The Meaning of Numbers 21:23 Explained

Numbers 21:23

KJV: And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

YLT: And Sihon hath not suffered Israel to pass through his border, and Sihon gathereth all his people, and cometh out to meet Israel into the wilderness, and cometh in to Jahaz, and fighteth against Israel.

Darby: But Sihon would not suffer Israel to go through his border; and Sihon gathered all his people, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

ASV: And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Sihon  would not suffer  Israel  to pass  through his border:  but Sihon  gathered  all his people  together,  and went out  against  Israel  into the wilderness:  and he came  to Jahaz,  and fought  against Israel. 

What does Numbers 21:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 21:21-35 - Victory Over The Amorites
Two great victories opened the eastern lands to the possession and settlement of two tribes and a half. It is not enough to know our heritage in Christ; we must possess our possessions.
Sihon, the king of the Amorites, made an unprovoked attack on Israel; and his action was the less excusable, because he had himself been an invader. As a proof of this, a passage is quoted from one of their national songs, in which the poet describes his invasion of the land, the burning of Heshbon and Ar, and the erection of new cities in their stead, Numbers 21:27-30. See also Judges 11:13-27. Sihon and Og suffered the same fate at the hands of Israel. General Gordon, when crossing the Sudan to attack the slave-trader, often heard these words in his heart: "Fear him not, for I have delivered him into thy hand." See Psalms 135:11; Psalms 136:19-20. Behind all history is divine and everlasting love! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 21

1  Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4  The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7  They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10  Various journeys of the Israelites
21  Sihon is overcome
33  And Og

What do the individual words in Numbers 21:23 mean?

But not would allow Sihon - Israel to pass through his territory So gathered together all his people and went out against in the wilderness and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel
וְלֹא־ נָתַ֨ן סִיחֹ֣ן אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ עֲבֹ֣ר בִּגְבֻלוֹ֒ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף כָּל־ עַמּ֗וֹ וַיֵּצֵ֞א לִקְרַ֤את הַמִּדְבָּ֔רָה וַיָּבֹ֖א יָ֑הְצָה וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְלֹא־  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נָתַ֨ן  would  allow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
סִיחֹ֣ן  Sihon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: סִיחֹון  
Sense: king of the Amorites at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֮  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עֲבֹ֣ר  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בִּגְבֻלוֹ֒  through  his  territory 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ף  So  gathered  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
עַמּ֗וֹ  his  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וַיֵּצֵ֞א  and  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
לִקְרַ֤את  against 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
הַמִּדְבָּ֔רָה  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
וַיָּבֹ֖א  and  he  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יָ֑הְצָה  to  Jahaz 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יַהַץ 
Sense: a place in Reuben east of the Dead Sea where Israel defeated Sihon king of the Amorites; site uncertain.
וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם  and  fought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל  against  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.