Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:1

D. Trans-Jordan Secured (Chap. 3)3:1-11 Og king of Bashan had sixty cities, all fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, as well as many rural towns. The LORD God also delivered these enemies into the hands of His people. Og is remembered as a giant, with a huge iron bedstead that was nine cubits long and four cubits wide (about thirteen or fourteen feet by six feet). Thompson says this “bedstead” was his final resting place, not his regular bed: On his death he was buried in a massive sarcophagus (lit. bedstead, “resting place”) made of basalt, called iron here because of its colour. . . . According to the record here the sarcophagus could be seen in Rabbah Ammon (the modern Amman) at the time Deuteronomy was committed to writing. 3:12-20 The captured land east of the Jordan was distributed to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh (vv. 12-17). Moses commanded their men of valor to cross over armed to aid their brethren conquer the territory west of the Jordan. Then they could return to their own possession and their wives, little ones, livestock, and the cities they had taken over. 3:21-29 Moses also commanded Joshua to remember past victories and trust God for future ones (vv. 21, 22). But the LORD was angry with Moses for his disobedience regarding the children of Israel and would not let him cross over Jordan. He did, however, let him view the Promised Land in every direction from the top of Mount Pisgah (vv. 23-29).