Who was Og king of Bashan?

Answer

Og, the king of Bashan, was a mighty and infamous Amorite ruler during the time of Moses. He battled the Israelites as they journeyed to the Promised Land. God granted the Israelites victory over King Og’s army, allowing Moses and his people to take control of Bashan, a fertile region located east of the Jordan River. This triumph was significant due to Og’s formidable strength and the Israelites’ limited military experience.

Before facing Og, the Israelites had a confrontation with another Amorite king named Sihon. Moses had asked Sihon to let them pass through his territory, promising not to take any resources from the Amorites. However, Sihon refused and attacked the Israelites. With God’s help, Moses and the Israelites overcame the Amorites and claimed their land (Numbers 21:21-31). Subsequently, as they journeyed towards Bashan, King Og confronted them at Edrei (verse 33). Despite the Israelites’ fear of Og’s reputation, God assured Moses, saying, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his entire army and land” (verse 34).

The battle between Og and Moses is elaborated in the book of Deuteronomy. It mentions that Og ruled over sixty fortified cities, all of which were captured by the Israelites (Deuteronomy 3:3-7). Og was also described as a giant, as his bed was made of iron and was exceptionally large: nine cubits long and four cubits wide (approximately 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide). This detail highlights Og’s immense size, suggesting that he was likely very tall—around ten or eleven feet. This interpretation is supported by the fact that OG was one of the last of the Rephaites «For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. », (Deuteronomy 3:11), which means he was strong and tall (see Deuteronomy 2:20-21).

The Rephaites (or Rephaim) were a group of people who lived in Canaan and elsewhere at the time of Moses and Joshua. The word Rephaites is not an ethnic but rather a descriptive term; it literally means “terrible ones.” The Rephaim were giants and fierce fighters. Earlier, when the Israelites had first tried to enter the Promised Land, the spies reported the land was populated by giants, whom they called “Nephilim” and “sons of Anak” (Numbers 13:32-33).

Og king of Bashan was one of the last of this race of giants. Goliath, the giant who fought David, was likely another. Og and his sons all lost their lives in their foolish opposition to God’s people «So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.», (Numbers 21:35). Despite King Og’s great size and strength, God gave Israel’s army the victory, and they possessed the land of Bashan. The half-tribe of Manasseh inherited Og’s territory (Joshua 13:29-30). There is no obstacle too large for God; there is nothing impossible for Him «But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. », (Matthew 19:26), God does not tremble before giants, and neither should His children.