Bible Discussion Thread

So, it seems that the account of the people the Israelites encountered east of the Jordan have a correlation to the time of Abraham. It seems unsure to me exactly who it was that pushed these giants out of the areas of Ammon, Moab and Edom. WAs it the kings of the east, Abraham and his group, or the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites. Perhaps it was all of these since the chapter says that God destroyed the giants in times past.

In Deut. 2:24 God calls on the Israelites to rise up and begin to conquer the peoples east of the Jordan after He recounts how the giants were expelled from the area before. He says He will give them Sihon, the giant king of the Amorites, by putting in the oversized inhabitants of this area a dread of the Israelites that will make these nations of giant men tremble and be in anguish (vs. 25).

So, Moses sends messengers ahead to Sihon asking permission to pass through his land. But Sihon refused this request and came out against the Israelites because the LORD had hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate. The battle ensued with God giving Israel immense victory of all the people of the land of Sihon. They did as God had instructed them, killing ALL men, women, and children. Some think it so harsh and un-God-like for Him to order total extermination. But, if ALL of the people of Sihon were mixed blood with Rephaim, it was best for this people to be destroyed. God hates this mixing of Rephaim blood and human blood. It always is wicked and leads to greater wickedness in the people as a whole.

The Israelites kept the cattle alive and took them as spoil from the cities. From the Arnon River through Gilead all the cities were taken by the Israelites by God's power. And none of the people and land of Ammon was invaded, battled against, or taken at all just as God had forbade them not to do.

In Nu. 13:32 the spies said that the giants in the land eat up the inhabitants of the land. They must have seen this happen to say this.