²³ But Sichon would not allow Isra’el to pass through his territory. Instead, Sichon mustered all his people and went out into the desert to fight Isra’el. On reaching Yachatz, he fought Isra’el. ²⁴ Isra’el defeated him by force of arms and took control of his land from the Arnon to the Yabok River, but only as far as the people of ‘Amon, because the territory of the people of ‘Amon was well defended. ²⁵ Isra’el took all these cities — Isra’el lived in all the cities of the Emori, in Heshbon and all its surrounding towns.