Who was Og king of Bashan in the Bible?

TL;DR:

Og, King of Bashan, was a giant Amorite king who was miraculously defeated by the Israelites. The victory over King Og of Bashan reveals God’s power to overcome any obstacle.

King Og of Bashan, an Amorite king, was defeated by the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land. Despite the Israelite spies' initial fear and doubt regarding the strength of their adversaries, God demonstrated His power by delivering them from formidable foes like Og. Through Moses and Joshua's leadership, the Israelites witnessed miraculous victories over King Sihon and then King Og, solidifying God's promise to deliver His people from any obstacle. This triumph over Og serves as a testament to God's unwavering love and power, echoing throughout history as a reminder of His faithfulness. Just as He guided the Israelites to victory, God stands ready to overcome any challenge for those who trust in His steadfast love and walk in obedient faith.

from the old testament

Og was an Amorite king who was defeated by the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. When the Israelite spies were sent ahead to assess the Promised Land, their report upon their return was that "we are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are… all the people that we saw in it are of great height… and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:31–33).
King Og's bed was made of iron and measured 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide, leading many to assume he was a very large man (Deuteronomy 3:11). Deuteronomy 3:11 records that he was "left of the remnant of the Rephaim," who were a people known to be fierce fighting giants. This giant king of sixty cities was likely one of the people who caused the Israelites to lose faith in God. This lack of faith resulted in the Israelites being banished to the wilderness for forty years until that unbelieving generation had passed away.
With a new Israelite generation in place, Moses began leading them toward the Promised Land where Joshua would assume leadership in Moses' stead. God directed Moses to lead the people against King Sihon of Heshbon, and the Israelites defeated him and took possession of that land (Deuteronomy 2:24–33). After this initial success, Moses led the Israelites to the land of Bashan under the rule of King Og. God told Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon" (Deuteronomy 3:2). God did as He promised. Og and all his people were defeated "until he had no survivor left" (Deuteronomy 3:3).
These two kings and their territories were still on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Sihon's territory was allotted to the Israelite tribes of Reuben and Gad while Og's kingdom was inherited by the Israelite half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13:15–31).
By quickly defeating these two powerful kings, God proved that "nothing is too hard for" Him (Jeremiah 32:17). During his farewell address, Moses used the defeat of Sihon and Og to encourage the people. He said, "when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do" (Deuteronomy 29:7–9). He promised, "The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them… And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them… Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:3–6).
Og King of Bashan's defeat became a reminder of God's mighty power and faithful love for His people, which is why he is mentioned in both Psalm 135 and Psalm 136. Psalm 136:17–24 states:
"to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever."

from the new testament

Og, King of Bashan, is not mentioned in the New Testament.

implications for today

The story of King Og of Bashan serves as a profound illustration of the principle that no obstacle is too great for God to overcome on behalf of His people when they walk in faithful obedience. When the Israelite spies initially assessed the Promised Land, they were filled with fear and doubt, perceiving themselves as powerless in the face of formidable adversaries like Og, whose stature and reputation struck fear into their hearts. However, despite their initial lack of faith, God proved His might and faithfulness by delivering the Israelites from the grip of such seemingly insurmountable foes. Through the leadership of Moses and later Joshua, the Israelites witnessed firsthand the miraculous defeat of King Sihon and then King Og, both powerful rulers whose territories lay in the path of God's chosen people. Despite the fearsome reputation of these kings and the intimidating size of their kingdoms, God fulfilled His promise to deliver them into the hands of the Israelites. This decisive victory over Og became a testament to God's unfailing love and power, a narrative echoed in the psalms as a reminder of His enduring faithfulness throughout history. Just as God guided and protected the Israelites in their journey to possess the Promised Land, so too does He stand ready to overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of His people when they trust in His steadfast love and walk in obedient faith.

understand

Og, an Amorite king, was defeated by the Israelites upon their entering the Promised Land.
King Og was a giant, evidenced by his enormous iron bed, instilling fear in the Israelites.
Despite their initial doubt, God assured victory, allowing the Israelites to conquer Og and his kingdom, showcasing God’s power and faithfulness.

reflect

How does the story of King Og challenge your understanding of God's power and faithfulness in overcoming obstacles?
In what ways do you relate to the Israelites' initial fear and doubt when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?
Reflect on a time in your life when you felt overwhelmed by obstacles. How did you navigate through that situation, and how did God move on your behalf to help you overcome it?

engage

How do you interpret the significance of King Og's defeat in the context of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land?
What keeps people from turning to God when problems seem insurmountable?
What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' experience with King Og about trusting in God's promises and remaining steadfast in faith during difficult times?