Sihon — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

King of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) east of the north end of the Dead Sea. His defeat by Israel under Moses, together with that of Og, king of Bashan, is frequently mentioned in OT prose and poetry, in narrative and song (Dt 1:4; 2:26-37; 4:46; 29:7; 31:4; Jos 2:10; 9:10; 12:2-6; 13:10-12). In the eyes of the sacred writers, this dual defeat is so significant that it can be ranked with the exodus as one of the singular manifestations of God’s saving intervention on behalf of his people (Pss 135:11; 136:19-20), and as evidence of his everlasting love for them. In the postexilic period this event is recalled in prayer as a pleading ground for God’s continuing mercy to the returned exiles (Neh 9:22).

Show passage in OET: DEU 1:4

OET-RV DEU 1:4

4 after he’d defeated the Amori King Sihon who lived at Heshbon, and Bashan King Og who lived at Ashtarot in Edre’i.

OET-LV DEU 1:4

4 After he_had _defeated DOM Şīḩōn the _king _of the_ʼAmorī who was_dwelling in_Ḩeshbōn and_DOM ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān who was_dwelling in_ˊAshtārōt in_ʼEdreˊī.

Show passage in OET: DEU 2:26–37

OET-RV DEU 2:26

26 “Then from the Kedemot wilderness, I sent messengers to King Sihon at Heshbon with an offer of peace,

OET-RV DEU 2:27

27 ‘Please let us travel through your country. We’ll stay on the road

OET-RV DEU 2:28

28 if you’d be able to just sell us some food and water, then we could just walk right through

OET-RV DEU 2:29

29 ⇔until we cross the Yarden (Jordan) river into the land that our god Yahweh is giving us. Esav’s (Esau’s) descendants at Se’ir allowed us through, as did the Moavim at Ar.’

OET-RV DEU 2:30

30 “However, Heshbon’s King Sihon wouldn’t let us go through his country because your god Yahweh had hardened his spirit and made him stubborn so that you could take his land, which we still have to this day.

OET-RV DEU 2:31

31 “Yahweh told me, ‘Listen, I’ve begun to give Sihon and his land to you, so enter it and take it.

OET-RV DEU 2:32

32 Then King Sihon and all his warriors came out against us at Yahats,

OET-RV DEU 2:33

33 but our god Yahweh helped us to defeat him, and we killed Sihon and his son, and all his people.

OET-RV DEU 2:34

34 We captured all his cities at that time, and completely destroyed men, women and children in every city, leaving no survivors.

OET-RV DEU 2:35

35 Only the cattle were taken as plunder for ourselves, along with the goods in the cities we captured.

OET-RV DEU 2:36

36 ⇔Our god Yahweh helped us to capture all their towns from Aroer in the south at the edge of the Arnon River valley, to the Gilead region in the north—none of their city walls were too high for us.

OET-RV DEU 2:37

37 However, you didn’t go near the Amoni region, the Yabok river area, the hill country towns, or any other place where our god Yahweh told us not to go.

OET-LV DEU 2:26

26 And_I _sent messengers from_the _wilderness _of Qədēmōt to Şīḩōn the _king _of Ḩeshbōn words/messages _of peace to_say.

OET-LV DEU 2:27

27 Let _me _pass in_land _of_your on_road on_road I _will _go not I _will _turn _aside right _hand and_left _hand.

OET-LV DEU 2:28

28 Food for_silver you_will _sell _me and_I _will _eat and_water for_silver you _will _give to_me and_I _will _drink only let _me _pass _through on_feet _of_my.

OET-LV DEU 2:29

29 Just_as they _did to_me the _descendants _of ˊĒsāv who_are_dwelling in_Sēˊīr and_the_Mōʼāⱱites who_are_dwelling in_ˊĀr until that I _will _pass _over DOM the_Yardēn/(Jordan) into the_earth/land which YHWH god _of_our is_about _to _give to/for_us.

OET-LV DEU 2:30

30 And_not Şīḩōn the _king _of Ḩeshbōn he _was _willing to_let _us _pass in/on/over_him/it if/because YHWH god _of_your he _had _made _stubborn DOM his/its_breath/wind/spirit and_he _had _made _obstinate DOM heart _of_his so _as to_give _him in_hand _of_your as_day (the)_this.

OET-LV DEU 2:31

31 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to_me see I _have _begun to _deliver _up to_your_face DOM Şīḩōn and_DOM land _of_his begin take _possession to_take _possession _of DOM land _of_his.

OET-LV DEU 2:32

32 And_he/it _went _out Şīḩōn to_meet_us he and_all people _of_his for_battle to_Yahaʦ/(Jahaz).

OET-LV DEU 2:33

33 And_he_delivered _him _up YHWH god _of_our before_us and_we _defeated DOM_him/it and_DOM his and_DOM all _of people _of_his.

OET-LV DEU 2:34

34 And_we _captured DOM all _of cities _of_his at_time the_that and_we _totally _destroyed DOM every _of city men and_the_women and_the _little_one[s] not we _spared a _survivor.

OET-LV DEU 2:35

35 Only the_cattle/livestock we _plundered to/for_us and_the _booty _of the _cities which we _had _captured.

OET-LV DEU 2:36

36 From_ˊArōˊēr which is_on the _edge _of the _wadi _of ʼArnōn and_the_city which is_in_wadi and_unto (the)_Gilˊād not it _was a _town which it _was_too_high from_him/it DOM (the)_every_one YHWH god _of_our he _delivered _up before_us.

OET-LV DEU 2:37

37 Only to the _land _of the _people _of ˊAmmōn not you _drew _near all _of the _side _of the _wadi _of Yaboq/(Jabbok) and_the _cities _of the _hill _country and_all/each/any/every that YHWH god _of_our he _had _commanded.

Show passage in OET: DEU 4:46

OET-RV DEU 4:46

46 when they were in the valley east of the Yarden (Jordan) River. They were across from the town of Beyt -Pe’or, in the land that the Amori King Sihon (who lived in Heshbon city) had ruled. (Mosheh and the other Israelis had defeated them when they came out of Mitsrayim.)

OET-LV DEU 4:46

46 On_the _other _side _of the _Yardēn in_valley opposite _to Bēyt Pəˊōr in_land of_Şīḩōn the _king _of the_ʼAmorī who was_dwelling in_Ḩeshbōn whom Mosheh and_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _defeated when_they_came _out from_Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: DEU 29:7

OET-RV DEU 29:7

7 Then when we arrived here, King Sihon from Heshbon and King Og from Bashan came out to battle against us, but we defeated them.

OET-LV DEU 29:6

6  And_you(pl)_came to the_place the_this and_ Şīḩōn the _king _of Ḩeshbōn and_ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān _he/it _went _out to_meet_us for_battle and_we_defeated _them.

Show passage in OET: DEU 31:4

OET-RV DEU 31:4

4 Then Yahweh will do the same to those peoples as he did to the Amori kings Sihon and Og, when he destroyed them and their people.

OET-LV DEU 31:4

4 And_ YHWH _he _will _do to/for_them just_as he _did to_Şīḩōn and_to_ˊŌg the _kings _of the_ʼAmorī and_to_land _of_their whom he _destroyed DOM_them.

Show passage in OET: JOS 2:10

OET-RV JOS 2:10

10 because we’ve heard that Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea ahead of you all when you left Mitsrayim (Egypt). And we heard what you all did to two of the Amori kings Sihon and Og over the Yarden there—how you all completely destroyed them.

OET-LV JOS 2:10

10 If/because we _have _heard DOM how YHWH he _dried _up DOM the _waters _of the_sea _of reed[s] from_before _of_you(pl) when_you_came _out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_which you(pl)_did to_the _two _of the _kings _of the_ʼAmorī who were_on_the _other _side _of the _Yardēn to_Şīḩōn and_to_ˊŌg whom you(pl)_totally _destroyed them.

Show passage in OET: JOS 9:10

OET-RV JOS 9:10

10 and everything that he did to the two Amori kings on the other side of the Yarden (Jordan)—King Sihon of Heshbon, and King Og of the Bashan who lived in Ashtarot.

OET-LV JOS 9:10

10 And_DOM all _of that he _did to_the _two _of the _kings _of the_ʼAmorī who were_on_the _other _side _of the _Yardēn/(Jordan) to_Şīḩōn the _king _of Ḩeshbōn and_to_ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān who was_in_ˊAshtārōt.

Show passage in OET: JOS 12:2–6

OET-RV JOS 12:2

2 King Sihon of the Amorim who lived in Heshbon and ruled over Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon riverbed) and over half of Gilead up to the Yabok riverbed which formed the border with the Amonim,

OET-RV JOS 12:3

3 as well as the eastern rift valley plains down to Lake Galil and to the Sea of Aravah (also called the Dead Sea or the Salt Sea), the road to Beyt -Hayeshimot and the area southward below the slopes of Mt. Pisgah.

OET-RV JOS 12:4

4 The Israelis also defeated King Og from Bashan, one of the few remaining Refaim, who lived in Ashtarot and at Edre’i,

OET-RV JOS 12:5

5 and ruled over Mt. Hermon, Salkah, all of Bashan to the border of the Geshurim and Ma’akatim, as well as half of Gilead to the border with King Sihon from Heshbon.

OET-RV JOS 12:6

6 Yahweh’s servant Mosheh (Moses) and the Israelis had defeated them and Mosheh had given that region as a possession to the descendants of Re’uven and Gad and to the half-tribe of Menasheh (Manasseh).

OET-LV JOS 12:2

2 Şīḩōn the _king _of the_ʼAmorī who_was_dwelling in_Ḩeshbōn who_ruled from_ˊArōˊēr which is_on the _edge _of the _wadi _of ʼArnōn and_the _middle _of the _wadi and _(the)_half _of (the)_Gilˊād and_unto Yaboq/(Jabbok) the_wadi the _border _of the _people _of ˊAmmōn.

OET-LV JOS 12:3

3 And_the_ˊArāⱱāh to the _sea _of Kinneret eastward_to and_unto the _sea _of the _ˊArāⱱāh the _Sea _of (the)_Salt eastward_to the _direction _of Bēyt Hayshimōt/(Jeshimoth) and_from_the_south under the _slopes _of (the)_Pişgāh.

OET-LV JOS 12:4

4 And_the _territory _of ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān one_of _the _remnant _of the _Rəfāʼīm who_was_dwelling in_ˊAshtārōt and_in_ʼEdreˊī.

OET-LV JOS 12:5

5 And_who_ruled over_the _mountain _of Ḩermōn and_over_Şalkāh and_on/over_all (the)_Bāshān to the _border _of the _Gəshūrite[s] and_the_Maˊₐkāhite[s] and _(the)_half _of (the)_Gilˊād the _border _of Şīḩōn the _king _of Ḩeshbōn.

OET-LV JOS 12:6

6 Mosheh the _servant _of YHWH and_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_defeated _them and_he_gave _it Mosheh the _servant _of YHWH a _possession to_Rəʼūⱱēnite[s] and_to_Gādī[s] and_to_the _half _of the _tribe _of (the)_Mənashsheh.

Show passage in OET: JOS 13:10–12

OET-RV JOS 13:10

10 Also, all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorim who ruled in Heshbon, as far as the border with the Amonim,

OET-RV JOS 13:11

11 and Gilead, and the territory of the Geshurim and the Ma’akatim, and all Mt. Hermon, and all the Bashan as far as Salkah,

OET-RV JOS 13:12

12 all the kingdom of Og in the Bashan, who reigned in Ashtarot and in Edre’i (what remained from the remnant of the Refaim). Mosheh had attacked them and captured their lands.

OET-LV JOS 13:10

10 And_all/each/any/every the _cities _of Şīḩōn the _king _of the_ʼAmorī who he _reigned in_Ḩeshbōn to the _border _of the _people _of ˊAmmōn.

OET-LV JOS 13:11

11 And_(the)_Gilˊād and_the _territory _of the _Gəshūrite[s] and_the_Maˊₐkāhite[s] and_all/each/any/every the _mountain _of Ḩermōn and_all (the)_Bāshān to Şalkāh.

OET-LV JOS 13:12

12 All _of the _kingdom _of ˊŌg in_Bāshān who he _reigned in_ˊAshtārōt and_in_ʼEdreˊī he he _was _left of_the _remnant _of of_the _Rəfāʼīm and_he_had _defeated _them Mosheh and_he_had _dispossessed _them.

Show passage in OET: PSA 135:11

OET-RV PSA 135:11

11 Sihon king of the Amorim,
⇔ and Og king of Bashan,
⇔ and all the Kena’ani (Canaanite) kings.

OET-LV PSA 135:11

11 To_Sihon the _king _of the_ʼAmorī and_to_ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān and_to/for_all the _kingdoms _of Kənaˊan/(Canaan).

Show passage in OET: PSA 136:19–20

OET-RV PSA 136:19

19 Thank him who killed the Amori King Sihon,
⇔ because his loyal commitment continues forever.

OET-RV PSA 136:20

20 Thank him who killed King Og from Bashan,
⇔ because his loyal commitment continues forever.

OET-LV PSA 136:19

19 To_Sihon the _king _of the_ʼAmorī if/because is_forever loyalty _of_his _covenant.

OET-LV PSA 136:20

20 And_to_ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān if/because is_forever loyalty _of_his _covenant.

Show passage in OET: NEH 9:22

OET-RV NEH 9:22

22 “Then you handed kingdoms and people groups over to them, and you let them settle in even the far corners of the regions. They took possession of the King Sihon’s Heshbon region, and King Og’s Bashan region.

OET-LV NEH 9:22

22 And_she/it _gave to/for_them kingdoms and_peoples and_you_apportioned _them to_a _corner and_they _took _possession _of DOM the _land _of Şīḩōn and_DOM the _land _of the _king _of Ḩeshbōn and_DOM the _land _of ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān.

Jump to OET DEU 1:4 section.

Jump to OET DEU 2:26–37 section.

Jump to OET DEU 4:46 section.

Jump to OET DEU 29:7 section.

Jump to OET DEU 31:4 section.

Jump to OET JOS 2:10 section.

Jump to OET JOS 9:10 section.

Jump to OET JOS 12:2–6 section.

Jump to OET JOS 13:10–12 section.

Jump to OET PSA 135:11 section.

Jump to OET PSA 136:19–20 section.

Jump to OET NEH 9:22 section.

Before Israel’s arrival in Transjordan, Sihon had conquered Moab’s territory as far south as the Arnon River (Nm 21:26). This conquest gives rise to a piece of ancient poetry that is incorporated into sacred Scripture (vv 27-30). Sihon’s realm extends from the Arnon on the south to the Jabbok on the north, with the Jordan as its western boundary. It also includes the Jordan Valley as far as the Sea of Kinnereth (Jos 12:2-3), comprising part of the region known as Gilead. On the east it extends toward the desert and touches on Ammonite land.

Show passage in OET: NUM 21:26

OET-RV NUM 21:26

26 (Heshbon was where the Amori King Sihon lived, as he’d previously fought against the former king of Moav (Moab) and captured all his land down as far as the Arnon river.

OET-LV NUM 21:26

26 If/because Ḩeshbōn was_the _city _of Şīḩōn the _king _of the_ʼAmorī it and_he he _had _waged _war against_the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ (the)_former and_he/it _took DOM all _of land _of_his from_hand _of_his to ʼArnōn.

Show passage in OET: NUM 21:27–30

OET-RV NUM 21:27

27 That was why the poets say,
⇔ “Come to Heshbon—let it be rebuilt.
⇔ ≈ Let King Sihon’s city be established

OET-RV NUM 21:28

28 because fire went out from Heshbon,
⇔ ≈ flame from Sihon’s city.
⇔ It consumed Ar in Moav,
⇔ and the citizens on Arnon’s hilltops.

OET-RV NUM 21:29

29 Moav, you won’t end well.
⇔ ≈ Kemosh’s people have perished.
⇔ He’s made his sons into fugitives,
⇔ ≈ and given his daughters over to captivity
⇔ by the Amori King Sihon.

OET-RV NUM 21:30

30 We’ve overpowered them.
⇔ Heshbon has perished as far as Divon
⇔ ≈ and shattered Nofah as far as Meydeva.)

OET-LV NUM 21:27

27 Therefore yes/correct/thus/so those_who_speak _proverbs they _say come Ḩeshbōn let _it _be _rebuilt and_let _it _be _established the _city _of Şīḩōn.

OET-LV NUM 21:28

28 If/because fire it _went _out from_Ḩeshbōn flame from_the _town _of Şīḩōn it _consumed ˊĀr of _Mōʼāⱱ the _citizens _of the _high _places _of ʼArnōn.

OET-LV NUM 21:29

29 Woe to/for_yourself(m) Oh _Mōʼāⱱ you _have _perished Oh _people _of Kəmōsh/(Chemosh) he _has _made sons _of_his fugitives and_daughters _of_his in_captivity of_the _king _of the_ʼAmorī[s] Şīḩōn.

OET-LV NUM 21:30

30 And_we_shot _at _them Ḩeshbōn it _has _perished to Diyⱱvōn and_we _have _devastated to Nofaḩ which is_to Mēydəⱱāʼ.

Show passage in OET: JOS 12:2–3

OET-RV JOS 12:2

2 King Sihon of the Amorim who lived in Heshbon and ruled over Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon riverbed) and over half of Gilead up to the Yabok riverbed which formed the border with the Amonim,

OET-RV JOS 12:3

OET-LV JOS 12:2

OET-LV JOS 12:3

Jump to OET NUM 21:26 section.

Jump to OET NUM 21:27–30 section.

Jump to OET JOS 12:2–3 section.

Sihon’s refusal to grant Israel passage through his domain is similar to that of Edom (cf. Nm 21:23 with 20:20). However, Sihon exhibits overt hostility toward Israel. Sihon was defeated and killed at Jahaz; his country was occupied by Israel. Subsequently, it was distributed to the tribes of Gad and Reuben (cf. Nm 32:33-38; Jos 13:10).