23-27 But Sihon wouldn’t let Israel go through. Instead he got his army together and marched into the wilderness to fight Israel. At Jahaz he attacked Israel. But Israel fought hard, beat him soundly, and took possession of his land from the Arnon all the way to the Jabbok right up to the Ammonite border. They stopped there because the Ammonite border was fortified. Israel took and occupied all the Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its surrounding villages. Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon king of the Amorites. He had attacked the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far north as the river Arnon. That is why the folk singers sing,

Come to Heshbon to rebuild the city,
    restore Sihon’s town.

28-29 Fire once poured out of Heshbon,
    flames from the city of Sihon;
Burning up Ar of Moab,
    the natives of Arnon’s heights.
Doom, Moab!
    The people of Chemosh, done for!
Sons turned out as fugitives, daughters abandoned as captives
    to the king of the Amorites, to Sihon.

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27 That is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
    let Sihon’s city be restored.

28 “Fire went out from Heshbon,
    a blaze from the city of Sihon.(A)
It consumed(B) Ar(C) of Moab,
    the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(D)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(E)
    You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(F)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(G)
    and his daughters as captives(H)
    to Sihon king of the Amorites.

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