Numbers 14:9

14:9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. ¹  Their protection ²  has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear them!”

Deuteronomy 3:2

3:2 The Lord, however, said to me, “Don’t be afraid of him because I have already given him, his whole army, ³  and his land to you. You will do to him exactly what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon.”

Deuteronomy 3:11

3:11 Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy ⁴  that his sarcophagus ⁵  was made of iron. ⁶  Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath ⁷  of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet ⁸  long and six feet ⁹  wide according to standard measure.) ¹⁰ 

Deuteronomy 20:3

20:3 “Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them,

Deuteronomy 31:6

31:6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!”

Joshua 10:8

10:8 The Lord told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. ¹¹  Not one of them can resist you.” ¹² 

Joshua 10:25

10:25 Then Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! ¹³  Be strong and brave, for the Lord will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight.

Isaiah 41:13

41:13 For I am the Lord your God,

the one who takes hold of your right hand,

who says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am helping you.’

¹ sn The expression must indicate that they could destroy the enemies as easily as they could eat bread.

² tn Heb “their shade.” The figure compares the shade from the sun with the protection from the enemy. It is also possible that the text is alluding to their deities here.

³ tn Heb “people.”

⁵ tn Heb “Behold” (הִנֵּה, hinneh).

⁶ tn The Hebrew term עֶרֶשׂ (’eres), traditionally translated “bed” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT) is likely a basaltic (volcanic) stone sarcophagus of suitable size to contain the coffin of the giant Rephaite king. Its iron-like color and texture caused it to be described as an iron container. See A. Millard, “King Og’s Iron Bed: Fact or Fancy?” BR 6 (1990): 16-21, 44; cf. also NEB “his sarcophagus of basalt”; TEV, CEV “his coffin.”

⁷ tn Or “of iron-colored basalt.” See note on the word “sarcophagus” earlier in this verse.

⁸ sn Rabbath. This place name (usually occurring as Rabbah; 2 Sam 11:11; 12:27; Jer 49:3) refers to the ancient capital of the Ammonite kingdom, now the modern city of Amman, Jordan. The word means “great [one],” probably because of its political importance. The fact that the sarcophagus “still remain[ed]” there suggests this part of the verse is post-Mosaic, having been added as a matter of explanation for the existence of the artifact and also to verify the claim as to its size.

⁹ tn Heb “nine cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 in (45 cm) for the standard cubit, this would be 13.5 ft (4.1 m) long.

¹⁰ tn Heb “four cubits.” This would be 6 ft (1.8 m) wide.

¹¹ tn Heb “by the cubit of man.” This probably refers to the “short” or “regular” cubit of approximately 18 in (45 cm).

⁷ tn Heb “I have given them into your hand.” The verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action.

⁸ tn Heb “and not a man [or “one”] of them will stand before you.”

⁹ tn Or perhaps “and don’t get discouraged!”