Numbers 21:25

21:25 So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. ¹ 

Numbers 21:27

21:27 That is why those who speak in proverbs ²  say,

“Come to Heshbon, let it be built.

Let the city of Sihon be established! ³ 

[21:25]  ¹ tn Heb “its daughters.”

[21:27]  ² sn Proverbs of antiquity could include pithy sayings or longer songs, riddles, or poems composed to catch the significance or the irony of an event. This is a brief poem to remember the event, like an Egyptian victory song. It may have originated as an Amorite war taunt song; it was sung to commemorate this victory. It was cited later by Jeremiah (48:45-46). The composer invites his victorious people to rebuild the conquered city as a new capital for Sihon. He then turns to address the other cities which his God(s) has/have given to him. See P. D. Hanson, “The Song of Heshbon and David’s Nir,” HTR 61 (1968): 301.

[21:27]  ³ tn Meaning, “rebuilt and restored.”