Numbers 21:28

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.

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

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.

30 But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon. We demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”

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
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.
KJV
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
WEB
for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.
ASV
For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.
DARBY
For there went forth fire from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the high places of the Arnon.
BLB
For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of the Arnon.
ÅB
for ild fór ut fra Hesbon, en flamme fra Sihons stad; den fortærte Ar i Moab, dem som bodde på høydene ved Arnon.
OTB
For ild gikk ut fra Hesjbon, en flamme fra Sihons by; den fortærte Ar av Moab, herrene av Arnons høyder.
B1930
for ild fór ut fra Hesbon, en lue fra Sihons stad; den fortærte Ar i Moab, dem som bodde på høidene ved Arnon.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 21:15

    even the slopes of the wadis that extend to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab.”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 48:45–46

    “Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.

    Read in context
  • Amos 2:2

    So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 22:41

    The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

    Read in context
  • Amos 1:14

    So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest.

    Read in context
  • Amos 1:12

    So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

    Read in context
  • Amos 2:5

    So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 15:1–2

    This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

    Read in context