So we captured all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men, women, and children of every city. We left no survivor.
Parallel translations
- WEB We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. We left no one remaining.
- KJV And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:
- BSB At that time we captured all his cities and devoted to destruction the people of every city, including women and children. We left no survivors.
- NKJV We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining.
- NLT We conquered all his towns and completely destroyed everyone—men, women, and children. Not a single person was spared.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel captured every city and devoted its inhabitants to destruction, sparing no one. This reflects the herem judgment commanded against the Canaanite-era nations.
Overview
The complete destruction of Sihon's cities is part of the herem, the devoting of these peoples to destruction as an act of God's righteous judgment on entrenched wickedness. Such severe texts trouble many readers, and faithful interpreters approach them soberly, noting they are tied to a unique moment of judgment in redemptive history rather than a general license for violence. They also point to the seriousness of sin and ultimately to the cross, where God's judgment and mercy meet.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Sam 15:3Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
- Deut 7:2and when Yahweh your God delivers them up before you, and you strike them; then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them;
- Deut 3:6We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.
- Lev 27:28–29“‘Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to Yahweh of all that he has, whether of man or animal, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to Yahweh.
- 1 Sam 15:8–9He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
- Josh 8:25–26All that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
- Deut 20:16–18But of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes;
- Josh 11:14The children of Israel took all the plunder of these cities, with the livestock, as plunder for themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They didn’t leave any who breathed.
- Josh 7:11Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.
- Num 21:2–3Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
- Deut 7:26You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.
- Josh 9:24They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 2:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.