King Sihon

King Sihon was a thirteenth century Amorite ruler in Transjordan during the time of Moses. When the Israelites reached the Arnon River east of the Dead Sea Moses sent messengers to ask King Sihon for passage through the area, promising to stay on the King’s Highway. His request was turned down and the King gathered his men and fought Israel. King Sihon was beaten and the Israelites took his land, including the capital city of Heshbon. Later that land was allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. There are frequent references to the defeat of King Sihon in the Old Testament. See Numbers 21:21-32; Deuteronomy 1:4; Joshua 2:10; Psalm 135:11; Jeremiah 48:45.

REFERENCES
	Character Sketch by Sandra Vincent, Copyright ©1998-2000 WORD SIGHT Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Ronald F. Youngblood, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995, Nashville/Atlanta/London/Vancouver Who's Who in the Bible Joan Comay and Ronald Brownrigg, Wings Books, 1993, New York/Avenel/New Jersey Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996, Wheaton, Illinois