Deuteronomy 3
Summary for Deut 3:1-11: 3:1-11 a See Num 21:33-35 b.3:4 c Argob might be synonymous with Bashan or might refer to a heavily populated part of Bashan.
3:8 d Mount Hermon is the southernmost peak in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains northeast of the Sea of Galilee; at 9,300 feet above sea level, it is also the highest. On a clear day, this impressive landmark is visible from many miles away.
3:9 e The alternative names Sirion and Senir suggest that Hermon was perhaps a later name given by the Israelites. Hermon is apparently related to the verb kharam, which means “to destroy” (see study note on 2:34), and perhaps describes the destruction summarized in 3:3-7 f.
3:11 g His bed was probably wooden, inlaid with iron. Alternatively, the Hebrew word might suggest a sarcophagus or coffin.
• Rabbah is the same city as Rabbath Ammon (see study note on Deut 2:19). Apparently there was some kind of museum at Rabbah when Deuteronomy was written, and this artifact could be seen there.
Summary for Deut 3:12-20: 3:12-20 h See Num 32 i. 3:12 j The tribes of Reuben and Gad had asked Moses to let them settle east of the Jordan rather than in Canaan, and he allowed them to do so (Num 32:1-5 k).
• Aroer: See study note on Deut 2:36.
3:13 l The half-tribe of Manasseh made the same request as Reuben and Gad (3:12 m), and Moses accepted their request. Gad and Reuben settled between the Arnon (see 2:24 n) and the middle of Gilead (see 2:36 o), and Manasseh took everything north of that, including Bashan (see 3:1 p).
• The Rephaites, a giant people related to the Anakites (see 2:11 q), are noted here as being indigenous to Bashan.
3:14 r Jair was a descendant of Manasseh from Makir and Gilead (1 Chr 2:22 s).
• Geshurites and Maacathites, kingdoms of Bashan, lay along the west side of the Golan Heights, east of the Sea of Galilee.
• The Towns of Jair was the name given Argob (see Deut 3:4 t) after Jair brought it under Israelite control.
3:15 u Makir was a clan in the tribe of Manasseh (Num 26:29 v) to which Jair was related (1 Chr 2:21-23 w). The clan of Makir settled south of Bashan in the northern part of Gilead (see Deut 3:13 x).
3:17 y from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea: The Hebrew name for the beautiful Sea of Galilee is kinnereth, which might come from kinnor (“harp”) because of its shape.
• The Dead Sea (Hebrew yam hammelakh, “Salt Sea”), here also called the Sea of the Arabah (see study note on 1:1), has a very high mineral content (about 30 percent).
• Pisgah is a section of the Abarim mountain range; its most prominent peak is Mount Nebo, where Moses died (see 34:1 z).
Summary for Deut 3:21-29: 3:21-29 aa See Num 20:2-13 ab; Ps 106:32-33 ac. 3:21 ad He will do the same: Israel’s military success under Moses’ leadership could be expected to continue under Joshua because the Lord promised to remain with them.
3:24 ae Is there any god? Moses did not believe that other gods existed; he was simply affirming that only the Lord is God. Nothing and no one else, real or imaginary, can rival the one true God.
3:29 af Beth-peor, otherwise known as Baal-peor (see 4:3 ag) or simply Peor (Num 23:28 ah; Josh 22:17 ai), became Moses’ burial place (Deut 34:6 aj). At that place the false prophet Balaam had earlier attempted to curse Israel on behalf of Balak, king of Moab (Num 23:27–24:25 ak).
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