12:2a

Verses 12:2-3 give a detailed description of the territory that King Sihon ruled. Verse 2 describes the eastern part of his territory starting from its south end. Verse 3 describes the western part of his territory that was in the Jordan River valley.

Sihon king of the Amorites: The story of how Moses and the Israelites conquered Sihon king of the Amorites is in Numbers 21:21-35.

the Amorites: The word Amorites refers to a group of people who lived on the east side of the Jordan River. This word was used in 3:10| and you should translate it the same way in both places.

who lived in Heshbon: King Sihon lived in Heshbon, which was the capital town of the Amorites. Heshbon was about 25 kilometers northeast of the Dead Sea.

12:2b

He ruled from Aroer: The town of Aroer was beside the Arnon River. King Sihon’s territory started at Aroer in the south and went north from there.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

King Sihon’s territory started at the town of Aroer

on the rim of the Arnon Valley: The clause on the rim of the Arnon Valley indicates that the town of Aroer was on the bank of the Arnon River. The Arnon River runs into the Dead Sea.

12:2c

along the middle of the valley: The words the valley refers to the Arnon River valley. There is an interpretation issue here.

(1) The Hebrew text reads “and the middle of the valley.” For example:

from the middle of the gorge (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version)

(2) Some English versions say “from the town in the middle of the valley.” They add the word “town” because of Joshua 13:9 and 16 which describe the same place. For example:

including the city in the middle of the valley (NET Bible)

(NET Bible, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) and translate the middle of the valley as in the Berean Standard Bible. This follows the Hebrew text.

up to the Jabbok River: The phrase up to the Jabbok River indicates that the Jabbok River was the northern boundary of King Sihon’s territory. It was also that beginning of Ammonite territory.

the border of the Ammonites: The phrase the border of the Ammonites indicates that the Jabbok River formed the boundary between the territory of King Sihon and the territory of the Ammonites.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all the way to the Jabbok Valley bordering Ammonite territory (NET Bible)
-or-
to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites (New International Version)

the Ammonites: The term Ammonites indicates a group of people who lived in the country of Ammon. Ammon was a region or an area, not a town.

12:2d

that is, half of Gilead: The clause half of Gilead indicates that the territory which King Sihon ruled was half of the region of Gilead.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

This included half of Gilead (New International Version)
-or-
This territory included the southern half of the territory of Gilead (New Living Translation (2004))

Gilead: The term Gilead indicates the mountainous region north of the Dead Sea. The Gilead Region stretched from the east of the Jordan River to the desert.

General Comment on 12:2

Here is another way to translate 12:2. This example has divided the verse into three sentences.

King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, was defeated. His kingdom included Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon Gorge, and extended from the middle of the Arnon Gorge to the Jabbok River, which serves as a border for the Ammonites. This territory included the southern half of the territory of Gilead. (New Living Translation (2004))

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