Numbers 21:30

Israel's Taunt Song Against the Amorites (Numbers 21:30).

We have shot at them;

Heshbon is perished even to Dibon,

And we have laid waste even to Nophah,

Which reaches to Medeba.”

In an addition to the poem, which does not compare as literature with the original, Israel then taunt Sihon and the Amorites with their loss. Israel had in turn shot at them and captured all their cities and territory. Apart from Nophah the cites are all well testified to. It may be significant that Sihon's gods are not mentioned. The Pentateuch appears to deliberately avoid any mention of Baal apart from Baalpeor (22:41; 25:3, 5; Deuteronomy 4:3) and in place names (32:38; 33:7; Exodus 14:2; Exodus 14:9), possibly because of the danger at this early stage of ‘baal' (lord) being linked with Yahweh. In the early days in the land ‘baal' was even included in Israelite names (e.g Ish-baal, Meri-baal, which were changed into Ish-bosheth, Mephi-bosheth where bosheth means ‘shame'). We too must beware of false terminology. By astute use of language what is displeasing to God can easily be presented as being the real thing. The only way to prevent ourselves from being ensnared is to avoid sin and test everything by the word of God.