John Calvin Commentary Numbers 21:27

"Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come ye to Heshbon; Let the city of Sihon be built and established:" — Numbers 21:27 (ASV)

Therefore, those who speak in proverbs. That is, an old saying, or proverbial sentence, remains and is well known. The song, however, seems to have been composed in the character of those who, when prepared to engage in war, mutually exhorted each other, “Come into Heshbon”—that is, run to the standard of King Sihon; hasten to his home and his chief place of residence, so that we may go forth from there to battle.

I interpret these expressions, “build and prepare”, as meaning to enlarge, adorn, and enrich. For it is probable that this city was not overthrown; instead, they foretell that the city would be renovated when a larger dominion had been gained.

This is more fully confirmed by what immediately follows, when it is said that “a fire had gone forth from Heshbon”, which consumed Ar of Moab and all its neighborhood. Regarding the “lords of the high places of Arnon”, some understand this to mean the priests who presided in the temples; others extend it to all the inhabitants in general.

However, in my opinion, it is not unsuitable to refer them to the idols themselves, since it appears from the next verse that the conquerors were so insolently elated that they despised not only the men themselves but also their gods. For when they say, “Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh”, there is no doubt that they mockingly reproach them with the fact that they had been poorly defended by the gods whom they worshipped.¹³²

Indeed, ungodly men, when in prosperity, lift their horns to heaven, as if they would attack the divinity that was opposed to them. They, therefore, deride Chemosh because he made “his sons” or worshippers fugitives or captives.

In the word lantern,¹³³ he makes use of a common metaphor. Some follow the Chaldee interpreter and render it kingdom; but it has a wider signification; for it includes all the component parts of a happy and prosperous state.¹³⁴ The meaning, therefore, is that their glory and all their wealth were annihilated. The cities of Dibon and Medeba are situated on the extreme borders, near the river Arnon, so that by these he designates all the intermediate plain.

¹³² “Par Chamos, qu’ils adoroyent comme leur patron;” by Chemosh, whom they worshipped as their patron. — Fr..

¹³³ ונירם vaniram: A. V., “we have shot at them.” Our translators have regarded “we have shot at them.” Our translators have regarded ניר, the central syllable of this composite word, as the first future plural of , the central syllable of this composite word, as the first future plural of ירה be shot or cast; and and S. M. has noticed this explanation as more probably right than the one which he has adopted in his text, and which supposes has noticed this explanation as more probably right than the one which he has adopted in his text, and which supposes ניר to be a substantive, namely, a to be a substantive, namely, a lantern. The Chaldee Paraphrast and the The Chaldee Paraphrast and the V. have regarded this substantive as a metaphor for the ruling power. If it had been a substantive, its place, in ordinary construction, should have been after the verb have regarded this substantive as a metaphor for the ruling power. If it had been a substantive, its place, in ordinary construction, should have been after the verb אבד perished, whereas it precedes that verb, which has Heshbon following it, in the proper position for its nominative. — whereas it precedes that verb, which has Heshbon following it, in the proper position for its nominative. — W

¹³⁴ “Elle comprend les biens, l’honneur, le repos, et la reputation;” it comprehends goods, honor, repose, and reputation. — Fr..