Deuteronomy 4:47
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽירְשׁ֨וּ
And they possessed
H3423
וַיִּֽירְשׁ֨וּ
And they possessed
Strong's:
H3423
Word #:
1 of 16
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַבָּשָׁ֗ן
of Bashan
H1316
הַבָּשָׁ֗ן
of Bashan
Strong's:
H1316
Word #:
8 of 16
bashan (often with the article), a region east of the jordan
הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י
of the Amorites
H567
הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י
of the Amorites
Strong's:
H567
Word #:
11 of 16
an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּעֵ֣בֶר
which were on this side
H5676
בְּעֵ֣בֶר
which were on this side
Strong's:
H5676
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the jordan; ususally meaning
Historical Context
Moses recalls the conquest of both Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings ruling east of the Jordan. These victories (Numbers 21:21-35; Deuteronomy 2-3), occurring just weeks or months before this speech around 1406 BC, provided tangible proof that God would fulfill His promise to give Israel the land despite enemy military superiority.
Questions for Reflection
- How do past victories over seemingly impossible obstacles serve as evidence that God will complete His work in your life?
- What does Israel's possession of conquered territory teach about the relationship between God's sovereign gift and human responsibility to receive it?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
Moses summarizes trans-Jordan conquest: Israel possessed (vayyireshu, וַיִּירְשׁוּ) the territories of both Sihon and Og, shenei malkhei ha'Emori (שְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי, 'two kings of the Amorites'). The verb yarash implies not merely military victory but actual dispossession and inheritance—the conquered land became Israel's permanent possession.
These were not minor tribal chieftains. Sihon controlled the southern trans-Jordan from the Arnon to the Jabbok; Og ruled Bashan in the north, a giant of a man (Deuteronomy 3:11) whose kingdom included sixty fortified cities. Their combined territories covered substantial agricultural and pastoral land. Their defeat eliminated any rival power east of the Jordan.
The phrase mizrach hashemesh (מִזְרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, 'toward the rising of the sun') again specifies eastern orientation. From Israel's perspective on Moab's plains, the sun rose over the conquered territories. This directional marker creates geographical precision while subtly suggesting new beginnings—where the sun rises, Israel's inheritance dawns. What God began with Sihon and Og He will complete across the Jordan.