And this reminds us of the most reasonable ofTers Gorl, in his gospel, makes to men. Ho nctH the friendly part, nnd if men take it in good faith, all is well. H. 'l'IIE IlEFUBAL OF TRI, HARD-HEARTED KING. (Ver. 30.) Sihon quite needlessly resolves to oppose their passage to Canaan. He likely had heard of or remembered the former unsuccessful attempt thirty-eight years before at Kadesh, and so be imaofoes that n little opposition will deter them and turn them from their purpose. The hard- ening of heart, here attributed to God, means simply that the providences, instead of 80 ftening Sihon's nature, had through his own self-will an entirely opposite effect. 'l'he heart gets hardened through the corruption of the will. It is similarly with those who reject the offer of salvation. III. BATTLE IS THUS FORCED UPON THE PILGRIMS. (Vers. 31, 32.) This battle of Jahaz was a decisive one. The pilgrims were so numerous that Sibon had to bring out all his host. Into it the Israelites entered with the assurance of victory, and this largely secured it. It is so in the spiritual warfare. The enemies of God's people are met by a host confident in success, because promised by God. This of itself is half the battle. IV. '!'FIE PENALTY OF OPPOSITION 1'0 GoD'S PLANS IS EXTERML',ATION. (Vers. 33, 34.) If men will oppose God, they must take the consequences. God must be supreme. He cnn allow no victorious opposition. His enemies must lick the dust. It is a mort:i.l combat into which they must enter who fight against him. 'l'he propriety of the extermination rests in the Divine command. God !1as t.he right. to dispose as he sees fit of his creatures. If they oppose bis will, which is always right, they may justly be taken away with a stroke, and that without remedy. V. THE LIMl1'ATIONS SET BEFORE THE co~QUERORS. (Vers. 35-37.) They took the cattle and a certain portion of the land, but they did not overrun the whole country. 'l'he land of the children of Ammon was exempt from the invasion. It was forbidden ground. So is it always. God sets limits to success. It is well he does. Ambition must abide by his decree, and not overstep due bounds. When his will is thus respected, and self-repression and self-discipline rigidly enforced, all is well. The dangers of Fuccess are thus avoided, and real elevation of spirit is experienced.-R. M. E.
EXPOSITION. -i.e. took a new route-and went up (Sp~~. CHAPTER III. and we ascended). As Basha.n was an up- Vers. 1-11.-CoNQUEST OF OG, Kn!G OF land region, they are very properly said to have gone up. Edrei, hod. Draa, with Roman IlASHAN. The Amorites had wrested from o.nd Arabian ruins, nearly three miles i:n Moo.b II portion of the territory taken by circumference, but without inhabitants; not the IIIoabites and the Edomites from the the same a.s the Edrei ofver. 10. giant aborigines; and Og, who was of the Ver. 2.-(Cf. Numb. x.xi. 31, etc.) same gio.n t race, ruled over the northern Ver. 4.-Threescore cities; probably the same as the Bashan-havoth-jair, afterwar<ls half of the region of Gilead nnd over all mentioned (ver. 14). The region of A.rgob, Hasho.n. This district also God purposed the kingdom of Og in Bashan. The region Isr,1cl to possess; and therefore before cross- of Argob comprised the kingdom of Og, and ing tho Jordan, a diversion wo.; made north- Bashan was another name for the same w:mls by the Israelites, for the purpose of country; extending from the Jabbok to nttaclting this powerful chief. Og en- Hermon, nnd embracing both the northern part of Gilead, nnd ,v hat was afterwards countered them with all his host but wo.a iu a. stricter sense Basho.n, viz. the land signally defcalcd, and he and nil i1is people north of the Wady Zerko. (hod. Jebel Ajliln) were cxtcrminate,l. Not fower th11n three to Hermon. The name Argob is sup- score fortified cities, besides villages, were posed by some to be gi rnn to the district co.plurotl by the Isruolites, tho whole country from a town of that name, fifteen Roman miles eastward from Gerasa, o. city of Ambio. Was suhj ugate,l, nnd nil the cattle 11nd (Euscbius); but more probably it is derivNl mn_terial property to.ken as booty (cf. Numb. from the character of the district, either us XXI. 33-35). deep-soiled (from :i.n, a clod), or as ruggeJ. Ver. l.-(Cf. Numb. xxi. 33.) We turned and uneven (Jil:, from :in, akin to Cl;', to 44 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, [ea. m. 1-20,