The Conquest of Bashan
[This chapter is based on Deuteronomy 2; 3:1-11.]
After passing to the south of Edom, the Israelites turned northward, and
again set their faces toward the Promised Land. Their route now lay over a
vast, elevated plain, swept by cool, fresh breezes from the hills. It was
a
welcome change from the parched valley through which they had been
traveling, and they pressed forward, buoyant and hopeful. Having crossed
the
brook Zered, they passed to the east of the land of Moab; for the command
had been given, "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in
battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I
have given Ar unto the children of Lot." And the same direction was
repeated
concerning the Ammonites, who were also descendants of Lot.
Still pu****ng northward, the hosts of Israel soon reached the country of
the
Amorites. This strong and warlike people originally occupied the southern
part of the land of Canaan; but, increasing in numbers, they crossed the
Jordan, made war upon the Moabites, and gained possession of a ****tion of
their territory. Here they had settled, holding undisputed sway over all
the
land from the Arnon as far north as the Jabbok. The route to the Jordan
which the Israelites desired to pursue lay directly through this
territory,
and Moses sent a friendly message to Sihon, the Amorite king, at his
capital: "Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the highway, I
will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. Thou shalt sell me
meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may
drink: only I will pass through on my feet." The answer was a decided
refusal, and all the hosts of the Amorites were summoned to oppose the
progress of the invaders. This formidable army struck terror to the
Israelites, who were poorly prepared for an encounter with well-armed and
well-disciplined forces. So far as
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skill in warfare was concerned, their enemies had the advantage. To all
human appearance, a speedy end would be made of Israel.
But Moses kept his gaze fixed upon the cloudy pillar, and encouraged the
people with the thought that the token of God's presence was still with
them. At the same time he directed them to do all that human power could
do
in preparing for war. Their enemies were eager for battle, and confident
that they would blot out the unprepared Israelites from the land. But from
the Possessor of all lands the mandate had gone forth to the leader of
Israel: "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon:
behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon,
and
his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. This day
will
I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations
that
are under the whole heaven, who shall hear re****t of thee, and shall
tremble, and be in anguish because of thee."
These nations on the borders of Canaan would have been spared, had they
not
stood, in defiance of God's word, to oppose the progress of Israel. The
Lord
had shown Himself to be long-suffering, of great kindness and tender pity,
even to these heathen peoples. When Abraham was shown in vision that his
seed, the children of Israel, should be strangers in a strange land four
hundred years, the Lord gave him the promise, "In the fourth generation
they
shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet
full."
Genesis 15:16. Although the Amorites were idolaters, whose life was justly
forfeited by their great wickedness, God spared them four hundred years to
give them unmistakable evidence that He was the only true God, the Maker
of
heaven and earth. All His wonders in bringing Israel from Egypt were known
to them. Sufficient evidence was given; they might have known the truth,
had
they been willing to turn from their idolatry and licentiousness. But they
rejected the light and clung to their idols.
When the Lord brought His people a second time to the borders of Canaan,
additional evidence of His power was granted to those heathen nations.
They
saw that God was with Israel in the victory gained over King Arad and the
Canaanites, and in the miracle wrought to save those who were peri****ng
from
the sting of the serpents. Although the Israelites had been refused a
passage through the land of Edom, thus being compelled to take the
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long and difficult route by the Red Sea, yet in all their journeyings and
encampments, past the land of Edom, of Moab and Ammon, they had shown no
hostility, and had done no injury to the people or their possessions. On
reaching the border of the Amorites, Israel had asked permission only to
travel directly through the country, promising to observe the same rules
that had governed their intercourse with other nations. When the Amorite
king refused this courteous solicitation, and defiantly gathered his hosts
for battle, their cup of iniquity was full, and God would now exercise His
power for their overthrow.
The Israelites crossed the river Arnon and advanced upon the foe. An
engagement took place, in which the armies of Israel were victorious; and,
following up the advantage gained, they were soon in possession of the
country of the Amorites. It was the Captain of the Lord's host who
vanquished the enemies of His people; and He would have done the same
thirty-eight years before had Israel trusted in Him.
Filled with hope and courage, the army of Israel eagerly pressed forward,
and, still journeying northward, they soon reached a country that might
well
test their courage and their faith in God. Before them lay the powerful
and
populous kingdom of Bashan, crowded with great stone cities that to this
day
excite the wonder of the world--"threescore cities . . . with high walls,
gates, and bars; besides unwalled towns a great many." Deuteronomy 3:1-11.
The houses were constructed of huge black stones, of such stupendous size
as
to make the buildings absolutely impregnable to any force that in those
times could have been brought against them. It was a country filled with
wild caverns, lofty precipices, yawning gulfs, and rocky strongholds. The
inhabitants of this land, descendants from a giant race, were themselves
of
marvelous size and strength, and so distinguished for violence and cruelty
as to be the terror of all surrounding nations; while Og, the king of the
country, was remarkable for size and prowess, even in a nation of giants.
But the cloudy pillar moved forward, and following its guidance the Hebrew
hosts advanced to Edrei, where the giant king, with his forces, awaited
their approach. Og had skillfully chosen the place of battle. The city of
Edrei was situated upon the border of a tableland rising abruptly from the
plain, and covered with jagged, volcanic rocks. It could be approached
only
by narrow
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pathways, steep and difficult of ascent. In case of defeat, his forces
could
find refuge in that wilderness of rocks, where it would be impossible for
strangers to follow them.
Confident of success, the king came forth with an immense army upon the
open
plain, while shouts of defiance were heard from the tableland above, where
might be seen the spears of thousands, eager for the fray. When the
Hebrews
looked upon the lofty form of that giant of giants towering above the
soldiers of his army; when they saw the hosts that surrounded him, and
beheld the seemingly impregnable fortress, behind which unseen thousands
were entrenched, the hearts of many in Israel quaked with fear. But Moses
was calm and firm; the Lord had said concerning the king of Bashan, "Fear
him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into
thy
hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the
Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon."
The calm faith of their leader inspired the people with confidence in God.
They trusted all to His omnipotent arm, and He did not fail them. Not
mighty
giants nor walled cities, armed hosts nor rocky fortresses, could stand
before the Captain of the Lord's host. The Lord led the army; the Lord
discomfited the enemy; the Lord conquered in behalf of Israel. The giant
king and his army were destroyed, and the Israelites soon took possession
of
the whole country. Thus was blotted from the earth that strange people who
had given themselves up to iniquity and abominable idolatry.
In the conquest of Gilead and Bashan there were many who recalled the
events
which nearly forty years before had, in Kadesh, doomed Israel to the long
desert wandering. They saw that the re****t of the spies concerning the
Promised Land was in many respects correct. The cities were walled and
very
great, and were inhabited by giants, in comparison with whom the Hebrews
were mere pygmies. But they could now see that the fatal mistake of their
fathers had been in distrusting the power of God. This alone had prevented
them from at once entering the goodly land.
When they were at the first preparing to enter Canaan, the undertaking was
attended with far less difficulty than now. God had promised His people
that
if they would obey His voice He would go before them and fight for them;
and
He would also send
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hornets to drive out the inhabitants of the land. The fears of the nations
had not been generally aroused, and little preparation had been made to
oppose their progress. But when the Lord now bade Israel go forward, they
must advance against alert and powerful foes, and must contend with large
and well-trained armies that had been preparing to resist their approach.
In their contest with Og and Sihon the people were brought to the same
test
beneath which their fathers had so signally failed. But the trial was now
far more severe than when God had commanded Israel to go forward. The
difficulties in their way had greatly increased since they refused to
advance when bidden to do so in the name of the Lord. It is thus that God
still tests His people. And if they fail to endure the trial, He brings
them
again to the same point, and the second time the trial will come closer,
and
be more severe than the preceding. This is continued until they bear the
test, or, if they are still rebellious, God withdraws His light from them
and leaves them in darkness.
The Hebrews now remembered how once before, when their forces had gone to
battle, they had been routed, and thousands slain. But they had then gone
in
direct opposition to the command of God. They had gone out without Moses,
God's appointed leader, without the cloudy pillar, the symbol of the
divine
presence, and without the ark. But now Moses was with them, strengthening
their hearts with words of hope and faith; the Son of God, enshrined in
the
cloudy pillar, led the way; and the sacred ark accompanied the host. This
experience has a lesson for us. The mighty God of Israel is our God. In
Him
we may trust, and if we obey His requirements He will work for us in as
signal a manner as He did for His ancient people. Everyone who seeks to
follow the path of duty will at times be assailed by doubt and unbelief.
The
way will sometimes be so barred by obstacles, apparently insurmountable,
as
to dishearten those who will yield to discouragement; but God is saying to
such, Go forward. Do your duty at any cost. The difficulties that seem so
formidable, that fill your soul with dread, will vanish as you move
forward
in the path of obedience, humbly trusting in God.
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