KJV ORIGINAL
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But Sihon, the king of Heshbon, would not let us pass through his territory. The LORD your God made his spirit stubborn and his heart hardened so that He could hand Sihon over to you, as you can see happened.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God hardened King Sihon's heart so that his refusal to let Israel pass would lead to his defeat and Israel's victory.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during Israel's journey to the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. Sihon was an Amorite king who controlled territory east of the Jordan River that Israel needed to cross. Moses had initially requested peaceful passage, but Sihon's refusal led to war and Israel's victory, giving them their first territorial conquest.
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