Sihon סִיחוֹן
Amorite king of Heshbon, defeated by the Israelites.
Who is Sihon in the Bible?
Sihon was an Amorite king of Heshbon who ruled the territory east of the Jordan River during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings (Numbers 21:21; Deuteronomy 2:26). When Moses sent messengers requesting peaceful passage through his land, Sihon refused and instead gathered his army to attack Israel, prompting a military conflict (Numbers 21:23; Deuteronomy 2:30). The Israelites defeated Sihon and his forces, conquering his territory and establishing a crucial foothold on their journey to the Promised Land (Numbers 21:24-25; Deuteronomy 2:31-37). This victory demonstrated God's power on behalf of the Israelites and became a celebrated example of divine deliverance, referenced throughout Scripture in psalms and historical recollections (Psalm 135:11; Nehemiah 9:22).
Biography
Sihon, the Amorite king of Heshbon, is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Kings, Nehemiah, Psalms, and Jeremiah. He ruled over the territory east of the Jordan River, which the Israelites sought to pass through on their way to the Promised Land.
When Moses sent messengers to Sihon requesting permission to pass through his land peacefully, Sihon refused and instead gathered his army to attack the Israelites (Num.21.21-23; Deu.2.26-30). In response, the Israelites fought against Sihon and his army, defeating them and conquering his territory (Num.21.24-25; Deu.2.31-37). The victory over Sihon was seen as a significant milestone in the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness to His people.
The conquest of Sihon's kingdom, along with that of Og, king of Bashan, allowed the Israelites to settle in the Transjordan region, with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh receiving their inheritance there (Num.32.33; Jos.13.10, 21, 27). The defeat of Sihon and Og is remembered as a testament to God's deliverance and is celebrated in the Psalms (Psalm Jos.135.11; 136.19).
In Scripture
8 biblical books ; 5 with study contentNumbers 5 verses
- Numbers 21:21
"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,"
- Numbers 21:23
"But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel."
- Numbers 21:26
"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."
- Numbers 21:27
"That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; let the city of Sihon be restored."
- Numbers 21:28
"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."
Deuteronomy 5 verses
- Deuteronomy 1:4
"This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and then at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:24
"“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:26
"So from the Wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers with an offer of peace to Sihon king of Heshbon, saying,"
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:30
"But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:31
"Then the LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”"
Study Deuteronomy →
Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 2:10
"For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 9:10
"and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 12:2
"Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 12:5
"He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 13:10
"and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites;"
Study Joshua →
Judges 3 verses
- Judges 11:19
"And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’"
- Judges 11:20
"But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel."
- Judges 11:21
"Then the LORD, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, who defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country,"
1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 4:19
"Geber son of Uri in the land of Gilead, including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was also one governor in the land of Judah."
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 9:22
"You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | סִיחוֹן | siyḥwōn | Sichon , an Amoritish king |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | סִיחוֹן | siyḥwōn | Sichon , an Amoritish king |