Discovery BoxDeuteronomy 3:2 
Context3:2 The Lord, however, said to me, “Don’t be afraid of him because I have already given him, his whole army, 1 and his land to you. You will do to him exactly what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon.”
Deuteronomy 3:11
Context3:11 Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy 2 that his sarcophagus 3 was made of iron. 4 Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath 5 of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet 6 long and six feet 7 wide according to standard measure.) 8
Deuteronomy 7:8
Context7:8 Rather it is because of his 9 love 10 for you and his faithfulness to the promise 11 he solemnly vowed 12 to your ancestors 13 that the Lord brought you out with great power, 14 redeeming 15 you from the place of slavery, from the power 16 of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
1 tn Heb “people.”
2 tn Heb “Behold” (הִנֵּה, hinneh).
3 tn The Hebrew term עֶרֶשׂ (’eres), traditionally translated “bed” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT) is likely a basaltic (volcanic) stone sarcophagus of suitable size to contain the coffin of the giant Rephaite king. Its iron-like color and texture caused it to be described as an iron container. See A. Millard, “King Og’s Iron Bed: Fact or Fancy?” BR 6 (1990): 16-21, 44; cf. also NEB “his sarcophagus of basalt”; TEV, CEV “his coffin.”
4 tn Or “of iron-colored basalt.” See note on the word “sarcophagus” earlier in this verse.
5 sn Rabbath. This place name (usually occurring as Rabbah; 2 Sam 11:11; 12:27; Jer 49:3) refers to the ancient capital of the Ammonite kingdom, now the modern city of Amman, Jordan. The word means “great [one],” probably because of its political importance. The fact that the sarcophagus “still remain[ed]” there suggests this part of the verse is post-Mosaic, having been added as a matter of explanation for the existence of the artifact and also to verify the claim as to its size.
6 tn Heb “nine cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 in (45 cm) for the standard cubit, this would be 13.5 ft (4.1 m) long.
7 tn Heb “four cubits.” This would be 6 ft (1.8 m) wide.
8 tn Heb “by the cubit of man.” This probably refers to the “short” or “regular” cubit of approximately 18 in (45 cm).
9 tn Heb “the
10 tn For the verb אָהַב (’ahav, “to love”) as a term of choice or election, see note on the word “loved” in Deut 4:37.
11 tn Heb “oath.” This is a reference to the promises of the so-called “Abrahamic Covenant” (cf. Gen 15:13-16).
12 tn Heb “swore on oath.”
13 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 12, 13).
14 tn Heb “by a strong hand” (NAB similar); NLT “with such amazing power.”
15 sn Redeeming you from the place of slavery. The Hebrew verb translated “redeeming” (from the root פָּדָה, padah) has the idea of redemption by the payment of a ransom. The initial symbol of this was the Passover lamb, offered by Israel to the
16 tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NRSV), a metaphor for power or domination.
