Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.

Bible > Deuteronomy > Chapter 2 > Verse 30

◄ Deuteronomy 2:30 ►

New International Version
But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.

New Living Translation
“But King Sihon of Heshbon refused to allow us to pass through, because the LORD your God made Sihon stubborn and defiant so he could help you defeat him, as he has now done.

English Standard Version
But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.

Berean Standard Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.

King James Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

New King James Version
“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.

New American Standard Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today.

NASB 1995
“But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.

NASB 1977
“But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land, for Yahweh your God stiffened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to give him over into your hand, as he is today.

Amplified Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to travel through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today.

Christian Standard Bible
But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.”

American Standard Version
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.

English Revised Version
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But King Sihon of Heshbon wouldn't allow us to pass through. The LORD your God made him stubborn and overconfident in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.

Good News Translation
"But King Sihon would not let us pass through his country. The LORD your God had made him stubborn and rebellious, so that we could defeat him and take his territory, which we still occupy.

International Standard Version
But King Sihon of Heshbon did not allow us to pass through, because the LORD your God had hardened his spirit and made him arrogant, in order to deliver him into your control today.

Majority Standard Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.

NET Bible
But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the LORD our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day.

New Heart English Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as at this day.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

World English Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as it is today.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Sihon king of Heshbon has not been willing to let us pass over by him, for your God YHWH has hardened his spirit and strengthened his heart, so as to give him into your hand as at this day.

Young's Literal Translation
'And Sihon king of Heshbon hath not been willing to let us pass over by him, for Jehovah thy God hath hardened his spirit, and strengthened his heart, so as to give him into thy hand as at this day.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass by him, for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart strong in order to give him into thy hand as this day.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Sehon the king of Hesebon would not let us pass: because the Lord thy God had hardened his spirit, and fixed his heart, that he might be delivered into thy hands, as now thou seest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Sihon, the king of Heshbon, was not willing to grant passage to us. For the Lord your God had hardened his spirit, and had fastened his heart, so that he would be delivered into your hands, just as you now see.

New American Bible
But Sihon, king of Heshbon, refused to let us pass through his land, because the LORD, your God, made him stubborn in mind and obstinate in heart that he might deliver him into your power, as indeed he has now done.

New Revised Standard Version
But King Sihon of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass through, for the LORD your God had hardened his spirit and made his heart defiant in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through his territory; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hands, as it is this day.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Sihon the King of Kheshbon did not want us to cross over his border because LORD JEHOVAH your God hardened his spirit and he hardened his heart to deliver him into your hands as today.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Seon king of Esebon would not that we should pass by him, because the Lord our God hardened his spirit, and made his heart stubborn, that he might be delivered into thy hands, as on this day.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

King Sihon Defeated
…29just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.” 30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day. 31Then the LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 11:20
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 4:21
The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

Romans 9:18
Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Isaiah 63:17
Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.

Judges 11:19-20
And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’ / But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

1 Samuel 6:6
Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, did they not send the people out so they could go on their way?

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Exodus 14:17
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”

2 Chronicles 25:20
But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.

Acts 28:26-27
‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Treasury of Scripture

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as appears this day.

for the Lord

Exodus 4:21
And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 11:10
And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Numbers 21:23
And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

obstinate

Isaiah 48:4
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

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Deuteronomy 2

1. The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites
9. nor with the Moabites
16. nor with the Ammonites
24. but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through
Sihon was the Amorite king of Heshbon, a significant city-state east of the Jordan River. The refusal to allow passage reflects the common practice of ancient Near Eastern kings to protect their territories from foreign encroachment. This incident is part of Israel's journey to the Promised Land, highlighting the challenges they faced. The refusal also sets the stage for a divinely orchestrated confrontation, emphasizing God's sovereignty over nations.

for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate
This phrase indicates divine intervention in the affairs of nations, similar to God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus. It underscores the belief that God can influence the decisions of rulers to fulfill His purposes. The hardening of Sihon's heart serves to demonstrate God's power and the inevitability of His plans for Israel. This action is not arbitrary but part of a larger divine strategy to give Israel victory and possession of the land.

that He might deliver him into your hand
The deliverance of Sihon into Israel's hands is a fulfillment of God's promise to give the Israelites the land of Canaan. It illustrates the theme of divine justice and retribution against those who oppose God's people. This victory is a testament to God's faithfulness and His role as a warrior on behalf of Israel. It also prefigures the ultimate victory of Christ over spiritual enemies, as seen in the New Testament.

as is the case this day
This phrase serves as a historical marker, affirming the reality of the events described. It emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises in real time and space, providing a tangible example of His faithfulness. The phrase also invites the audience to reflect on the ongoing nature of God's work in history, encouraging trust in His continued guidance and provision.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Sihon
King of Heshbon, an Amorite ruler who opposed Israel's passage through his land. His refusal to allow Israel passage led to his defeat.

2. Heshbon
A significant city in the territory of the Amorites, ruled by King Sihon. It became a focal point in Israel's journey to the Promised Land.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who orchestrated events to fulfill His promises to His people. His sovereignty is evident in the hardening of Sihon's heart.

4. Israelites
The people of God, led by Moses, journeying to the Promised Land. Their encounter with Sihon was part of their divinely guided conquest.

5. The Event
The refusal of Sihon to allow Israel passage, leading to a battle in which God delivered Sihon and his land into Israel's hands.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty
Recognize that God is in control of all events, even the hearts of kings and rulers. His plans are perfect and will come to pass.

Divine Purpose in Obstacles
Understand that obstacles and opposition can be part of God's plan to bring about His purposes. Trust in His timing and methods.

Faith in God's Deliverance
Just as God delivered Sihon into Israel's hands, He is faithful to deliver us from our challenges when we trust in Him.

The Hardening of Hearts
Reflect on the seriousness of a hardened heart. Pray for a soft and responsive heart to God's leading and commands.

Historical Testimony
The victories God grants His people serve as testimonies to His power and faithfulness, encouraging us to share our own testimonies of God's work in our lives.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) The Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate.--Jehovah gave the strength to Sihon, as He had done to Pharaoh, and as He does to all. Sihon was responsible for using the strength which God gave him in opposition to the Divine purposes. To "harden" a man's spirit is not necessarily a moral process any more than the hardening of steel. "Made obstinate" is the same verb used in Joshua 1:6, for "Be of a good courage." An unyielding spirit and a courageous heart are good or bad according to the use made of them. Sihon used them badly, Joshua used them well. God's gifts were the same to both. (See also Joshua 11:20.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 30. - Heshbon, the chief city of the Amorite king, Sihon. Some ruins on a hill east of the upper end of the Dead Sea, and bearing the name Chesban, mark the site of this once large and important city. Sihon rejected Moses' overtures of peace, because God had hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate; literally, had sharpened his heart, had made his determination keen. It is not to be supposed that any influence was directly exerted on him, to make him obdurate and persistent in his hostility to the people of God; the expression "he would not" indicates that it was of his own will that Sihon acted; but it was the will and purpose of God that Sihon should be destroyed, and his country taken by the Israelites, and so he was placed in circumstances by which, "given over to a reprobate mind," he was confirmed and strengthened m his determination to pursue a course which led to his destruction; like Pharaoh, by the circumstances in which God placed him, he found scope for the display and for the confirmation of a stubborn, pertinacious pride of spirit, which led ultimately to his ruin. Nothing so hardens the heart as resistance to God's overtures of peace. As appeareth this day; i.e. as present experience shows; in Sihon's refusing to let them pass, there was already an actual beginning of the fulfillment of God's purpose to deliver him into the hand of the Israelites.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But Sihon
סִיחֹן֙ (sî·ḥōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5511: Sihon -- a king of the Amorites

king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Heshbon
חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן (ḥeš·bō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2809: Heshbon -- a place East of the Jordan

would
אָבָ֗ה (’ā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent

not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

let us pass through,
הַעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ (ha·‘ă·ḇi·rê·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the LORD
יְהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

had made his spirit
רוּח֗וֹ (rū·ḥōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

stubborn
הִקְשָׁה֩ (hiq·šāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7185: To be hard, severe or fierce

and his heart
לְבָב֔וֹ (lə·ḇā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

obstinate,
וְאִמֵּץ֙ (wə·’im·mêṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 553: To be stout, strong, bold, alert

that
לְמַ֛עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

He might give him
תִּתּ֥וֹ (tit·tōw)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into your hands,
בְיָדְךָ֖ (ḇə·yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

as is the case
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

this day.
כַּיּ֥וֹם (kay·yō·wm)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

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OT Law: Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not (Deut. De Du)