Numbers 21:23 (GNV)

Passage

But Sihon gaue Israel no licence to passe through his countrey, but Sihon assembled all his people, and went out against Israel into the wildernesse: and he came to Iahoz, and fought against Israel.

Nearby Context

Numbers 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers vnto Sihon, King of the Amorites, saying,

Numbers 21:22 Let me goe through thy land: we wil not turne aside into the fieldes, nor into the vineyardes, neither drinke of the waters of ye welles: we will goe by the kings way, vntill we be past thy countrey.

Numbers 21:23 But Sihon gaue Israel no licence to passe through his countrey, but Sihon assembled all his people, and went out against Israel into the wildernesse: and he came to Iahoz, and fought against Israel.

Numbers 21:24 But Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and conquered his land, from Arnon vnto Iabok, euen vnto ye children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

Numbers 21:25 And Israel tooke al these cities, and dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites in Heshbon and in all the villages thereof.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sihon", "gaue", "israel", "licence", "passe", "through", and "countrey". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sihon" and "gaue", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Let me goe through thy land we..." into verse 24's "But Israel smote him with the edge...", so "sihon" and "gaue" belong inside that flow. In Numbers context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "sihon" and "gaue" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.