Numbers 21 · a question people ask
Why did Israel utterly destroy these peoples?
The chapter tells the battles briefly. The king of Arad attacked first and took captives (21:1). Israel asked Sihon only to pass through by the king's highway (21:22), and Sihon "went out against Israel into the wilderness" (21:23). Og "went out against them, he and all his people, to battle" (21:33). At Arad, Israel vowed, "I will utterly destroy their cities" (21:2), and the LORD "delivered up the Canaanites" (21:3); against Og, the LORD said, "I have delivered him into your hand" (21:34). Numbers 21 itself gives no reason. Readers point to two reasons the Bible gives elsewhere. Both views agree that the victories were the LORD's doing (21:3, 21:34).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Judgment on these nations
Some put the weight on judgment. The LORD had told Abram his offspring would return in the fourth generation, "for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full" (Genesis 15:16), and Sihon and Og were "the two kings of the Amorites" (Joshua 2:10). Moses later tells Israel, "Not for your righteousness… but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you" (Deuteronomy 9:5).
Genesis 15:16 · Joshua 2:10 · Deuteronomy 9:5
Keeping Israel from other gods
Others put the weight on protecting Israel. The command to "utterly destroy" the peoples of the land gives its reason: "that they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done for their gods; so would you sin against the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 20:17-18).
Deuteronomy 20:17-18
The verses
“The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” The LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.”
““Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway, until we have passed your border.” Sihon would not allow 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. He fought against Israel.”
“They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. The LORD said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.””