Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped at Oboth. They journeyed on from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness facing Moab, toward the sunrise. From there they set out and camped in the Wadi Zered. From there they journeyed on and camped on the other side of [the river] Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for [the river] Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. That is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:
“Waheb in Suphah,
And the wadis of the Arnon [River],
And the slope of the wadis
That stretches toward the site of Ar
And leans to the border of Moab.”
From there the Israelites went on to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.” [John 7:37-39]
Then Israel sang this song,
“Spring up, O well! Sing to it, [Rom 14:17]
The well which the leaders dug,
Which the nobles of the people hollowed out
With the scepter and with their staffs.”
And from the wilderness Israel journeyed to Mattanah, and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn away [from the road] into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have crossed your border.” But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. Instead Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel. Then Israel struck the king of the Amorites with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong. Israel took all these cities, and settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its towns. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. That is why those who use proverbs say,
“Come to Heshbon,
Let the city of Sihon be built and established.
“For fire has gone out of Heshbon,
A flame from the city of Sihon;
It devoured Ar of Moab
And the lords of the heights of the Arnon.
“Woe (judgment is coming) to you, Moab!
You are destroyed, O people of [the god] Chemosh!
Moab has given his sons as fugitives [that is, survivors of battle],
And his daughters into captivity
To Sihon king of the Amorites.
“We have shot them down [with arrows];
Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon,
And we have laid them waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to Medeba.”
Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. Now Moses sent men to spy out Jazer, and they overthrew its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have handed over him and all his people and his land to you; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” So the sons of Israel killed Og and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor left to him; and they took possession of his land.