Definition: And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Numbers 21:34. It’s a really powerful and significant passage about God’s power and judgment. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes God completely controlling the situation of Sihon, a powerful king who lived near Heshbon (a small town near Jerusalem). God is saying, “Don't worry about me; I’ve completely taken control of everything – his people and his land.” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the LORD said unto Moses…” : This establishes that this isn’t just a casual statement. It’s God directly communicating with Moses. “…Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land;” : This is the core of the message. God has completely defeated Sihon's army and secured everything he controls. He's taken control of Sihon’s kingdom and its people. “And thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.” : This is where it gets really important. God is comparing Sihon to a previous powerful ruler – the Amorites. He's telling us exactly what to do: “Which dwelt at Heshbon…” : We know this refers to Sihon’s kingdom. “…as thou didst unto him…” : This is a strong warning. It means we should treat Sihon with the same disrespect and cruelty he showed. “Thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto him” : This is a very direct command. We are instructed to act in a way that mirrors Sihon’s behavior – to be arrogant, disrespectful, and forceful. What does this mean practically? This verse highlights God's absolute power and judgment. It's a reminder that: God is sovereign: He has the ultimate authority over everything. Judgment is swift: He doesn’t hesitate to punish those who are arrogant or disrespectful. Respect is important: We should always show respect to God and those in positions of power, even when they seem powerful. In essence, this verse emphasizes that God will not tolerate arrogance and disrespect. It's a powerful message about the importance of humility and obedience. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to other parts of the Bible? Discuss its significance within a specific historical context?