Numbers 21
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
If a man be found slain in a field, and the cause of his death be unknown, the murder shall be expiated by the sacrifice of a heifer in an uncultivated valley, Deu 21:1-4. The rites to be used on the occasion, Deu 21:5-9. The ordinance concerning marriage with a captive, Deu 21:10-14. The law relative to the children of the hated and beloved wives: if the son of the hated wife should be the first-born he shall not be disinherited by the son of the beloved wife, but shall have a double portion of all his father's goods, Deu 21:15-18. The law concerning the stubborn and rebellious son, who, when convicted, is to be stoned to death, Deu 21:19-21. Of the person who is to be hanged, Deu 21:22. His body shall not be left on the tree all night; every one that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God, Deu 21:23.
Open source ↗ISRAEL ATTACKED BY THE CANAANITES. (Num. 21:1-35) King Arad the Canaanite--rather, "the Canaanite king of Arad"--an ancient town on the southernmost borders of Palestine, not far from Kadesh. A hill called Tell Arad marks the spot. heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies--in the way or manner of spies, stealthily, or from spies sent by himself to ascertain the designs and motions of the Israelites. The Septuagint and others consider the Hebrew word "spies" a proper name, and render it: "Came by the way of Atharim towards Arad" [KENNICOTT]. he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners--This discomfiture was permitted to teach them to expect the conquest of Canaan not from their own wisdom and valor, but solely from the favor and help of God (Deu 9:4; Psa 44:3-4).
Open source ↗And when King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south,.... Arad seems rather to be the name of a place, city, or country, of which the Canaanite was king, than the name of a man, since we read of the king of Arad, Jos 12:14 see also Jdg 1:16 and so the Targums of Onkelos and Jerusalem here render it, the king of Arad; and the Targum of Jonathan says, he changed his seat and reigned in Arad, which might have its name from Arvad, a son of Canaan, Gen 10:18 and Jerom says (n), that Arath, the same with Arad, is a city of the Amorites, near the wilderness of Kadesh, and that to this day it is shown, a village four miles from Malatis and twenty from Hebron, in the tribe of Judah; and so Aben Ezra observes, that the ancients say, this is Sihon (the king of the Amorites), and he is called a Canaanite, because all the Amorites are Canaanites; but, according to Jarchi, the Amalekites are meant, as it is said, "the Amalekites dwell in the land of the south": Num 13:29 and so the Targum of Jonathan here,"and when Amalek heard, that dwelt in the land of the south;''what he heard is particularly expressed in the following clause: heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies: either after the manner of spies, or rather by the way in which the spies went thirty eight years ago, which was the way of the south, where this Canaanitish king dwelt, see Num 13:17, the Septuagint version leaves the word untranslated, taking it for the name of a place, and reads, "by the way of Atharim", so the Samaritan Pentateuch and Arabic version; and did such a place appear to have been hereabout, it would be the most likely sense of the passage; for as the spies were never discovered by the Canaanites, the way they went could not be known by them; nor is it very probable that, if it had been…
Open source ↗Victory of Israel over the Canaanitish King of Arad. - When this Canaanitish king, who dwelt in the Negeb, i.e., the south of Palestine (vid., Num 13:17), heard that Israel was coming the way of the spies, he made war upon the Israelites, and took some of them prisoners. Arad is mentioned both here and in the parallel passage, Num 33:40, and also by the side of Hormah, in Jos 12:14, as the seat of a Canaanitish king (cf. Jdg 1:16-17). According to Eusebius and Jerome in the Onomast., it was twenty Roman miles to the south of Hebron, and has been preserved in the ruins of Tell Arad, which v. Schubert (ii. pp. 457ff.) and Robinson (ii. pp. 473, 620, and 624) saw in the distance; and, according to Roth in Petermann's geographische Mittheilungen (1858, p. 269), it was situated to the south-east of Kurmul (Carmel), in an undulating plain, without trees or shrubs, with isolated hills and ranges of hills in all directions, among which was Tell Arad. The meaning of האתרים שדרך is uncertain. The lxx, Saad., and others, take the word Atharim as the proper name of a place not mentioned again; but the Chaldee, Samar., and Syr. render it with much greater probability as an appellative noun formed from תּוּר with א prosthet., and synonymous with התּרים, the spies (Num 14:6). The way of the spies was the way through the desert of Zin, which the Israelitish spies had previously taken to Canaan (Num 13:21). The territory of the king of Arad extended to the southern frontier of Canaan, to the desert of Zin, through which the Israelites went from Kadesh to Mount Hor. The Canaanites attacked them when upon their march, and made some of them prisoners. Num 21:2-3 The Israelites then vowed to the Lord, that if He would give this people into their hands, they would "ban" their cities; and the…
Open source ↗Here is, 1. The descent which Arad the Canaanite made upon the camp of Israel, hearing that they came by the way of the spies; for, though the spies which Moses had sent thirty-eight years before then passed and repassed unobserved, yet their coming, and their errand, it is likely, were afterwards known to the Canaanites, gave them an alarm, and induced them to keep an eye upon Israel and get intelligence of all their motions. Now, when they understood that they were facing about towards Canaan, this Arad, thinking it policy to keep the war at a distance, made an onset upon them and fought with them. But it proved that he meddled to his own hurt; had he sat still, his people might have been last destroyed of all the Canaanites, but now they were the first. Thus those that are overmuch wicked die before their time, Ecc 7:17. 2. His success at first in this attempt. His advance-guards picked up some straggling Israelites, and took them prisoners, Num 21:1. This, no doubt, puffed him up, and he began to thin that he should have the honour of crushing this formidable body, and saving his country from the ruin which it threatened. It was likewise a trial to the faith of the Israelites and a check to them for their distrusts and discontents. 3. Israel's humble address to God upon this occasion, Num 21:2. It was a temptation to them to murmur as their fathers did, and to despair of getting possession of Canaan; but God, who thus tried them by his providence, enabled them by his grace to quit themselves well in the trial, and to trust in him for relief against this fierce and powerful assailant. They, by their elders, in prayer for success, vowed a vow. Noe, When we are desiring and expecting mercy from God we should bind our souls with a bond that we will faithfully do our dut…
Open source ↗21:1–22:1 In the march toward the Promised Land, Israel moved from Mount Hor to the plains of Moab (22:1). The account of Israel’s march is punctuated by the book’s emphasis on the Lord’s patient plan to lead Israel into Canaan despite their frailties. • Although the general direction of travel is clear, the exact route taken by the Hebrews remains unknown. Many of the places are hard to identify, and the archaeological evidence from some sites does not fit the time frame usually associated with the wilderness period. An honest appraisal of the wilderness itinerary is still beset by significant geographical and historical uncertainties. 21:1 It is possible that the Canaanite king of Arad was provoked by many enemies to the south of his territory (cp. 14:44-45). • Arad and Hormah (21:3) were far to the north of Mount Hor (20:22-29; 21:4; see study note on 20:22-23). Ancient Arad is usually identified with Tell Arad, located west of the modern Israeli town of Arad and about fifty miles north of Kadesh. While excavation at Tell Arad has revealed important ruins from the Early Bronze Age (about 3300–2000 BC) and the Iron Age (about 1200–500 BC), there is no evidence of occupation during Israel’s exodus and wilderness period (the Late Bronze Age, 1500–1200 BC). Some solutions link ancient Arad with another archaeological site in the region. Others claim that all such stories come from a much later period and that there is no reason to expect a correlation between excavated data and literary traditions. Another set of solutions recognizes that the evidence is fragmentary, insufficient to settle scholarly debate or to reach a definitive conclusion. The same general kinds of problems with geographical and archaeological details are found in other parts of the Old Testament, and…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king עֲרָד (ʻĂrâd, H6166) — Arad, the name of a place near Palestine, also of a Canaanite and an Israelite כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אֲתָרִים (ʼĂthârîym, H871) — Atharim, a place near Palestine לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) שָׁבָה (shâbâh, H7617) — to transport into captivity שְׁבִי (shᵉbîy, H7628) — exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by…
Open source ↗יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָדַר (nâdar, H5087) — to promise (pos., to do or give something to God) נֶדֶר (neder, H5088) — a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חָרַם (châram, H2763) — to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… חָרַם (châram, H2763) — to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… חׇרְמָה (Chormâh, H2767) — Chormah, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) הֹר (Hôr, H2023) — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in Syria דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb סוּף (çûwph, H5488) — a reed, especially the papyrus יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָצַר (qâtsar, H7114) — to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially…
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… קוּץ (qûwts, H6973) — to be (causatively, make) disgusted or anxious קְלֹקֵל (qᵉlôqêl, H7052) — insubstantial
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) שָׂרָף (sârâph, H8314) — burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical… נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh, H5175) — a snake (from its hiss) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… נָשַׁךְ (nâshak, H5391) — to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God פָּלַל (pâlal, H6419) — to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh, H5175) — a snake (from its hiss)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שָׂרָף (sârâph, H8314) — burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph or symbolical… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… נֵס (nêç, H5251) — a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a… נָשַׁךְ (nâshak, H5391) — to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… חָיַי (châyay, H2425) — to live; causatively to revive
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh, H5175) — a snake (from its hiss) נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… נֵס (nêç, H5251) — a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a… נָשַׁךְ (nâshak, H5391) — to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… נָבַט (nâbaṭ, H5027) — to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care חָיַי (châyay, H2425) — to live; causatively to revive
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… אֹבֹת (ʼôbôth, H88) — Oboth, a place in the Desert
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney אֹבֹת (ʼôbôth, H88) — Oboth, a place in the Desert חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… עִיֵּי הָעֲבָרִים (ʻÎyêy hâ-ʻĂbârîym, H5863) — Ije-ha-Abarim, a place near Palestine מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants מִזְרָח (mizrâch, H4217) — sunrise, i.e. the east שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched…
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… זֶרֶד (Zered, H2218) — Zered, a brook East of the Dead Sea
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… עֵבֶר (ʻêber, H5676) — properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on… אַרְנוֹן (ʼArnôwn, H769) — the Arnon, a river east of the Jordan, also its territory מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) סֵפֶר (çêpher, H5612) — properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God וָהֵב (Vâhêb, H2052) — Vaheb, a place in Moab סוּפָה (çûwphâh, H5492) — a hurricane נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… אַרְנוֹן (ʼArnôwn, H769) — the Arnon, a river east of the Jordan, also its territory
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Now the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.
Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people.
the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz.
Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.