Og

AI summary: Og matters because the cross references preserve his downfall as part of Israel's foundational memory of conquest before the Jordan crossing. He appears as a powerful king associated with Bashan and unusual strength, yet he is decisively defeated and his territory is given over to Israel's inheritance. Later psalms and historical retellings continue to mention him, showing that his defeat carried symbolic weight well beyond the original battle. Taken together, the material presents Og as a major defeated ruler whose fall reinforces confidence in God's ability to overcome intimidating enemies.¹

Gigantic, the king of Bashan, who was defeated by Moses in a pitched battle at Edrei, and was slain along with his sons (Deut. 1:4), and whose kingdom was given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh (Num. 21:32-35; Deut. 3:1-13). His bedstead (or rather sarcophagus) was of iron (or ironstone), 9 cubits in length and 4 cubits in breadth. His overthrow was afterwards celebrated in song (Ps. 135:11; 136:20). (See SIHON.) ³