
Text -- Numbers 21:27 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- 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
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
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 -
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
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

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Num 21:27
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
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
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
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 allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
