“Conquering” Before The Conquest (3:1-29)
Neal Pollard
We can read ahead in the book of Joshua, appreciating that these military maneuvers were vital to building the confidence and experience of Israel in conquering their enemies and the territory belonging to them. Chapter two shows the first such battle, with the defeat of Sihon and the Amorites (2). The conquered territory was ceded to Reuben and Gad (12). Let us notice the content of this chapter briefly.
The defeat of the kingdom of Og in Bashan (1-11). “The narrative says nothing of the route that was taken, though Numbers indicates that the point of origin was Jazer (Khirbet Jazzir) and, with Deuteronomy 3:1, agrees that its destination was Edrei (Derʿa), thirty miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee (Num 21:32–33). This would have been a fifty-mile march from the southwest to northeast through the Gilead tablelands” (Merrill, NAC, 105). Pointing to the previous battle, God reassured Israel that He would deliver Og into their hands, too (2-3). Again, they showed total obedience to God by utterly destroying everyone (3). They took 60 cities (4), “fortified with high walls, gates and bars, besides a great many unwalled towns” (5). While they destroyed men, women, and children, they took animals and spoils as booty (7). An important fact, though subtly inserted, is the impressiveness of King Og. He was the lone surviving descendant of a race of giants called the Rephaim (2:11). His enormous size is supported by his bed, confiscated by Israel. It was 13 feet long and 6 feet wide (cf. 11).
The review of the conquered territory to this point (12-17). Moses summarizes all the land they had taken to this point in the region we call the trans-Jordan region (on the other side of the river). This will factor again in Joshua’s writings in his book that follows. Land is distributed to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh here. Here, Moses gives the eastern boundary of the nation of Israel.
Preparation for passing the baton of conquering (18-22). This is summed up in two statements: “I commanded you (valiant men; the sons of Israel)” (18) and “I commanded Joshua” (22). The soldiers from this already-conquered territory would leave their wives, children, and livestock behind, and go into battle with their brethren to conquer the rest of the territory in the allotted promised land. The soldiers are told to cross the Jordan and fight until the whole land is subdued (18-20). Joshua, the next commander-in-chief, is told to use these victories over Og and Sihon as object lessons for what was to come. He is also told not to fear, since God would be fighting for them (22).
Moses, a man conquered by time and circumstance (23-29). Moses begged God to be able to cross over into Canaan with the people and see the land up close (23-25). This is only one of two uses of the name “Lord God” in the entire book of Deuteronomy (the other is 9:26). It means “Yahweh, the Most Powerful One.” Moses speaks optimistically, knowing what God can do (24-25). God replies emphatically, saying what He will do (26-29). He will allow Moses to see the promised land from the mountaintop view of Pisgah, but not enter. Moses once again, in verse 26, makes implicit reference to his striking the rock when asked by God to speak to it (cf. 1:37; Num. 20:12). Instead, Moses was to focus his final energies on preparing Joshua to finish the task of conquering (28-29).
Moses appears to allude to one other “conquering” in the last verse of the chapter. Beth-peor (29) is probably the same as Baal-peor (4:3) where Balaam’s evil influence leads to the deaths of 24,000 people who served idols and committed fornication (Num. 25:1-9; Ps. 106:28; Hos. 9:10; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14). Thankfully, not all were conquered by that temptation to sin (4:4)!
Reading through this chapter, I am reminded of Peter’s observations about certain false teachers in his day. He writes, “For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved” (2 Pet. 2:18-19; cf. Rom. 6:16; John 8:34). There is literal, physical conquering in this chapter (1-22) and figurative, spiritual conquering in this chapter (23-29). Deuteronomy helps us see the way to overcome, submitted fully to God’s revealed will!
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