Question 1

Who are Sihon and Og in this passage and why are they mentioned?

Accepted Answer

Sihon and Og were kings who ruled powerful Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan River. Sihon ruled from Heshbon, over territory stretching from the river Arnon up to the river Jabbok and across the plains. Og ruled in Bashan, from cities like Ashtaroth and Edrei, and is called one of the remnant of the giants. They are mentioned here to remind readers that before Joshua’s campaigns west of the Jordan, God had already given Israel great victories and land through Moses on the east side.

Question 2

What land did Israel take on the other side of Jordan in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The passage describes land east of the Jordan River. It runs from the river Arnon in the south up to Mount Hermon in the north, and includes all the eastern plain. It covers Sihon’s territory around Heshbon, from Aroer by the Arnon to the Jabbok, and across the plains reaching the Sea of Chinneroth and the Salt Sea. It also includes Og’s territory in Bashan, around Mount Hermon, Salcah, and all Bashan, along with half of Gilead. All this became Israel’s possession.

Question 3

Why does the passage repeat where the borders and cities are?

Accepted Answer

The passage carefully repeats borders and cities to show how large and real these conquests were. Naming the rivers, mountains, and towns makes it clear that God’s promise of land was not just words but was fulfilled in actual places. It also helps later readers see how the land was divided and which areas belonged to which kings before Israel took them. Even if we do not know all the locations today, the detail reminds us that God dealt with real people, real kingdoms, and real ground.

Question 4

What does this passage teach about God’s promises to Israel?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God kept his promise to give land to the descendants of Abraham. Before Joshua’s battles in Canaan, God had already given Israel victories over two strong kings east of the Jordan and let them possess their lands. The list of kings and borders is like a record of God’s faithfulness across years and leaders. Moses began the work, Joshua would continue it, but the same God guided both. It encourages readers to see God as steady and faithful in carrying out what he has said.

Question 5

Why did Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh receive land east of Jordan?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that Moses, as the servant of the Lord, gave the conquered lands of Sihon and Og to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh as their possession. Earlier in Israel’s story, these tribes had asked for land on the east side because it was good for their flocks. God allowed this, and Moses assigned them that territory. Here the writer is not retelling the whole request, but simply reminding us that this eastern land was a settled inheritance from God through Moses.

Question 6

Who were the Geshurites and Maachathites mentioned near Og’s border?

Accepted Answer

The Geshurites and Maachathites were small neighboring peoples whose lands bordered Og’s kingdom in Bashan. The passage notes that Og’s rule in Bashan reached up to their border and included half of Gilead. Later we read that Israel did not drive these groups out completely, and they continued to live among Israel. Mentioning them here helps mark the edge of Og’s territory and underlines how far Israel’s victories under Moses reached, even if some nearby peoples remained in place.

Question 7

What does this passage show about Moses’ role compared to Joshua’s?

Accepted Answer

The passage twice calls Moses “the servant of the Lord” and credits him and the children of Israel with striking Sihon and Og and giving their land to the eastern tribes. This reminds readers that the story of conquest did not start with Joshua. Moses also led Israel in battle and in dividing land. By recalling Moses’ work right before listing Joshua’s victories, the writer honors both leaders and shows that the real hero is God, who worked through each of them in their time.

Question 8

How can a list of kings and borders matter for believers today?

Accepted Answer

At first, this kind of list can feel dry, but it quietly shows a few things. It shows that God keeps his word over many years, because the promise of land turned into real borders and cities. It shows that God’s work does not depend on one human leader, since both Moses and Joshua were part of the same story. It also reminds us that God cares about whole communities and their daily lives, including where they live and how they are provided for.

Joshua 12:1

Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:

The Kings Defeated East of the Jordan

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Joshua 12:1

Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:

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The Kings Defeated East of the Jordan

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