The Conquest of Og, King of Bashan, is the second major victory in Israel’s campaign east of the Jordan, following the defeat of Sihon. Og marched out to fight Israel at Edrei; the LORD assured Moses of victory, and Israel took Og’s land, including sixty fortified cities. The conquest expanded Israelite territory and provided a precedent for the people’s approaching entry into the Promised Land.

Background and Battle

After Israel had taken territory from Sihon, the people turned north toward Bashan. Og, its king, came out with his forces to meet them in battle at Edrei. The LORD told Moses not to fear Og, declaring that Og, his people, and his land had been delivered into Israel’s hand; Moses was instructed to deal with him as he had dealt with Sihon.

Israel defeated Og and his forces, leaving no survivors among the king’s people. The account thus frames the victory both as a military encounter and as the fulfilment of the assurance Moses received before the battle.

Conquest and Territorial Gains

Israel captured all of Og’s cities: sixty fortified settlements in the region of Argob, with high walls, gates, and bars, as well as many unwalled towns. The territory taken extended through Bashan and Gilead, from the Arnon valley toward Mount Hermon. The narrative emphasizes the scale of the prize by describing the cities’ defenses and the breadth of the conquered region.

The account also singles out Og as the last surviving remnant of the Rephaim and notes that his iron bedstead, kept at Rabbah among the Ammonites, measured nine cubits long and four cubits wide. This detail gives the defeated king a striking physical presence within a story otherwise focused on the extent of his lost kingdom.

Allocation and Later Remembrance

The conquered land was distributed among the eastern Israelite tribes. The Reubenites and Gadites received land from Aroer and part of Gilead, while the half-tribe of Manasseh received the rest of Gilead and Bashan. The conquest therefore changed not only the military balance but also the territorial inheritance of these groups.

Moses later recalled the defeat of Og alongside the defeat of Sihon, presenting both victories as evidence that the LORD would act similarly against the kingdoms Israel would encounter beyond the Jordan. In this retelling, the campaign becomes a model of reassurance for Joshua and the people as they prepare to enter the land.