Conquest of Bashan
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them. It was a country filled with wild caverns and rocky strongholds.
The inhabitants, descendants from a giant race, were of marvelous
size and strength, so distinguished for violence and cruelty as to be
the terror of all surrounding nations. Og, the king, was remarkable for
size even in a nation of giants.
But the cloudy pillar moved forward, and the Hebrew hosts ad-
vanced to Edrei, where the giant king awaited their approach. Og had
skillfully chosen the place of battle—the city of Edrei, situated on the
border of a tableland rising abruptly from the plain and covered with
jagged rocks. It could be approached only by narrow pathways, steep
and difficult of ascent. In case of defeat, his forces could find refuge
in that wilderness of rocks where it would be impossible for strangers
to follow.
Moses Trusted God
Confident of success, the king came forth with an immense army
upon the open plain. When the Hebrews looked on that giant of
giants towering above the soldiers of his army, when they beheld the
seemingly impregnable fortress behind which unseen thousands were
entrenched, the hearts of many quaked with fear. But Moses was calm
and firm; the Lord had said concerning the king of Bashan, “Fear him
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not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy
hands; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the
Amorites.”
Not mighty giants nor walled cities, armed hosts nor rocky
fortresses, could stand before the Captain of the Lord’s host. The
Lord led the army, the Lord conquered in behalf of Israel. The giant
king and his army were destroyed, and the Israelites soon took posses-
sion of the whole country. Thus was blotted from the earth that strange
people who had given themselves up to abominable idolatry.
Israel’s Fatal Mistake
Many recalled the events which nearly forty years before had
doomed Israel to long desert wandering. The report of the spies con-
cerning the Promised Land was in many respects correct. The cities
were walled and very great and inhabited by giants. But they could