Bible Battle #7 - C. 1407 BC
Israel defeated a mighty enemy that seemed indestructible.
This added to the new nation's growing fierce reputation that began spreading
into Canaan even before they crossed the Jordan. Most of Deuteronomy is made up
of addresses that Moses makes to the people before their invasion to capture the
Promised Land.
Other names: Defeat of the Amorites.
Campaign: Wilderness.
Bible Timeline: Escape from Egypt – Wilderness –
Joshua
Geography:
Arnon Gorge; Heshbon, east of the River Jordan; northeast of the Dead Sea.
Jabbok River
Belligerents:
Israel; commanded by Joshua.
Heshbon Amorites; commanded by King Sihon.
HISTORICAL SETTING
The first
Kingdom
of Babylon (1668-1361 BC) was the greatest power in the then Middle Eastern
region. Nevertheless, there were many smaller kingdoms to the West of it that
the Hebrews came in contact with.
The Amorites were one such
peoples who’s territory the Hebrews entered. They were a formidable foe. The
name comes from Egyptian “Amar” (
Marduk)
name for their God. They were an ancient Semitic-speaking people reaching from
Syria to southern Mesopotamia. Their origin is around 19
th Century
BC in today’s Northern Syria. They were nomadic and could not take an empire
head on but successfully encroached onto lands from the kingdoms of Assyria,
Sumer
and Elam throughout the ages. The Amorites took advantage of the gradual
collapse of the Neo-Sumerian Empire to move into new regions.
Their key distinction among other 19th
Century Middle Eastern people is the establishment of the first city-states,
the most prominent being Babylon. Like the Hittites were to Egypt, the Amorites
posed a continuing threat to other kingdoms and especially Assyria.
In 1792 BC the Elamites defeated the
Third
Dynasy of Ur.
Amorite warrior
Hammurabi of Babylon came into power around 1565 BC and ruled over Babylon and
Mari. During this period the Amorites became stronger than ever in their
incursions against the Assyrian monarchy that would eventually see its throne
taken over by an Amoriteleader.
The Assyrians would be ruled by Amorites, one being Shamshi-Adad I in 1564 BC
which created the state of Ashur
.
CONFLICT BACKGROUND
In the
early 1400s Sihon was king of the Amorites. He had fought against the former
king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon. He would
not tolerate his recently gained territory to be taken over by Israel.
The Hebrews marched purposefully through the
wilderness of Moab (modern country of Jordan) towards their strategic
objective: the area which they would use to prepare for the invasion of the
Promised Land, a point north of the Dead Sea.
This was
their course:
(1) Oboth, Iye Abarim.
(2) Zered Valley.
(3) Arnon; in the border between Moab and Amorite territory.
(4) Carried on to Beer; here they replenished their water reserves and
passed by Mattanah, where the land became less wild, the Nahaliel, Bamoth in
the Moab Valley.
(5) A smaller (probably reconnaissance) force went far ahead to Pisgah
elevation (today’s Mt. Nebo) serving as a vantage point overlooking the desired
promised land.
The BATTLE
(1) Sihon gathered all of his army into the wilderness to attack Israel.
(2) The people cross the Arnon Gorge into Ammonite
territory.
(3) The two forces met at Jahaz. Sihon lost the battle and was killed.
(4) Israel counterattacked and took over the land from the Arnon to the
Jabbok.
(5) They halted near the Ammonite frontier. As this was fortified they
would need to regroup and plan a new attack later.
(6)
After the advance Israel
eliminated all pockets of resistance within the territory, cities and
settlements.
(7)
Heshbon, the capital, was the
key prize and cleared up all local opposition.
(8)
Effectively attacking the enemy
in the rear, they continued south and took Dibon back in the Jahaz area.
The Hebrews would have gone straight north if Sihon had not
opposed them. He attacked them at Jahaz, they were victorious and marched north
then turned south and eliminated the enemy in a full circle back down to Jahaz
area where it had begun.
AFTERMATH
The land conquered here was assigned to the
Tribe of Reuben by Moses. Later it would be taken over by the Tribe
of Gad.
For such a tenacious enemy to be defeated by the
Israelites would put fear and terror into all nations. This was God’s use of
this battle. In many wars we have seen the value of propaganda and
psychological warfare to confuse the enemy. In God’s war this was no exception.
SPIRITUAL ANALYSIS
The significance of defeating the Amorites was very deep.
Abraham may have been initially of Amorite origin. God told Abraham to leave
his roots and establish a new covenant in Canaan. Now, 500 years later, Israel
was establishing a new life in the promised land of Canaan. To go back to the
land of the Amorites was worse than returning to Egypt. It was to return to the
dead world of the past. The world from which God had raised Abraham and,
consequently, all subsequent God fearing people.
Had Sihon’s army not gone against the Hebrews it would have been spared.
God was faithful in protecting His people even though this was not His initial
perfect plan.
Deuteronomy
32:27-31
[27] Were
it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should
behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and
the Lord hath not done all this. [28] For they are a nation void of counsel,
neither is there any understanding in them. [29] O that they were wise, that
they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! [30] How
should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their
Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? [31] For their rock is not
as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Victory is assured when:
(a)The people believe in it.
(b)Follow God’s leading.
(c)Remain in His counsel.
(d)Affirm to be under His protection.
The
protection, the “Rock” (with capital “R”) is none other than Jesus.
In the
early 1400s Sihon was king of the Amorites. He had fought against the former
king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon. He would
not tolerate his recently gained territory to be taken over by Israel.
