Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

DEUTERONOMY 2:24KJV
Know the Bible

Deuteronomy 2:24 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 2:24 mean?

Deuteronomy 2:24 records God commanding the Israelites to get up, begin their journey, and cross the Arnon River, because He has given Sihon the Amorite king and his land into their hands, instructing them to start taking possession and prepare to fight for it. This verse marks a turning point where the Israelites are told to actively move forward and engage in battle to claim territory that God is giving them.

In this verse, Moses is recounting to the Israelites what God told them as they were about to enter the land east of the Jordan River. The people have been wandering in the wilderness, and now God directs them to confront Sihon, king of Heshbon, signaling the beginning of their conquest of the Promised Land. The language is direct and action-oriented, emphasizing both God’s promise and the need for the Israelites to take initiative.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 2:24

  • "Rise ye up" (קוּם, qum, H6965) means to stand up or get ready, stressing that the Israelites must move from waiting to action.
  • "Possess" (יָרַשׁ, yarash, H3423) means to take possession or inherit, highlighting that the land is not just to be visited but claimed as their own.
  • "Contend" (גָּרָה, garah, H1624) means to engage or provoke, showing that the Israelites are to actively challenge Sihon rather than avoid conflict.
  • "Battle" (מִלְחָמָה, milchamah, H4421) refers to armed conflict, making it clear that taking the land will involve real struggle, not just peaceful settlement.

Why Deuteronomy 2:24 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s promises often require human action; the Israelites are given the land, but they must still step out, confront obstacles, and fight for it.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative by marking the start of Israel’s military campaigns east of the Jordan, a key moment in their journey from wandering to settling.
  • It clears up any idea that the conquest was passive or automatic; God’s gift comes with a call to courage and obedience in the face of real opposition.

Where else these words appear

“contend” Hebrew H1624 · used in 13 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.
  • 2 Chronicles 25:19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
  • Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

“Arnon” Hebrew H769 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 21:13 From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
  • Deuteronomy 3:8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;
  • Joshua 13:16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

“Sihon” Hebrew H5511 · used in 34 verses

  • Numbers 21:21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
  • Deuteronomy 2:31 And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
  • Joshua 13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

“Heshbon” Hebrew H2809 · used in 37 verses

  • Numbers 21:25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
  • Deuteronomy 3:6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.
  • Judges 11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.