers.

Clarke: Num 21:27 - -- They that speak in proverbs - המשלים hammoshelim , from משל mashal , to rule, to exercise authority; hence a weighty proverbial saying, b...

They that speak in proverbs - המשלים hammoshelim , from משל mashal , to rule, to exercise authority; hence a weighty proverbial saying, because admitted as an axiom for the government of life. The moshelim of the ancient Asiatics were the same, in all probability, as the Poetae among the Greeks and Latins, the shaara among the Arabs, who were esteemed as Divine persons, and who had their name from shaara , he knew, understood; whose poems celebrated past transactions, and especially those which concerned the military history of their nation. These poets were also termed sahebi deewan , companions or lords of the council of state, because their weighty sayings and universal knowledge were held in the highest repute. Similar to these were the bards among the ancient Druids, and the Sennachies among the ancient Celtic inhabitants of these nations

The ode from the 27th to the 30th verse is composed of three parts. The first takes in Num 21:27 and Num 21:28; the second Num 21:29; and the third Num 21:30

The first records with bitter irony the late insults of Sihon and his subjects over the conquered Moabites

The second expresses the compassion of the Israelites over the desolations of Moab, with a bitter sarcasm against their god Chemosh, who had abandoned his votaries in their distress, or was not able to rescue them out of the hands of their enemies

The third sets forth the revenge taken by Israel upon the whole country of Sihon, from Heshbon to Dibon, and from Nophah even to Medeba. See Isa 15:1, Isa 15:2

The whole poem, divided into its proper hemistichs, as it stands in Kennicott’ s Hebrew Bible, is as follows: -

Verse 27. Part

Come ye to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt

The city of Sihon, let it be established

Verse 2

For from Heshbon the fire went out

And a flame from the city of Sihon

It hath consumed the city of Moab

With the lords of the heights of Arnon

Verse 29. Part

Alas for thee, O Moab

Thou hast perished, O people of Chemosh

He hath given up his fugitive son

And his daughters into captivity

To the king of the Amorites, Sihon

Verse 30. Part

But on them have We lifted destruction

From Heshbon even to Dibon

We have destroyed even to Nophah

The fire did reach to Medebah

See Kennicott’ s Remarks.

Calvin: Num 21:27 - -- 27.Wherefore, they that speak in proverbs That is, an old saying, or proverbial sentence remains, and is well known. The song, however, appears to ha...

27.Wherefore, they that speak in proverbs That is, an old saying, or proverbial sentence remains, and is well known. The song, however, appears to have been composed in the character of those who, when prepared to engage in war, mutually exhorted each other, “Come into Heshbon,” i.e., run to the standard of king Sihon; hasten to his home, and his chief place of abode, in order that we may thence go forth to battle. These expressions, “build and prepare,” I interpret as being used for enlarge, adorn, and enrich; for it is probable that this city was not overthrown, but they foretell that the city would be renovated, when a larger dominion had been gained. And this is more fully confirmed by what immediately follows, when it is said that “a fire had gone forth from Heshbon,” which consumed Ar of Moab, and all its neighborhood. As to the “lords of the high places of Arnon,” some understand the priests who presided in the temples; others extend them to all the inhabitants in general; but, in my opinion, it will not be unsuitable to refer them to the idols themselves, since it appears from the next verse that the conquerors were so insolently elated, as not only to despise the men themselves, but their gods also; for when they say, “Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh,” there is no doubt but that they mockingly reproach them with the fact that they had been badly defended by the gods whom they worshipped. 132 And, in point of fact, ungodly men, when in prosperity, uplift their horns to heaven, as if they would assail the divinity which was opposed to them. They, therefore, deride Chemosh, because he made “his sons” or worshippers to be fugitives or captives.

In the word lantern 133 he makes use of a common metaphor. Some follow the Chaldee interpreter, and render it kingdom; but it has a wider signification; for it includes all the component parts of a happy and prosperous state. 134 The meaning, therefore, is, that their glory and all their wealth was annihilated. The cities of Dibon and Medeba are situated on the extreme borders, near the river Arnon, so that by these he designates all the intermediate plain.

TSK: Num 21:27 - -- Num 21:14; Isa 14:4; Hab 2:6

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Num 21:27 - -- They that speak in proverbs - The original word is almost equivalent to "the poets."The word supplies the title of the Book of Proverbs itself;...

They that speak in proverbs - The original word is almost equivalent to "the poets."The word supplies the title of the Book of Proverbs itself; and is used of the parable proper in Eze 17:2; of the prophecies of Balsam in Num 23:7-10; Num 24:3-9; etc.; and of a song of triumph over Babylon in Isa 14:4.

Poole: Num 21:27 - -- That speak in proverbs the poets, or other ingenious persons, to wit, of the Amorites or Canaanites, who made this following song of triumph over the...

That speak in proverbs the poets, or other ingenious persons, to wit, of the Amorites or Canaanites, who made this following song of triumph over the vanquished Moabites; which is here brought in partly as a proof that this was now Sihon’ s land, and partly as an evidence of the just judgment of God in spoiling the spoilers, and subduing these who insulted over their conquered enemies.

Come into Heshbon: these are the words either of Sihon speaking thus to his people, or of the people exhorting one another to come and possess and repair the city which they had taken.

The city of Sihon that which once was the royal city of the king of Moab, but now is the city of Sihon.

Haydock: Num 21:27 - -- Proverb. Hebrew Moshelim: "Those who speak proverbs, or enigmas, say." Those were the ancient poets of the Amorrhites, who composed this cantic...

Proverb. Hebrew Moshelim: "Those who speak proverbs, or enigmas, say." Those were the ancient poets of the Amorrhites, who composed this canticle on the victory of Sehon. (Calmet) ---

Moses inserts it in his work, as an additional proof, that the country was entirely lost to Moab, and as a denunciation of the evils which still hung over the head of that people, and would be inflicted upon them by David, &c., 2 Kings x. i., 4 Kings iii. 16., and Amos i. 13. (Haydock)

Gill: Num 21:27 - -- Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say,.... The historical writers of those times, among the Amorites, who were usually poets, and wrote the histor...

Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say,.... The historical writers of those times, among the Amorites, who were usually poets, and wrote the history of the wars between the Moabites and Amorites in verse; as Homer among the Greeks wrote the wars of Troy; and the compositions of those ancient bards were short and compendious, and wrapped up in proverbial sayings, and enigmatical and figurative expressions, that they might be the better retained in memory, and therefore were called proverbialists. Jarchi says, they were Balaam and Beor that took up their parables, and said:

come into Heshbon; which words are the beginning of the song, and in which the Amorites are represented as inviting Sihon, and his nobles, to enter Heshbon, which he had taken, and make it his royal seat; or as encouraging one another to go into it and repair it, having suffered much at the taking of it, which seems to be confirmed by what follows:

let the city of Sihon be built and prepared; that is, let us set about rebuilding of the city, and let us fit it up for Sihon our king, and let it be called his city, and made the place of his residence, his palace, and where his court may be kept.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Num 21:27 Meaning, “rebuilt and restored.”

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Num 21:1-35 - --1 Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah.4 The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents.7 They repenting are healed by a brazen serpent.10 S...

MHCC: Num 21:21-35 - --Sihon went with his forces against Israel, out of his own borders, without provocation, and so ran upon his own ruin. The enemies of God's church ofte...

Matthew Henry: Num 21:21-35 - -- We have here an account of the victories obtained by Israel over Sihon and Og, which must be distinctly considered, not only because they are here d...

Keil-Delitzsch: Num 21:21-35 - -- Defeat of the Amorite Kings, Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan, and Conquest of their Kingdoms. Num 21:21-23 When the Israelites reached the easte...

Constable: Num 21:21-32 - --Israel's defeat of Sihon 21:21-32 This account fits chronologically after 21:13. It reco...

Guzik: Num 21:1-35 - --Numbers 21 - On the Way to Canaan A. The serpent in the wilderness. 1. (1-3) Defeat of the king of Arad the Canaanite. The king of Arad, the Canaa...

expand all
Introduction / Outline

JFB: Numbers (Book Introduction) NUMBERS. This book is so called because it contains an account of the enumeration and arrangement of the Israelites. The early part of it, from the fi...

JFB: Numbers (Outline) MOSES NUMBERING THE MEN OF WAR. (Num. 1:1-54) THE ORDER OF THE TRIBES IN THEIR TENTS. (Num. 2:1-34) THE LEVITES' SERVICE. (Num. 3:1-51) OF THE LEVITE...

TSK: Numbers (Book Introduction) The book of Numbers is a book containing a series of the most astonishing providences and events. Every where and in every circumstance God appears; ...

TSK: Numbers 21 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Num 21:1, Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah; Num 21:4, The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents; Num 21:7, They repent...

Poole: Numbers (Book Introduction) FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBERS THE ARGUMENT This Book giveth us a history of almost forty years travel of the children of Israel through th...

Poole: Numbers 21 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 21 The Canaanites fight against Israel, and take some of them prisoners, Num 21:1 . Through God’ s assistance they overcome them, and ...

MHCC: Numbers (Book Introduction) This book is called NUMBERS from the several numberings of the people contained in it. It extends from the giving of the law at Sinai, till their arri...

MHCC: Numbers 21 (Chapter Introduction) (Num 21:1-3) The Canaanites of Arad destroyed. (Num 21:4-9) The people murmuring, are plagued with fiery serpents, They repenting, are healed through...

Matthew Henry: Numbers (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers The titles of the five books of Moses, which we use in our Bib...

Matthew Henry: Numbers 21 (Chapter Introduction) The armies of Israel now begin to emerge out of the wilderness, and to come into a land inhabited, to enter upon action, and take possession of the...

Constable: Numbers (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title the Jews used in their Hebrew Old Testament for this book...

Constable: Numbers (Outline) Outline I. Experiences of the older generation in the wilderness chs. 1-25 A. Preparations f...

Constable: Numbers Numbers Bibliography Aharoni, Yohanan. The Land of the Bible. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1979. ...

Haydock: Numbers (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION. This fourth Book of Moses is called Numbers , because it begins with the numbering of the people. The Hebrews, from its first words...

Gill: Numbers (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS This book has its name from the account it gives of the "numbers" of the children of Israel, twice taken particularly; whic...

Gill: Numbers 21 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 21 This chapter gives an account of the defeat of King Arad, the Canaanite, Num 21:1 of the murmurings of the children of I...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #15: Use the Strong Number links to learn about the original Hebrew and Greek text. [ALL]
created in 0.07 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA