Numbers 21:27

21:27 That is why those who speak in proverbs ¹  say,

“Come to Heshbon, let it be built.

Let the city of Sihon be established! ² 

Numbers 21:30

21:30 We have overpowered them; ³ 

Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon.

We have shattered them as far as Nophah,

which ⁴  reaches to Medeba.”

Numbers 32:3

32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, ⁵  Nebo, and Beon, ⁶ 

Numbers 32:37

32:37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

[21:27]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Meaning, “rebuilt and restored.”

[21:30]  ³ tc The first verb is difficult. MT has “we shot at them.” The Greek has “their posterity perished” (see GKC 218 §76.f).

[21:30]  ⁴ tc The relative pronoun “which” (אֲשֶׁר, ’asher) posed a problem for the ancient scribes here, as indicated by the so-called extraordinary point (punta extraordinaria) over the letter ר (resh) of אֲשֶׁר. Smr and the LXX have “fire” (אֵשׁ, ’esh) here (cf. NAB, NJB, RSV, NRSV). Some modern scholars emend the word to שֹׁאָה (sho’ah, “devastation”).

[32:3]  ⁵ tc Smr and the LXX have Sibmah. Cf. v. 38.

[32:3]  ⁶ tn Cf. Baal-meon in v. 38.