Deuteronomy – Chapter 3

Old Testament29 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Then we turned and went by the way of Basan: and Og the king of Basan came out to meet us with his people to fight in Edrai." — so begins Deuteronomy 3. The chapter centers on Manasses and Joshua. Across its 29 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and God's protection and deliverance. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Then we turned and went by the way of Basan: and Og the king of Basan came out to meet us with his people to fight in Edrai.

2And the Lord said to me: Fear him not: because he is delivered into thy hand, with all his people and his land: and thou shalt do to him as thou hast done to Sehon king of the Amorrhites, that dwelt in Hesebon.

3So the Lord our God delivered into our hands, Og also, the king of Basan, and all his people: and we utterly destroyed them,

4Wasting all his cities at one time, there was not a town that escaped us: sixty cities, all the country of Argob the kingdom of Og in Basan.

5All the cities were fenced with very high walls, and with gates and bars, besides innumerable towns that had no walls.

6And we utterly destroyed them, as we had done to Sehon the king of Hesebon, destroying every city, men and women and children:

7But the cattle and the spoils of the cities we took for our prey.

8And we took at that time the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorrhites, that were beyond the Jordan: from the torrent Arnon unto the mount Hermon,

9Which the Sidonians call Sarion, and the Amorrhites Sanir:

10All the cities that are situate in the plain, and all the land of Galaad and Basan as far as Selcha and Edrai, cities of the kingdom of Og in Basan.

11For only Og king of Basan remained of the race of the giants. His bed of iron is shewn, which is in Rabbath of the children of Ammon, being nine cubits long, and four broad after the measure of the cubit of a man's hand.

12And we possessed the land at that time from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the torrent Arnon, unto the half of mount Galaad: and I gave the cities thereof to Ruben and Gad.

13And I delivered the other part of Galaad, and all Basan the kingdom of Og to the half tribe of Manasses, all the country of Argob: and all Basan is called the Land of giants.

14Jair the son of Manasses possessed all the country of Argob unto the borders of Gessuri, and Machati. And he called Basan by his own name, Havoth Jair, that is to say, the towns of Jair, until this present day.

15To Machir also I gave Galaad.

16And to the tribes of Ruben and Gad I gave of the land of Galaad as far as the torrent Arnon, half the torrent, and the confines even unto the torrent Jeboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon:

17And the plain of the wilderness, and the Jordan, and the borders of Cenereth unto the sea of the desert, which is the most salt sea, to the foot of mount Phasga eastward.

18And I commanded you at that time, saying: The Lord your God giveth you this land for an inheritance, go ye well appointed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the strong men of you.

19Leaving your wives and children and cattle. For I know you have much cattle, and they must remain in the cities, which I have delivered to you.

20Until the Lord give rest to your brethren, as he hath given to you: and they also possess the land, which he will give them beyond the Jordan: then shall every man return to his possession, which I have given you.

21I commanded Josue also at that time, saying: Thy eyes have seen what the Lord your God hath done to these two kings: so will he do to all the kingdoms to which thou shalt pass.

22Fear them not: for the Lord your God will fight for you.

23And I besought the Lord at that time, saying:

24Lord God, thou hast begun to shew unto thy servant thy greatness, and most mighty hand, for there is no other God either in heaven or earth, that is able to do thy works, or to be compared to thy strength.

25I will pass over therefore, and will see this excellent land beyond the Jordan, and this goodly mountain, and Libanus.

26And the Lord was angry with me on your account and heard me not, but said to me: It is enough: speak no more to me of this matter.

27Go up to the top of Phasga, and cast thy eyes round about to the west, and to the north, and to the south, and to the east, and behold it, for thou shalt not pass this Jordan.

28Command Josue, and encourage and strengthen him: for he shall go before this people, and shall divide unto them the land which thou shalt see.

29And we abode in the valley over against the temple of Phogor.

Important Verses in Deuteronomy 3

So the Lord our God delivered into our hands, Og also, the king of Basan, and all his people: and we utterly destroyed them,

Deuteronomy 3:3

And I commanded you at that time, saying: The Lord your God giveth you this land for an inheritance, go ye well appointed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the strong men of you.

Deuteronomy 3:18

I commanded Josue also at that time, saying: Thy eyes have seen what the Lord your God hath done to these two kings: so will he do to all the kingdoms to which thou shalt pass.

Deuteronomy 3:21

Lord God, thou hast begun to shew unto thy servant thy greatness, and most mighty hand, for there is no other God either in heaven or earth, that is able to do thy works, or to be compared to thy strength.

Deuteronomy 3:24

Historical Context

Deuteronomy belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the new generation of Israel about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. Chapter 3 of 34 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 29 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Manasses and Joshua, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "Then we turned and went by the way of Basan: and Og the king of Basan came out to meet us with his people to fight in…" It concludes: "And we abode in the valley over against the temple of Phogor. " Read against its original backdrop, Deuteronomy means 'second law': Moses' final sermons on the plains of Moab, renewing the Sinai covenant for the generation about to enter Canaan. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

Who Wrote It

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC

When It Was Written

Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Deuteronomy 3 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 3: "So the Lord our God delivered into our hands, Og also, the king of Basan, and all his people: and we utterly destroyed them," The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

Catholic exegesis reads Deuteronomy 3 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). St. Irenaeus and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 2466).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Deuteronomy 3 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

People in This Chapter

Manasses2 mentionsJoshua2 mentions

Reflection for Today

The early section of Deuteronomy—Chapter 3 of 34—opens a particular moment in the story of covenant renewal and the call to love God.

According to Catholic teaching, Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). This chapter especially highlights care for the poor and vulnerable, a theme the Catechism develops in relation to the whole of revelation (CIC 355).

May your reading of Deuteronomy Chapter 3 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how Love the Lord your God with all your heart applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deuteronomy Chapter 3 about?

Deuteronomy 3 contains 29 verses. It opens with "Then we turned and went by the way of Basan: and Og the king of Basan came out to meet us with his people to fight in…" and closes with "And we abode in the valley over against the temple of Phogor. ". The book as a whole is covenant discourses and law.

What is a key verse in Deuteronomy 3?

One of the most significant verses is verse 3: "So the Lord our God delivered into our hands, Og also, the king of Basan, and all his people: and we utterly destroyed them," It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Deuteronomy Chapter 3?

This chapter mentions Manasses, Joshua.

Who wrote Deuteronomy and when?

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC. Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

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