Deuteronomy 3:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 3:6
6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 3 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of faith, discipleship, covenant. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-29: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 3:6
6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
Analysis
The phrase 'we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon' indicates the fulfillment of herem (devoted to destruction), applied consistently across conquered territories. The comprehensive nature—'utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city'—reflects God's judgment on deeply corrupted Canaanite culture. This severe measure prevented the moral and spiritual contamination that would later plague Israel when they failed to complete God's commands.
Historical Context
Herem warfare, though difficult for modern readers, served specific purposes: judgment on incorrigibly wicked nations (Genesis 15:16), protection of Israel's spiritual purity, and demonstration of sin's seriousness. The Canaanite cultures practiced child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and other abominations that God deemed worthy of complete judgment.
Reflection
- How seriously do you take sin's corrupting influence in your life?
- What compromises with evil seem small but threaten spiritual integrity?
Cross-References
- Kingdom: Deuteronomy 2:24
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 2:34