John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 3:4

"And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we took not from them; threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan." — Deuteronomy 3:4 (ASV)

And we took all the cities. He here more fully relates what He had briefly touched upon in Numbers. He says that sixty, well-fortified cities, were taken, besides the villages. Hence we infer both the extent of the country and also the special power of God in the aid He afforded them, in that they took, in so short a time, so many cities securely enclosed and surrounded by high walls; as if they were merely traveling through a peaceful land in security, and with nothing to do.

After the eighth verse, he now connects what he had separately related concerning the two kingdoms; and so that the places might be more certainly identified, he mentions two other names for Mount Hermon, stating that it was called Sirion by the Sidonians and Shenir by the Amorites. Finally, he adds that Og, king of Bashan, was a giant and the only survivor of that race. As a memorial of his lofty stature, he cites his iron bedstead, the length of which was as much as nine cubits, according to the common measure of that period. By this circumstance he again magnifies the marvelous help of God, in that he was overcome by the children of Israel, who, by his stature, might have single-handedly terrified a whole army.

The enormous stature of the giants is apparent from this passage. Herodotus records¹³⁶ that the body of Orestes, disinterred by command of the oracle, was seven cubits in length. Pliny,¹³⁷ although he does not cite his authority, subscribes to this testimony. Gellius¹³⁸ thinks that this was fabulous, as well as what Homer¹³⁹ writes regarding the diminution of human height over time; but his erroneous view is refuted by almost universal consent.

What Pliny¹⁴⁰ himself relates is indeed incredible: that in Crete, a body was discovered through an opening in the earth, forty-six cubits long, which some thought to be the body of Orion, and others of Etion. But if we believe that there were giants (which is not only affirmed by the sacred Scriptures, but also recorded by almost all ancient writers), we should not be surprised if they were more than eight cubits in height.

Although the race of giants began to disappear in the time of Moses, still, in later ages, there existed persons who approached this ancient stature,¹⁴¹ as in the time of Augustus and Claudius there was one man about ten feet in height, and another nine feet nine inches. Moses, therefore, implies nothing more than that this monstrous race of men gradually died out, so that the enormous height of Og, king of Bashan, was an unusual sight.

¹³⁶ Herod, Clio, Section 68.

¹³⁷ Pliny, 7:16.

¹³⁸ Gellius, lib. 3:10.

¹³⁹ Homer, I1. lib. 12:381-3, 446-9; lib. 20:286, 7.lib. 12:381-3, 446-9; lib. 20:286, 7.

¹⁴⁰ Pliny, lib. 7:16.

¹⁴¹ Fr. “Comme sous l’empire d’Auguste il y avoit un homme haut de dix pieds, et sous l’empire de Claude un un peu moindre;” as under the empire of Augustus there was a man ten feet high, and, under that of Claudius, one somewhat shorter. Pliny, “Comme sous l’empire d’Auguste il y avoit un homme haut de dix pieds, et sous l’empire de Claude un un peu moindre;” as under the empire of Augustus there was a man ten feet high, and, under that of Claudius, one somewhat shorter. Pliny, loc. cit., records the exhibition at Rome, by the Emperor Claudius, of an Arab named Gabbara, whose height was nine feet nine inches; and adds, that in the reign of Augustus, there lived records the exhibition at Rome, by the Emperor Claudius, of an Arab named Gabbara, whose height was nine feet nine inches; and adds, that in the reign of Augustus, there lived two persons, Posio and Secundilla, who were half a foot higher than Gabbara, and who, on account of their wonderful size, were buried in the cemetery of the Sallustian gardens.persons, Posio and Secundilla, who were half a foot higher than Gabbara, and who, on account of their wonderful size, were buried in the cemetery of the Sallustian gardens.