Numbers 21:27

25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages.

26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land as far as the Arnon.

That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; let the city of Sihon be restored.

28 For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

29 Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; let the city of Sihon be restored.
KJV
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
WEB
Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established;
ASV
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come ye to Heshbon; Let the city of Sihon be built and established:
DARBY
Therefore the poets say, Come to Heshbon; let the city of Sihon be built and established.
BLB
Upon thus the speakers of proverbs say: “Come to Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and be repaired.
ÅB
Derfor sier skalden: Kom til Hesbon! Bygges og grunnfestes skal Sihons stad;
OTB
Derfor sier de som taler i ordspråk: «Kom til Hesjbon og la den bli gjenoppbygd; la Sihons by bli gjenopprettet.
B1930
Derfor sier skalden: Kom til Hesbon! Bygges og grunnfestes skal Sihons stad;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 14:4

    you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!

    Read in context
  • Habakkuk 2:6

    Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’

    Read in context
  • Numbers 21:14

    Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “Waheb in Suphah and the wadis of the Arnon,

    Read in context