Bible Strands
Numbers 21:30
But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon. We demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — A poet quotes a proverb about King Sihon of Heshbon declaring his past military campaigns against Moab to the Israelite community during their wilderness journey.
The words — The text uses אָבַד ('a.Vad), meaning "it has perished," to describe Heshbon’s ruin, and וַ/נִּירָ֛/ם (va./ni.Ra/m), meaning "and we shot at," to describe the military action against Moab.
The thread — The destruction of these same cities recurs in later prophetic oracles against Moab (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18; Jeremiah 48:22).
Why it lands — The verse records the historical extent of Sihon’s conquests, requiring the reader to recognize that Israel’s settlement in the Transjordan follows the fulfillment of divine judgment on Moab.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 15:2 Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.
- Jeremiah 48:18 Come down from your glory; sit on parched ground, O daughter dwelling in Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses.
- Jeremiah 48:22 upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
- Numbers 32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
- Numbers 32:34 And the Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
- Joshua 13:17 to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,
- Genesis 49:23 The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
- 2 Samuel 11:24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”
- Psalms 18:14 He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- Isaiah 15:9 The waters of Dimon are full of blood, but I will bring more upon Dimon—a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.