All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages.
We have here another brave country delivered into the hand of Israel, that of Bashan; the conquest of Sihon is often mentioned together with that of Og, to the praise of God, the rather because in these Israel's triumphs began, Psa 135:11; Psa 136:19, Psa 136:20. See, I. How they got the mastery of Og, a very formidable prince, 1.
Commenting on Deuteronomy 3:1-11
All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars,.... That is, all the cities in the kingdom of Bashan; and though they were, it hindered not their falling into the hands of the Israelites; and this might serve to encourage them against those fears they were possessed of by the spies, with respect to the cities in the land of Canaan; see Num 13:28.
All these cities [were] fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. (b) As villages and small towns.