Giants in the Earth
Part iv
Genesis 6:1-7
This study of Giants in the Earth began from the first mention of giants in the book of Genesis Chapter 6. However, as the nature of giants in Scripture was to wander and to cause conflict and war with the people of God we have to follow these giants through the pages of Scripture into many other books. I suggest (at this point) that it would be profitable for you to begin at the beginning of this study of giants or much of what I will write will not have any continuity in thought or understanding.
Giants of Renown
The Giant Named Og of Bashan
The clan of Cain spawned giants; Cain was cursed to wander the earth, and yet, he built cities and a society based on rebellion and hatred of God, and against the people of God. The DNA of Cain’s descendants maintained this propensity toward violence against the people of God. He is truly the seed of evil.
We hopefully will follow the seed of the evil line of Cain as they roamed the earth in the days after the flood, and especially, where Scripture designates this particular line of Cain through Ham, and through Canaan. And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. (Genesis 10:6)
Canaan
And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, (Genesis 10:15)
And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, (Genesis 10:16)
And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, (Genesis 10:17)
And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. (Genesis 10:18)
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. (Genesis 10:19)
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. (Genesis 10:20)
The Line of Giants through Canaan
Sidon – hunting, a hunter (of men)
Heth – a terror
The Jebusite – he will be trodden down
The Amorite – a sayer, publicity
The Girgashite – a stranger of drawing near
The Hivite – showers of life, livers, live-giving, a villager
The Arkite – my gnawing, a tusk
The Sinite – thorn – clay – mire
The Arvadite – I shall break loose – a refuge?
The Arvadite – double fleece – (Could be our expression for ‘wolf in sheeps’ clothing?)
The Hamathite – enclosure of wrath – fortress ?
Although Ham had four sons, we will follow the giants through his son named Canaan, and yet, Cain’s son Cush will also be interwoven throughout Scripture. The first giant of renown that we are introduced to is Og. Og is mentioned 22 times in Scripture from the first mention in Numbers 21:31 to the last mention in Psalm 136:20. However, he is drawn into prophecy through his kingdom of Bashan in Psalm 22 through the words of the suffering Savior while Christ hung on the cross surrounded by the ‘bulls of Bashan’ as they taunted Him with their jeering cries of hatred and venom. http://sonofhislove.com/trilogy-psalms/ The phrase ‘bulls of Bashan’ appears only one time in Scripture. This is quite notable for it marks the characteristic of the adversaries of God who surrounded the cross at Calvary mocking Christ.
Og is seen in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, I Kings, Nehemiah and Psalms as the Holy Spirit of God reminds us twenty two times (double witness) of the nature of what is in the giants in the earth. I find it notable that Og is mentioned 22 times and the spirit of Og is carried into Psalm 22:12 through these words, Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. The Holy Spirit leaves out the name of this enemy Og, yet, the Holy Spirit link’s Og by the kingdom of Bashan. Those who gathered around the cross were the bulls of hatred, the horns of Satan, remember what Christ called them: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) Og was the visible giant of evil (first revealed in the 6th Chapter of Genesis), and he was the spiritual representation of Satan that flowed from Cain to the last giant in Scripture, the man of sin revealed in the triple number of 6. The Spirit of God would not have this giant (the spawn of Cain) named in the same psalm (Psalm 22) that beautifully portrays the inner anguish of Christ as His blood flowed down the cross and saturated the earth that He had created.
And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, [being] the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants. (Deuteronomy 3:13)
Through Scripture we are informed that Og had a kingdom called Bashan. He had 60 cities scattered in this kingdom, and a region named Argob. The name of Og means ‘hearth-cake,’ and ‘giant’ or ‘long necked.’ The root of ‘hearth-cake’ directs us back to the clay, the earth, and the dust of the ground from which humanity was formed, and the cake (a round sphere baked by fire) reveals an act of fire (judgment in the fire) and the round sphere has many spiritual applications: a wheel, a circle, as man in his sin and rebellion cannot escape from his sin as he continually (as in a wheel) is imprisoned by his own sin.
Bashan has a number if root meanings: ‘the shame of them,’ ‘the fertile,’ ‘the one in sleep,’ ‘soft earth.’ Bashan is characterized through the noun that God the Holy Spirit used in Psalm 22:12 to describe those who mocked Christ while He hung suspended between heaven and earth. They are called ‘bulls.’ Why bulls? Why do we today have the word ‘bully’? Bulls are aggressive, and the word ‘bully’ reveals a brutal person, a menace, an enemy, an intimidator, and an abusive personality. This describes the giants in the kingdom of Og, and the region of Argob. Later in Scripture in Jeremiah 50:11 we get another phrase in ‘bellow as bulls’ that also describes those who hate God and the people of God. Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls. This phrase certainly is a reality today, as we are constantly inundated by the thundering bellows that eminates from the throats of the giants of entertainers and celebrities (those who are famous because they are nothing and have done nothing) and the giants of the professional political world, and the giants of industry, and the giants of the paid propagandists (falsely called ‘news media’) and the giants of wealth and power. The words that the Spirit of God picks to describe giants is right on! bulls indeed for they are all bulls in deed.
So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. (Deuteronomy 3:3)
And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:4)
Then we have the exact number of cities that Og ruled over. Of course, it has to have the number 6. Coincidence? I think not. There is no such thing as coincidence in Scripture. Notice, it is not merely 6 cities, but it is 60 cities. Six being the number of man, and ten being the number of completeness, therefore this number of 60 takes on spiritual meaning. Let’s examine this number from the view of mankind. What was noted about Cain? Cain was to be a wanderer, set aside, and to be separated from all humanity because he was a murderer. His murderous antagonistic heart filled with the rage of his curse, and in rebellion he built a city (he planted his feet and stood firm against God and laid a foundation of a city) and named it after his son. The first recorded city is associated with Cain, the first of the giants. The goal of evil doers of renown is to possess what does not belong to them: the land, and the people; and to fill the face of the world with cities. (Isaiah 14:20, 21)Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. (Psalm 49:11)
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Psalm 4:17)
Then in the number of 10 (as it relates to humanity) is that man sets his understanding of completeness and perfection as he wishes it to be. But of course, man is not capable of true completeness and true perfection which is planted only on the righteousness and holiness of God. In the number 60 as it relates to the king Og of Bashan is that he believed that his kingdom was complete and perfect in all that he had accomplished just as his father Cain thought before him. The tree and its acorn grow and are nourished by the same soft earth. The seed of evil becomes a giant of evil. And the tree of knowledge of good and evil produced two seeds, the seed of good and the seed of evil.
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. (Deuteronomy 3:11) Og’s bed made of iron was approximately 13′ 6″ in length, and 3′ wide. Therefore, it would be within reason that Og was definitely a giant Og’s kingdom consisted of 60 cities, all the cities of the plain, Gilead, to Salchah and Edrei. This region is part of what today is recognized as the Golan Heights. O.K. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, So what? Who cares? What has all this to do with me, now, today, in the age of grace, in the scope of the New Testament? God reveals the future, and strengthens the present through the lessons of the past. The Holy Spirit did not write inconsequential information, everything has meaning, everything is meant to instruct and to teach us more about God, and His ways, and His program, and the true heart of humanity.
All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:10)
All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. (Joshua 13:12)
Og’s territory extended from Salchah on the far eastern edge of Bashan to the city of Edrei ‘goodly pasture’ centrally located, and to the noted cities of the plain. (Remember the cities of the plain consisted of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar.) The phrase ‘the cities of the plain’ is referenced just four times in Scripture and is recognized because of the judgment of God on these ‘cities of the plain’ because of their inordinate acts of sin against their Creator.
Cities of the Plain
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; (Genesis 14:1)
That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. (Genesis 14:2)
All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. (Genesis 14:3)
Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. (Genesis 14:4)
And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, (Genesis 14:5)
Why The Judgment on the Cities of the Plain
Why not the judgment on the cities of the plain? God’s righteousness demands that He cannot and will not be indifferent to sin. God has never disregarded sin, not in the Old Testament and not in the New Testament. What was judged then is judged now.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6)
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5)
For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6)
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23)
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24)
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)
The Time Line of Giants
Let’s attempt to set up a time line here. Giants didn’t just appear over night, and then were defeated in battle over night, nor did they all disappear over night. We are dealing with a very extensive period of time. This is just an approximate time period of 1250 to 1300 years that the giants gained a foothold in the earth after the flood. Their existence wasn’t noted as being a brief existence. And when Scripture informs us that one tribe of the giants was totally destroyed that does not mean that ALL the tribes of the giants were destroyed. That is why we have the Rephaims in Ashteroth smitten by Cherdorlaomer in Genesis 14:5, and yet later in Scripture we are made aware of other tribes (or nations) of giants under the leadership of giants of renown. We have the time period from Abram to Moses, from Joshua to David and beyond that the earth is influenced by the giants.
And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, (Genesis 14:5)
All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. (Joshua 13:12)
We are going to compare the giants in Ashteroth Karnaim in Genesis 14:5 with the giants in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, and Og’s capital city of Ashtaroth in Joshua 13:12. The time span is approximately 470 to 500 years. Now, that is quite a span of time, and much happened in this part of the earth during this time. Names changed, kings changed, politics changed, and industry changed. The name of Ashteroth Karnaim is a duel name with Karnaiim indicating a place of power or authority, as in the capital of a nation. Ashteroth is the same as Ashtaroth, (Note: Ashteroth is the plural of Ashtaroth). I do not want to be distracted to follow this name in its evolution in a pagan deity. This is just to inform you that the name of Ashteroth in Genesis 14:5 is the same Ashteroth in Joshua 13:12. The point that I am trying to get to is this: the Rephaims were giants, and even though Scripture informs us that they were smitten, they were not totally erased because hundreds of years later they once again immerged as giants in the kingdom of Og with a new name and a nation under a king by the name of Og.
The Background Story of the Land of the Giants
To those who dislike to read, especially the Bible, allow me to present (instead of Cliff Notes / Cliffs Notes) My Notes. (Deuteronomy Chapters 1-3) Israel refused to advance into the land that God had promised them (after two years in the wilderness) because their first encounter with the giants revealed their lack of faith and trust in the Almighty God.
And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. (Deuteronomy 1:20)
Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21) When Israel became made aware of the giants, they allowed their faith to be overcome by fear (except for Joshua and Caleb) and thus, God drew them back into the wilderness to wander for an additional thirty-eight (38) years until all who had come out of Egypt had perished except for Moses, Joshua and Caleb.
Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God: (Deuteronomy 1:26)
And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (Deuteronomy 1:27)
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (Deuteronomy 1:28)
Later God commanded them to turn northward into the land of Esau, their brethren, descendants of the brother of Jacob, and to ask for permission to cross through their land unhindered. God said, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: (Deuteronomy 2:4) Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. (Deuteronomy 2:5) Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. (Deuteronomy 2:6) Israel paid for their use of Esau’s resources, and respected the property rights of the descendants of Esau.
After passing through the region of Seir of Esau, Israel next approached the land of the Moabites, and again they were directed by Jehovah to respect the inhabitants of this land, and Lot’s right to the land.
And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession. (Deuteronomy 2:9)
The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; (Deuteronomy 2:10)
Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims. (Deuteronomy 2:11)
The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them. (Deuteronomy 2:12)
God had given land to Esau and to Lot as an inheritance for their descendants, and God is faithful even to those who were not of the tribes of Jacob. Jehovah remembers and in kindness and goodness protected the inheritance that He gave to Esau and to Lot. Once again, at the end of their thirty-eight years of wandering, Israel approached another area called after Ammon. Remember that Lot had two sons (by incest) called Ammon and Moab, and yet, in God’s goodness and kindness He also protects the land of Ammon. This land had at one time been occupied by giants, and had been conquered by the descendants of Ammon.
And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. (Deuteronomy 2:19)
(That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; (Deuteronomy 2:20)
A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: (Deuteronomy 2:21)
The understanding that we should gain from the previous verses is that the giants (the men of renown) had from ancient time possessed the very land that God would later give to certain individuals and to their descendants: Esau, and Lot’s two sons Ammon and Moab.
Side Note: Giants in the Age of Abraham: In Genesis 15:19-21 Jehovah gave the land of Canaan and all the territory in a set border to Abraham, God mentions the giants and other tribes by name who were at that time occupying the land of promise. This was approximately well over 500 years before Moses and Joshua faced in battle the giants in the land.
And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. (Genesis 15:7)
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18)
The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, (Genesis 15:9)
And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, (Genesis 15:20)
And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. (Genesis 15:21)
Esau did not inherit this land because of any merit within himself, but because it was God’s purpose to show His great goodness and mercy towards those who opposed Him. This was only for a short season and time, until Esau’s descendants (later known as the Edomites) showed their true heart and hatred against God and God’s chosen people, Israel. And these [are] the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: (Genesis 36:9) Humanity is quick to condemn God for His actions in judgment, but they refuse to see that God’s judgment is displayed when His goodness and mercy is refused, rejected, and spit on. God is long suffering not willing that any should perish; it is mankind who insists on living outside of God’s forgiveness.
Lot is referred to in Scripture as just in 2 Peter 27 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2 Peter 2:7) There was no merit or righteousness with Lot, however, it was the righteousness of God within imputed by God that gave just Lot any merit in the eyes of God. Since righteousness is not something that is passed down from generation to generation, as salvation is not passed down from generation to generation because it is a gift of God to give as God purposes. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) Consequently, God in Deuteronomy showed His kindness and mercy to the inhabitants of the lands of Ammon and Moab until the time came that they collectively aggressively fought against Israel, and in their rebellion displayed hatred for their Creator. Esau, Ammon and Moab only enjoyed temporal blessings, their end and the end of all haters of God are laid bare in Psalm 73:17, 18 and Psalm 92:7. The question that Job asked recorded in the book of Job 21:7 is why do the wicked live prosperously, and seem to be blessed with wealth, fame, good looks, and power? (Notice, that I added wealth, fame and good looks, but you have seen the wicked so you know what I mean). Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? (Job 21:7) God’s reply is simple: they have God’s wrath in judgment and the second death, they not only die once, but they will die twice and be totally destroyed forever. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: (Psalm 92:7)
Side Note: The Second Death:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
God told Israel to approach the descendants of Esau and Lot (Ammon and Moab) with words of peace, and to not touch their inheritance of land. This was all they had, land was all they had, they had no blessings other than the temporal. And also today, all that the unsaved and unrepentant possess is the NOW, all that they will have experienced is the NOW, there is no future glory for the haters of God.
Satan had placed his own into the very land that God would plant His own. Does this draw a spiritual lesson for you? Let me try again, Satan has placed his own into a sphere where God is planting His own. The time line is different but the battle ground has not changed. We see the workings of Satan as he took possession of what belonged to God. For the world, the earth, and all within belongs to the Creator of all things. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5) <<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
Notice in Deuteronomy 2:21 that the Holy Spirit (by the writings of Moses) informs us that the Lord destroyed the giants that had occupied the lands of Esau, Ammon and Moab. A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: (Deuteronomy 2:21) It was God who enabled their hands to war against the intruder. Just because the giants were there first did not make them owners of the land, they were only temporary possessors of the land, they were (in God’s eyes) intruders on His land. The right of possession does not belong to the tenants. It belongs to the Landlord. Isn’t the word ‘landlord’ interesting — the Lord of the land.
We should also gain the understanding that even though we may not truly comprehend why God allowed Esau and Lot to retain their inheritance, we do comprehend that God in all His forebearance and in His foreknowledge always exhibits grace and mercy to the tenants on His land. It was needful, I believe, to show God’s goodness and mercy in allowing those who later become vicious enemies of Israel to retain their God given inheritance. God is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11) when we are not faithful and true. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
The Background Story Continued
After wandering in the barren desert places for forty (40) years Israel was now directed by God to advance forward and pass through the land that bordered east of Jordan, this was the land of Heshbon and the land of Bashan. God had given the land of Canaan to Israel, and now the land of promise was within their reach; they simply had to reach the Jordan and cross into the land. Canaan was their goal, and Jordan was their crossing point, but the land of the giants lay before them. Israel approached Heshbon with words of peace. The word ‘Heshbon’ is rooted in many ways: ‘intelligence’ as in fabrication, or to ‘weave’ in cunning, and to ‘reason’ as in malice. It is in this manner that Sihon king of Heshbon out thought himself. Israel came in peace as they had peaceable dealt with Ammon and Moab.
And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, (Deuteronomy 2:26)
Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. (Deuteronomy 2:27)
Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; (Deuteronomy 2:28)
(As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. (Deuteronomy 2:29)
Israel had the proof of their words of peace in how they had previously treated the Ammonites and the Moabites. Israel did not want war, they wanted peace, however, the king of Heshbon didn’t want peace, he fabricated within his intelligence and reasoning power that war would benefit the citizens of Heshbon. As you cannot take back a bullet, you cannot take back an arrow, once war is declared then it becomes complete war and total annihilation. It has to be! There is no such thing as an incomplete war, too bad too many politicians today cannot understand that a war not completely settled means that a war is never over, it continues on for generations and generations.
Sihon would not gain anything even if he were able to win a war. He would not gain land nor riches, and he would not gain territory nor wealth. There was absolutely nothing to be gained or accomplished by war at this time and point, but Sihon could not reason. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. (Deuteronomy 2:30) And so it was! What is recorded next in Scripture is difficult for many to understand, but stay with me and I will attempt to draw a conclusion. And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. (Deuteronomy 2:33) And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: (Deuteronomy 2:34) You think that this is harsh and terrible, wait — you’ve seen nothing yet!
Lets move onto Og of Bashan. In Deuteronomy Chapter 3 we have the battle with Og of Bashan at Edrei. Og didn’t wait for Israel to approach with words of peace. Og (the giant) did not consider peace or even want a discussion with Israel. There were no counsels or discussions of terms of peace, and this enemy was in no mood for discussions. Og didn’t care what Israel wanted or what the terms of peace would be, it was complete war and complete annihilation on the part of Og. The word ‘Edrei’ means ‘goodly pasture’ and another root is ‘arm of power’ or ‘arm of violence.’ Is this where Og would set the battle with his arm of power and violence at the place of ‘goodly pasture?’ A goodly place where cattle thrived and a place of sustenance for a nation became the battlefield. Strange indeed, that this king of Bashan cared not for his cattle nor for his people, and set the battle array in ‘goodly pasture.’ This battle takes on spiritual significance in that the battle ground that is chosen by the enemy of God is a place where the people of God find ‘goodly pasture.’ Our pasture (the place where the Christian finds peace and sustenance) is the place where the enemy stakes out his battle field. What we see as a place of goodness and a place of spiritual nourishment and food is the exact location where the enemy plants the banner of battle. The Word of God becomes the battle ground. The place of fellowship becomes the place where the enemy attempts division and conflict: the battle field. Let us continue on with the battle of Og of Bashan. Notice that it was Og who went out against Israel, not Israel against Og. Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. (Deuteronomy 3:1)
WARNING! The following verses maybe too brutal for those of gentle eyes, and gentle ways, and gentle hearts. You know the eyes, ways, and hearts that enjoy watching the filth of Hollywood, and listening to the words of filth broadcast into their homes daily — yes, those gentle eyes, and gentle ways and those gentle hearts.
And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. (Deuteronomy 3:2)
So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. (Deuteronomy 3:3)
And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (Deuteronomy 3:4)
All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. (Deuteronomy 3:5)
And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. (Deuteronomy 3:6)
Why? — The Love of God and the Wrath of God
I can hear some people now (maybe not many people have even reached this far into this article) — Oh, the poor children, the poor children, the poor babies! What a mean nasty God who kills the little children!
Side Note: Righteous Judgment: This is a good place in this article to stop and to consider why God judges. Mankind has the audacity to accuse God of ‘murdering the poor women, and the poor children’ that He directed Moses to slay. God is good. God is a righteous Judge, who are you, O man, to think that you are more righteous than God. Sin brought death to you! You will die because of sin! You have been sold to die because of sin! There is no way around death because of sin! Because of one man, we all die. And by one Man we will also live (those who believe). Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ). (Romans 5:17)
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)
Christians talk about the age of responsibility whenever discussing the young dying. I have never found the concept of the age of responsibility stated as such in Scripture, nevertheless, what does the scriptures have to say about babies and little children dying? Two dying children come to mind: the first was the child of Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife) and David; the second child was Abijah the son of Jeroboam. Lets use ‘My Notes’ for a quick summary.
The first child (the child of David and Bathsheba) died as an infant. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? (2 Samuel 12:22)
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23) David understood that his child was in God’s presence.
The second child was named Abijah. At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. (1 Kings 14:1) The father was king Jeroboam of Israel (this was the divided kingdom of Israel). Jeroboam became an outright rebel against Jehovah, and the people of Judah (the southern kingdom). In 1 Kings 14:10 we are made aware of the anger and wrath of God against Jeroboam, and all his male descendants. Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, [and] him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. (1 Kings 14:10) God’s wrath was to totally destroy all of the males in the line of Jeroboam except for one infant. In 1 Kings 14:12 we are told that Abijah as an infant died. Then in 1 Kings 14:13 we are informed that only this one son was actually buried, because there would not be enough left of any of Jeroboam’s other sons to be buried! Then the last part of this verse tells us that in Abijah God found [some] good thing toward the LORD God. What ‘good thing’ could God possibly find in this infant, because according to the Word of God there is none good, no not one. And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found [some] good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. (1 Kings 14:13) Since there is only One who is good, therefore, the ‘good thing’ in this infant was the righteousness of God.
To those outside of God’s love and forgiveness do not judge the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who is Love, the One who is Goodness, the One who is Truth and Grace as being heartless in taking to Himself those who die as children and infants. To lose a child is beyond understanding, however, God understands your pain, because God gave His only begotten Son so that all may live. However, to accuse God for being heartless in seeing infants, and children die shows us that it may be you who is heartless. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. (Hosea 11:8) God has a heart, and it has been broken many times as His creatures (mankind) puts to death every minute hundreds of His children. Abortion is treason against the souls of mankind. The heartless have no mercy toward the helpless in their nest in the womb.
Whenever you read in Scripture of God directing His servants to slay the people of the nations, remember, that these people were not innocent, they would never repent of their actions and consequently, they would become intrenched with their vileness and pollute the very ground they crawled on. They will always be the enemies of God and the enemies of God’s people. To put it simply: these were not nice people! I wouldn’t get bent out of shape because God directed the death of these people, I would, however, get bent out of shape because this tells me how bad sin is that God would have to remove His creatures from the face of the earth.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (Genesis 6:6)
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:7)
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; (Deuteronomy 30:15)
As righteousness [tendeth] to life: so he that pursueth evil [pursueth it] to his own death. (Proverbs 11:19)
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8)
The same people who feel so badly that God directed the deaths of many nations, do not feel terrible at all at calling for the murder of millions of babies. Abortion is fine — it is all right for them to approve of the murders millions of babies, but it is wrong for God to judge sin.
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. (Ezekiel 18:32)
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. (Lamentations 3:32)
For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:33)
The Giants of the Lie that God Doesn’t Hate Sin
The principle of separation is key to maintaining faithfulness to God. Too many professing Christians do not fully comprehend the necessity to protect oneself against the constant aggressiveness of the forces of evil. Evil never takes a holiday. Evil never stops, it is constantly working to destroy anything and anyone who even projects the smallest amount of goodness (whether Christian or non-believer). Since Christianity has been visibly diluted, mankind cannot discern between a professor and a possessor of Christ, however, except for the true possessor of Christ is quite open about faith in Christ and Christ only. In the Old Testament economy God continually voiced His directives to His servants to totally annihilate His enemies, and in this they failed. Today, because we exist in the age of grace, we cannot comprehend what God was instructing His people to do. We cannot fully appreciate the gravity of danger of sin, even what we consider ‘a little sin.’ There is no such thing as ‘a little sin.’ Mankind cannot accept that sin is abhorrent to God. GOD hates sin. God HATES sin. God hates SIN. I mean, how many ways can I write this? God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11)
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Psalm 45:7)
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Psalm 11:5)
The Capital City of Og of Bashan — Ashteroth Karnaiim
Giants in Government, Religious Worship, and in Authority
The Horns of Authority
You may think that I lost my focus on Og, but I didn’t. Og’s capital city was built on the goddess of Ashtaroth. Worship is essential for the unification of evil to prosper, men love religion, men love to think that there is something in them that is good. Therefore, it is OK for religious men to murder, after all they set the definition of what is sin and what is not sin.
And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, (Genesis 14:5)
The first mention of Ashteroth in Scripture is an important lesson centered around the giants in the earth. As mentioned before, Karnaim was the center of Og’s kingdom, interestingly the word ‘Karnaim’ has the root of authority, it also has a root meaning of ‘double horns’ this also takes on a double meaning to me. First, horns lead me to think of the devil (as in the ‘horn(s)’ in the book of Daniel, and in the book of Revelation) and secondly I am led to the altar of God in the tabernacle. How do I justify these thoughts? Follow the word ‘horns’ in Scripture and it leads fourteen (14) times to the phrase ‘horns of the altar.’ And he slew [it]; and Moses took the blood, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. (Leviticus 8:15) The study of the horns of the altar should be for another article, however, for this article I want to draw on what ‘horn(s)’ in Scripture teaches. The word ‘horn(s)’ is mentioned ten (10) times in the New Testament and all in the book of the Revelation, and connected to the book of Daniel where ‘horn(s) are mentioned sixteen (16) times. Let us look at the true ‘horn’ of power and authority in the following verses.
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3)
The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (Luke 1:69)
And the horn of my salvation is recorded only two times in Scripture as a witness (2) of the true horn of salvation Jesus Christ. And the phrase horn of salvation is only mentioned once because Christ is the one and only horn, authority, and power of salvation.
What is the connection between the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim and the meaning of the word Karnaim in the word ‘horn’ and ‘horns’? The giants of false worship have always (from the very beginning of the worship of Cain) been attempting to remove the authority and power away from God to a worship controlled by giants of religion. The giants of religion are still working to completely assume power and authority over all people, especially over the people of God.
The Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim should not be taken lightly. The Rephaims were destroyed, but not annihilated. Karnaim ‘horn(s)’ took on authority through other means and words, but the worship of Ashteroth remained in the earth for centuries. Later in Judges Chapter 2 verse 13 we read, And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. In Judges Chapter 10:6, we read And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. Then in 1 Samuel 31:10 we read that Ashtaroth was not only a place of pagan worship, but it became a museum, a community center to honor victories over the people of God. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. Ashtaroth now has a house, a home, a place with a foundation. Almost a thousand years after we are first introduced to the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim we read about the great wise and also foolish king Solomon who worshiped Ashtoreth, and because of his sin the kingdom of Israel was divided and eventually fell to Babylon. Yes, there are Rephaims (giants) worshiping and building places of authority to rule over the people of God.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. (1 Kings 11:5)
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. (1 Kings 11:7)
And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, (1 Kings 11:9)
And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. (1 Kings 11:10)
Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. (1 Kings 11:11)
Notice that Ashtoreth is the first deity mentioned, then followed by Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech. Giants, the enemies of God, do not simply go away. They change direction, they change names, they change leadership, they change their political affiliations, they change their M.O. (modus operandi). After years you would not be able to distinctly define them because of their constant shifting as a moving target is harder to hit. But professing Christians are too often gullible, and too willing to accept what they see, and what they hear instead of what they read in the Word of God and through the voice of the Holy Spirit within.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Giants in the Earth, Part v will follow soon. Yes, there were many other giants in the earth.
You can catch up on the series of Giants in the Earth by clicking on the following link:
http://thegenesisepic.com/giants-in-the-earth-part-i/
© Copyright 2018, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)