Deuteronomy-Chap-3

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Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Deuteronomy Chapter 3”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Deuteronomy 3 continues Moses’ final address to the children of Israel as they stand on the plains of Moab. This chapter bridges the gap between the military victories in the Transjordan and the emotional weight of leadership transition. It highlights two major themes: the overwhelming power of the Divine in overcoming seemingly impossible physical obstacles (symbolised by the giant King Og) and the profound humility required of a leader who must accept personal boundaries for the sake of the nation’s future.

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Below are the verses of Deuteronomy Chapter 3, verses 1 to 29: Whilst below the chapter is a commentary of same. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei. 2 And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto me: ‘Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon’. 3 So יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu (God) delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people; and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. 4 And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we took not from them; threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these were fortified cities, with high walls, gates, and bars; beside the unwalled towns a great many. 6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city, the men, and the women, and the little ones. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves. 8 And we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of Arnon unto mount Hermon 9 which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir 10 all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salcah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. 12 And this land we took in possession at that time; from Aroer, which is by the valley of Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites; 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob all that Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day. 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley for a border; even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, the Jordan being the border thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. 18 And I commanded you at that time, saying: ‘יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheichem hath given you this land to possess it; ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valour. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle I know that ye have much cattle shall abide in your cities which I have given you; 20 until יְהוָה - the LORD give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheichem giveth them beyond the Jordan; then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you. 21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying: ‘Thine eyes have seen all that יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheichem hath done unto these two kings; so shall יְהוָה - the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest over. 22 Ye shall not fear them; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheichem, He it is that fighteth for you’. 23 And I besought יְהוָה - the LORD at that time, saying: 24 'O אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - LORD Elohim, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth, that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty acts? 25 Let me go over, I pray Thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly hill-country, and Lebanon’. 26 But יְהוָה - the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and hearkened not unto me; and יְהוָה - the LORD said unto me: ‘Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto Me of this matter 27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine eyes; for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see’. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor”.

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Please Note: The text of Deuteronomy 3:1-29 from the JPS-1917 translation recounts the conquest of Bashan and its giant king, Og (vv. 1-11), the division of this land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (vv. 12-17), and the mandate for them to assist in the upcoming conquest of Canaan (vv. 18-20). It concludes with Moses encouraging Joshua (vv. 21-22) and receiving a Divine refusal to enter the land himself, yet being instructed to prepare Joshua as the new leader (vv. 23-29).

My special Commentary on Deuteronomy Chapter 3:

Verses 1-11: The Defeat of Og: The victory over Og, King of Bashan, is presented as a miraculous feat. Bashan was a land of giants (Rephaim), and the mention of Og’s iron bedstead (v. 11) approximately 13 feet long, serves as a historical marker of the formidable nature of the enemy. The text emphasises that despite the “high walls, gates, and bars” (v. 5), the victory belonged to the Divine. This is a message of confidence for the next generation: if אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) could deliver a giant into their hands, the walled cities of Canaan would be no obstacle.

Verses 12-20: The Transjordan Settlement: Here we see the administrative side of the conquest. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh are granted land on the east side of the Jordan. However, Moses enforces a strict communal contract: they must cross the river as an “armed vanguard” (v. 18) to assist their brothers. This highlights the value of Hebrew unity; no tribe is truly settled until the entire nation has found its rest.

Verses 21-22: The Transition of Leadership: Moses intentionally strengthens Joshua’s resolve by using the recent victories as proof of future success. The command “Ye shall not fear them” (v. 22) is not just an emotional request but a logical conclusion based on witnessed history.

Verses 23-29: The Prayer of Moses: This is the most poignant section of the chapter. Moses uses the term Va’etchanan (“And I besought”) a plea for unmerited grace. He acknowledges אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s “greatness” but is firmly denied entry. The phrase “Let it suffice thee” (v. 26) suggests that Moses has achieved enough; his legacy is secure in the Torah he has taught and the people he has prepared. His role now shifts from conqueror to mentor, as he is commanded to “encourage and strengthen” Joshua (v. 28).

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My Closing Message:

Deuteronomy 3 teaches us that the greatest victories are won not by physical might alone, but through the assurance of Divine support. It also provides a profound lesson in the ethics of leadership: true success is measured by how well we prepare the next generation to carry on without us. Even when our personal “Promised Land” remains just out of reach, we find fulfilment in seeing the people we love stand ready to cross their own Jordan’s.

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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