Deuteronomy 3:1
INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 3
In this chapter the account is carried on of the conquest of the Amorites by Israel, of Og king of Bashan, and his kingdom, De 3:1, and of the distribution of their country to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, De 1:12 and then the command to the said tribes is observed, to go out armed before their brethren, and assist them in the conquest of the land of Canaan, and then return to their possessions, De 3:18 and also that to Joshua not to fear, but to do to the Canaanitish kings and kingdoms what he had seen done to the two kings of the Amorites, De 3:21. After which Moses relates the request he made, to go over Jordan and see the good land, which was denied him, only he is bidden to look from the top of an hill to see it, De 3:23. And the chapter is closed with the charge he was to give Joshua, De 3:28 which was received in the valley where they abode, De 3:29.
Ver. 1. Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan,.... Which seems to have been higher than the kingdom of Sihon: this was a fine country for pasturage, for the breeding of cattle, larger and lesser, and was famous for its oaks: it is the same country which in Josephus and others goes by the name of Batanea:
and Og the king of Bashan came out against us; got his forces together, and came out from Ashteroth, the royal city where he dwelt:
he and all his people, to battle at Edrei; another city in his kingdom, about six miles from the former; see De 1:4.