Numbers 21:27-30
Summary for Num 21:27-30: 21:27-30 a This ancient ballad was apparently an old Amorite song focusing on the exploits of King Sihon. Other interpreters assume that Israelite balladeers created it as a taunt song to ridicule Sihon’s defeat and celebrate Israel’s victory. The logical flow of thought from 21:26 b to 21:27 c would favor the former interpretation, with Israel applying the song to their own victory: Sihon and the Amorites had defeated Moab; now Israel had defeated them! Cp. Judg 11:12-28 d.21:28 e King Sihon had destroyed Moab’s towns from his center of operations at Heshbon.
21:29 f From the ancient point of view, even Moab’s supreme god Chemosh suffered defeat at the hands of the Amorite conquerors, while the people of Moab became refugees and captives.
21:30 g The area described here is the one that Israel had just conquered (21:24 h), making the ballad celebrating Sihon a fitting tribute to Israel’s victory.
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