Heshbon (verse 17) was the capital city of King Sihon (see 12.2).

Of all the cities on the plateau (verses 17-20), the following have already appeared: Dibon (13.9) and Beth Jeshimoth (12.3), Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath (verse 18) appear also in 21.36-37; and Bethpeor (verse 20) may be the same as Peor in 22.17.

Verses 17-20 (actually 17-23) form a unit and may be handled in several ways. For example, the arrangement of Good News Translation may be followed, or it may be appropriate to print the names of the city in list form, one below the other. Or, on the basis of on the plateau (verse 17) and of the plateau (verse 21), one may translate “Their territory reached as far as the city of Heshbon. In this region lay the cities of Dibon, Bamoth Baal … 18 … 19 … 20 … 21 and the other cities of the plateau.” This restructuring would take in the text down through It included all the cities of the plateau of verse 21. Following that, a new sentence would begin, as will be indicated in the comments at verse 21.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .