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Selected Verse: Numbers 21:27 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 21:27	Strong Concordance	Wherefore they that speak in proverbs [04911] say [0559], Come [0935] into Heshbon [02809], let the city [05892] of Sihon [05511] be built [01129] and prepared [03559]:
	King James	Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs--Here is given an extract from an Amorite song exultingly anticipating an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amorite bard ends at Num 21:28. The two following verses appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence of the usurpers.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Wherefore they that speak in proverbs--Here is given an extract from an Amorite song exultingly anticipating an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amorite bard ends at Num 21:28. The two following verses appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence of the usurpers.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
They that speak in proverbs - The original word is almost equivalent to "the poets." The word supplies the title of the Book of Proverbs itself; and is used of the parable proper in Eze 17:2; of the prophecies of Balsam in Num 23:7-10; Num 24:3-9; etc.; and of a song of triumph over Babylon in Isa 14:4.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
In proverbs - The poets or other ingenious persons, of the Amorites or Canaanites, who made this following song of triumph over the vanquished Moabites: which is here brought in, as a proof that this was now Sihon's land, and as an evidence of the just judgment of God in spoiling the spoilers, and subduing those who insulted over their conquered enemies. Come into Heshbon - These are the words either of Sihon speaking to his people, or of the people exhorting one another to come and possess the city which they had taken. Of Sihon - That which once was the royal city of the king of Moab, but now is the city of Sihon.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
They that speak in proverbs - המשלים hammoshelim, from משל mashal, to rule, to exercise authority; hence a weighty proverbial saying, because admitted as an axiom for the government of life. The moshelim of the ancient Asiatics were the same, in all probability, as the Poetae among the Greeks and Latins, the shaara among the Arabs, who were esteemed as Divine persons, and who had their name from shaara, he knew, understood; whose poems celebrated past transactions, and especially those which concerned the military history of their nation. These poets were also termed sahebi deewan, companions or lords of the council of state, because their weighty sayings and universal knowledge were held in the highest repute. Similar to these were the bards among the ancient Druids, and the Sennachies among the ancient Celtic inhabitants of these nations. The ode from the 27th to the 30th verse is composed of three parts. The first takes in Num 21:27 and Num 21:28; the second Num 21:29; and the third Num 21:30. The first records with bitter irony the late insults of Sihon and his subjects over the conquered Moabites. The second expresses the compassion of the Israelites over the desolations of Moab, with a bitter sarcasm against their god Chemosh, who had abandoned his votaries in their distress, or was not able to rescue them out of the hands of their enemies. The third sets forth the revenge taken by Israel upon the whole country of Sihon, from Heshbon to Dibon, and from Nophah even to Medeba. See Isa 15:1, Isa 15:2. The whole poem, divided into its proper hemistichs, as it stands in Kennicott's Hebrew Bible, is as follows: - Verse 27. Part I Come ye to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; The city of Sihon, let it be established. Verse 28 For from Heshbon the fire went out, And a flame from the city of Sihon: It hath consumed the city of Moab, With the lords of the heights of Arnon. Verse 29. Part 2 Alas for thee, O Moab! Thou hast perished, O people of Chemosh! He hath given up his fugitive sons And his daughters into captivity, To the king of the Amorites, Sihon. Verse 30. Part 3 But on them have We lifted destruction, From Heshbon even to Dibon; We have destroyed even to Nophah, The fire did reach to Medebah. See Kennicott's Remarks.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

They that speak in proverbs - המשלים hammoshelim, from משל mashal, to rule, to exercise authority; hence a weighty proverbial saying, because admitted as an axiom for the government of life. The moshelim of the ancient Asiatics were the same, in all probability, as the Poetae among the Greeks and Latins, the shaara among the Arabs, who were esteemed as Divine persons, and who had their name from shaara, he knew, understood; whose poems celebrated past transactions, and especially those which concerned the military history of their nation. These poets were also termed sahebi deewan, companions or lords of the council of state, because their weighty sayings and universal knowledge were held in the highest repute. Similar to these were the bards among the ancient Druids, and the Sennachies among the ancient Celtic inhabitants of these nations.

The ode from the 27th to the 30th verse is composed of three parts. The first takes in Num 21:27 and Num 21:28; the second Num 21:29; and the third Num 21:30.

The first records with bitter irony the late insults of Sihon and his subjects over the conquered Moabites.

The second expresses the compassion of the Israelites over the desolations of Moab, with a bitter sarcasm against their god Chemosh, who had abandoned his votaries in their distress, or was not able to rescue them out of the hands of their enemies.

The third sets forth the revenge taken by Israel upon the whole country of Sihon, from Heshbon to Dibon, and from Nophah even to Medeba. See Isa 15:1, Isa 15:2.

The whole poem, divided into its proper hemistichs, as it stands in Kennicott's Hebrew Bible, is as follows: -

Verse 27. Part I

Come ye to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt;

The city of Sihon, let it be established.

Verse 28

For from Heshbon the fire went out,

And a flame from the city of Sihon:

It hath consumed the city of Moab,

With the lords of the heights of Arnon.

Verse 29. Part 2

Alas for thee, O Moab!

Thou hast perished, O people of Chemosh!

He hath given up his fugitive sons

And his daughters into captivity,

To the king of the Amorites, Sihon.

Verse 30. Part 3

But on them have We lifted destruction,

From Heshbon even to Dibon;

We have destroyed even to Nophah,

The fire did reach to Medebah.

See Kennicott's Remarks.

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²⁸ For there is a fire [0784] gone out [03318] of Heshbon [02809], a flame [03852] from the city [07151] of Sihon [05511]: it hath consumed [0398] Ar [06144] of Moab [04124], and the lords of the high places [01181] of Arnon [0769].

⁴ That thou shalt take up [05375] this proverb [04912] against the king [04428] of Babylon [0894], and say [0559], How hath the oppressor [05065] ceased [07673] ! the golden city [04062] ceased [07673] !

³ And he took up [05375] his parable [04912], and said [0559], Balaam [01109] the son [01121] of Beor [01160] hath said [05002], and the man [01397] whose eyes [05869] are open [08365] hath said [05002]:
⁴ He hath said [05002], which heard [08085] the words [0561] of God [0410], which saw [02372] the vision [04236] of the Almighty [07706], falling [05307] into a trance, but having his eyes [05869] open [01540]:
⁵ How goodly [02895] are thy tents [0168], O Jacob [03290], and thy tabernacles [04908], O Israel [03478]!
⁶ As the valleys [05158] are they spread forth [05186], as gardens [01593] by the river's side [05104], as the trees of lign aloes [0174] which the LORD [03068] hath planted [05193], and as cedar trees [0730] beside the waters [04325].
⁷ He shall pour [05140] the water [04325] out [05140] of his buckets [01805], and his seed [02233] shall be in many [07227] waters [04325], and his king [04428] shall be higher [07311] than Agag [090], and his kingdom [04438] shall be exalted [05375].
⁸ God [0410] brought him forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714]; he hath as it were the strength [08443] of an unicorn [07214]: he shall eat up [0398] the nations [01471] his enemies [06862], and shall break [01633] their bones [06106], and pierce [04272] them through with his arrows [02671].
⁹ He couched [03766], he lay down [07901] as a lion [0738], and as a great lion [03833]: who shall stir him up [06965]? Blessed [01288] is he that blesseth [01288] thee, and cursed [0779] is he that curseth [0779] thee.

⁷ And he took up [05375] his parable [04912], and said [0559], Balak [01111] the king [04428] of Moab [04124] hath brought [05148] me from Aram [0758], out of the mountains [02042] of the east [06924], saying, Come [03212], curse [0779] me Jacob [03290], and come [03212], defy [02194] Israel [03478].
⁸ How [04100] shall I curse [05344], whom God [0410] hath not cursed [06895]? or how shall I defy [02194], whom the LORD [03068] hath not defied [02194]?
⁹ For from the top [07218] of the rocks [06697] I see [07200] him, and from the hills [01389] I behold [07789] him: lo, the people [05971] shall dwell [07931] alone [0910], and shall not be reckoned [02803] among the nations [01471].
¹⁰ Who can count [04487] the dust [06083] of Jacob [03290], and the number [04557] of the fourth [07255] part of Israel [03478]? Let me die [04191] [05315] the death [04194] of the righteous [03477], and let my last [0319] end be like his!

² Son [01121] of man [0120], put forth [02330] a riddle [02420], and speak [04911] a parable [04912] unto the house [01004] of Israel [03478];

² He is gone up [05927] to Bajith [01006], and to Dibon [01769], the high places [01116], to weep [01065]: Moab [04124] shall howl [03213] over Nebo [05015], and over Medeba [04311]: on all their heads [07218] shall be baldness [07144], and every beard [02206] cut off [01438].

¹ The burden [04853] of Moab [04124]. Because in the night [03915] Ar [06144] of Moab [04124] is laid waste [07703], and brought to silence [01820]; because in the night [03915] Kir [07024] of Moab [04124] is laid waste [07703], and brought to silence [01820];

³⁰ We have shot [03384] at them; Heshbon [02809] is perished [06] even unto Dibon [01769], and we have laid them waste [08074] even unto Nophah [05302], which reacheth unto Medeba [04311].

²⁹ Woe [0188] to thee, Moab [04124]! thou art undone [06], O people [05971] of Chemosh [03645]: he hath given [05414] his sons [01121] that escaped [06412], and his daughters [01323], into captivity [07622] unto Sihon [05511] king [04428] of the Amorites [0567].

²⁷ Wherefore they that speak in proverbs [04911] say [0559], Come [0935] into Heshbon [02809], let the city [05892] of Sihon [05511] be built [01129] and prepared [03559]: