24 And Israel H3478 smote H5221 him with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 and possessed H3423 his land H776 from Arnon H769 unto Jabbok, H2999 even unto the children H1121 of Ammon: H5983 for the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 was strong. H5794
Yet destroyed H8045 I the Amorite H567 before H6440 them, whose height H1363 was like the height H1363 of the cedars, H730 and he was strong H2634 as the oaks; H437 yet I destroyed H8045 his fruit H6529 from above, H4605 and his roots H8328 from beneath.
Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites: H567 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769
Moreover thou gavest H5414 them kingdoms H4467 and nations, H5971 and didst divide H2505 them into corners: H6285 so they possessed H3423 the land H776 of Sihon, H5511 and the land H776 of the king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and the land H776 of Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan. H1316
And I brought H935 you into the land H776 of the Amorites, H567 which dwelt H3427 on the other side H5676 Jordan; H3383 and they fought H3898 with you: and I gave H5414 them into your hand, H3027 that ye might possess H3423 their land; H776 and I destroyed H8045 them from before H6440 you.
And he rose up H6965 that night, H3915 and took H3947 his two H8147 wives, H802 and his two H8147 womenservants, H8198 and his eleven H6240 H259 sons, H3206 and passed over H5674 the ford H4569 Jabbok. H2999
And the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 delivered H5414 Sihon H5511 and all his people H5971 into the hand H3027 of Israel, H3478 and they smote H5221 them: so Israel H3478 possessed H3423 all the land H776 of the Amorites, H567 the inhabitants H3427 of that country. H776 And they possessed H3423 all the coasts H1366 of the Amorites, H567 from Arnon H769 even unto Jabbok, H2999 and from the wilderness H4057 even unto Jordan. H3383 So now the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 hath dispossessed H3423 the Amorites H567 from before H6440 his people H5971 Israel, H3478 and shouldest thou possess H3423 it?
Who smote H5221 great H7227 nations, H1471 and slew H2026 mighty H6099 kings; H4428 Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 and Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 and all the kingdoms H4467 of Canaan: H3667 And gave H5414 their land H776 for an heritage, H5159 an heritage H5159 unto Israel H3478 his people. H5971
And they said, H559 What one H259 is there of the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 that came not up H5927 to Mizpeh H4709 to the LORD? H3068 And, behold, there came H935 none H376 to the camp H4264 from Jabeshgilead H3003 H1568 to the assembly. H6951
And the men H376 of Ephraim H669 gathered themselves together, H6817 and went H5674 northward, H6828 and said H559 unto Jephthah, H3316 Wherefore passedst thou over H5674 to fight H3898 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and didst not call H7121 us to go H3212 with thee? we will burn H8313 thine house H1004 upon thee with fire. H784 And Jephthah H3316 said H559 unto them, I and my people H5971 were H1961 at great H3966 strife H376 H7379 with the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983 and when I called H2199 you, ye delivered H3467 me not out of their hands. H3027
From thence they removed, H5265 and pitched H2583 on the other side H5676 of Arnon, H769 which is in the wilderness H4057 that cometh out H3318 of the coasts H1366 of the Amorites: H567 for Arnon H769 is the border H1366 of Moab, H4124 between Moab H4124 and the Amorites. H567
With whom the Reubenites H7206 and the Gadites H1425 have received H3947 their inheritance, H5159 which Moses H4872 gave H5414 them, beyond H5676 Jordan H3383 eastward, H4217 even as Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 gave H5414 them; From Aroer, H6177 that is upon the bank H8193 of the river H5158 Arnon, H769 and the city H5892 that is in the midst H8432 of the river, H5158 and all the plain H4334 of Medeba H4311 unto Dibon; H1769 And all the cities H5892 of Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 which reigned H4427 in Heshbon, H2809 unto the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983
Now these are the kings H4428 of the land, H776 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 smote, H5221 and possessed H3423 their land H776 on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 toward the rising H4217 of the sun, H8121 from the river H5158 Arnon H769 unto mount H2022 Hermon, H2768 and all the plain H6160 on the east: H4217 Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 who dwelt H3427 in Heshbon, H2809 and ruled H4910 from Aroer, H6177 which is upon the bank H8193 of the river H5158 Arnon, H769 and from the middle H8432 of the river, H5158 and from half H2677 Gilead, H1568 even unto the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 which is the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983 And from the plain H6160 to the sea H3220 of Chinneroth H3672 on the east, H4217 and unto the sea H3220 of the plain, H6160 even the salt H4417 sea H3220 on the east, H4217 the way H1870 to Bethjeshimoth; H1020 and from the south, H8486 under Ashdothpisgah: H798 H794
And all that he did H6213 to the two H8147 kings H4428 of the Amorites, H567 that were beyond H5676 Jordan, H3383 to Sihon H5511 king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and to Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 which was at Ashtaroth. H6252
And when ye came H935 unto this place, H4725 Sihon H5511 the king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and Og H5747 the king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 came out H3318 against H7125 us unto battle, H4421 and we smote H5221 them:
And unto the Reubenites H7206 and unto the Gadites H1425 I gave H5414 from Gilead H1568 even unto the river H5158 Arnon H769 half H8432 the valley, H5158 and the border H1366 even unto the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 which is the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon; H5983
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Behold, H7200 I have begun H2490 to give H5414 Sihon H5511 and his land H776 before H6440 thee: begin H2490 to possess, H3423 that thou mayest inherit H3423 his land. H776 Then Sihon H5511 came out H3318 against H7125 us, he and all his people, H5971 to fight H4421 at Jahaz. H3096 And the LORD H3068 our God H430 delivered H5414 him before H6440 us; and we smote H5221 him, and his sons, H1121 and all his people. H5971 And we took H3920 all his cities H5892 at that time, H6256 and utterly destroyed H2763 the men, H4962 and the women, H802 and the little ones, H2945 of every city, H5892 we left H7604 none to remain: H8300 Only the cattle H929 we took for a prey H962 unto ourselves, and the spoil H7998 of the cities H5892 which we took. H3920 From Aroer, H6177 which is by the brink H8193 of the river H5158 of Arnon, H769 and from the city H5892 that is by the river, H5158 even unto Gilead, H1568 there was not one city H7151 too strong H7682 for us: the LORD H3068 our God H430 delivered H5414 all unto us: H6440 Only unto the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 thou camest H7126 not, nor unto any place H3027 of the river H5158 Jabbok, H2999 nor unto the cities H5892 in the mountains, H2022 nor unto whatsoever the LORD H3068 our God H430 forbad H6680 us.
And Moses H4872 gave H5414 unto them, even to the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 and to the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 and unto half H2677 the tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 the son H1121 of Joseph, H3130 the kingdom H4467 of Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 and the kingdom H4467 of Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 the land, H776 with the cities H5892 thereof in the coasts, H1367 even the cities H5892 of the country H776 round about. H5439 And the children H1121 of Gad H1410 built H1129 Dibon, H1769 and Ataroth, H5852 and Aroer, H6177 And Atroth, Shophan, H5855 and Jaazer, H3270 and Jogbehah, H3011 And Bethnimrah, H1039 and Bethharan, H1028 fenced H4013 cities: H5892 and folds H1448 for sheep. H6629 And the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 built H1129 Heshbon, H2809 and Elealeh, H500 and Kirjathaim, H7156 And Nebo, H5015 and Baalmeon, H1186 (their names H8034 being changed,) H4142 and Shibmah: H7643 and gave H7121 other names H8034 H8034 unto the cities H5892 which they builded. H1129 And the children H1121 of Machir H4353 the son H1121 of Manasseh H4519 went H3212 to Gilead, H1568 and took H3920 it, and dispossessed H3423 the Amorite H567 which was in it. And Moses H4872 gave H5414 Gilead H1568 unto Machir H4353 the son H1121 of Manasseh; H4519 and he dwelt H3427 therein. And Jair H2971 the son H1121 of Manasseh H4519 went H1980 and took H3920 the small towns H2333 thereof, and called H7121 them Havothjair. H2334 And Nobah H5025 went H1980 and took H3920 Kenath, H7079 and the villages H1323 thereof, and called H7121 it Nobah, H5025 after his own name. H8034
Now the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 had a very H3966 great H6099 multitude H7227 of cattle: H4735 and when they saw H7200 the land H776 of Jazer, H3270 and the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 that, behold, the place H4725 was a place H4725 for cattle; H4735 The children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 came H935 and spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 and to Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and unto the princes H5387 of the congregation, H5712 saying, H559 Ataroth, H5852 and Dibon, H1769 and Jazer, H3270 and Nimrah, H5247 and Heshbon, H2809 and Elealeh, H500 and Shebam, H7643 and Nebo, H5015 and Beon, H1194 Even the country H776 which the LORD H3068 smote H5221 before H6440 the congregation H5712 of Israel, H3478 is a land H776 for cattle, H4735 and thy servants H5650 have cattle: H4735
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 21
Commentary on Numbers 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
Nu 21:1-35. Israel Attacked by the Canaanites.
1. 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 (De 9:4; Ps 44:3, 4).
2, 3. Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord—Made to feel their own weakness, they implored the aid of Heaven, and, in anticipation of it, devoted the cities of this king to future destruction. The nature and consequence of such anathemas are described (Le 27:1-34; De 13:1-18). This vow of extermination against Arad [Nu 21:2] gave name to the place Hormah (slaughter and destruction) though it was not accomplished till after the passage of the Jordan. Others think Hormah the name of a town mentioned (Jos 12:14).
4. they journeyed from mount Hor—On being refused the passage requested, they returned through the Arabah, "the way of the Red Sea," to Elath, at the head of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, and thence passed up through the mountains to the eastern desert, so as to make the circuit of the land of Edom (Nu 33:41, 42).
the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way—Disappointment on finding themselves so near the confines of the promised land without entering it; vexation at the refusal of a passage through Edom and the absence of any divine interposition in their favor; and above all, the necessity of a retrograde journey by a long and circuitous route through the worst parts of a sandy desert and the dread of being plunged into new and unknown difficulties—all this produced a deep depression of spirits. But it was followed, as usually, by a gross outburst of murmuring at the scarcity of water, and of expressions of disgust at the manna.
5. our soul loatheth this light bread—that is, bread without substance or nutritious quality. The refutation of this calumny appears in the fact, that on the strength of this food they performed for forty years so many and toilsome journeys. But they had been indulging a hope of the better and more varied fare enjoyed by a settled people; and disappointment, always the more bitter as the hope of enjoyment seems near, drove them to speak against God and against Moses (1Co 10:9).
6. The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people—That part of the desert where the Israelites now were—near the head of the gulf of Akaba—is greatly infested with venomous reptiles, of various kinds, particularly lizards, which raise themselves in the air and swing themselves from branches; and scorpions, which, being in the habit of lying in long grass, are particularly dangerous to the barelegged, sandaled people of the East. The only known remedy consists in sucking the wound, or, in the case of cattle, in the application of ammonia. The exact species of serpents that caused so great mortality among the Israelites cannot be ascertained. They are said to have been "fiery," an epithet applied to them either from their bright, vivid color, or the violent inflammation their bite occasioned.
7-9. the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned—The severity of the scourge and the appalling extent of mortality brought them to a sense of sin, and through the intercessions of Moses, which they implored, they were miraculously healed. He was directed to make the figure of a serpent in brass, to be elevated on a pole or standard, that it might be seen at the extremities of the camp and that every bitten Israelite who looked to it might be healed. This peculiar method of cure was designed, in the first instance, to show that it was the efficacy of God's power and grace, not the effect of nature or art, and also that it might be a type of the power of faith in Christ to heal all who look to Him because of their sins (Joh 3:14, 15; see also on 2Ki 18:4).
10. the children of Israel set forward—along the eastern frontier of the Edomites, encamping in various stations.
12. pitched in the valley—literally, the "woody brook-valley" of Zared (De 2:13; Isa 15:7; Am 6:14). This torrent rises among the mountains to the east of Moab, and flowing west, empties itself into the Dead Sea. Ije-Abarim is supposed to have been its ford [Calmet].
13. pitched on the other side of Arnon—now El-Mojib, a deep, broad, and rapid stream, dividing the dominions of the Moabites and Amorites.
14. book of the wars of the Lord—A fragment or passage is here quoted from a poem or history of the wars of the Israelites, principally with a view to decide the position of Arnon.
15. Ar—the capital of Moab.
16. from thence they went to Beer—that is, a "well." The name was probably given to it afterwards [see Jud 9:21], as it is not mentioned (Nu 33:1-56).
17, 18. Then Israel sang—This beautiful little song was in accordance with the wants and feelings of travelling caravans in the East, where water is an occasion both of prayer and thanksgiving. From the princes using their official rods only, and not spades, it seems probable that this well was concealed by the brushwood or the sand, as is the case with many wells in Idumea still. The discovery of it was seasonable, and owing to the special interposition of God.
21-23. Israel sent messengers unto Sihon—The rejection of their respectful and pacific message was resented—Sihon was discomfited in battle—and Israel obtained by right of conquest the whole of the Amorite dominions.
24. from Arnon unto Jabbok—now the Zurka. These rivers formed the southern and northern boundaries of his usurped territory.
for the border of … Ammon was strong—a reason stated for Sihon not being able to push his invasion further.
25. Israel dwelt in all the cities—after exterminating the inhabitants who had been previously doomed (De 2:34).
26. Heshbon—(So 7:4)—situated sixteen English miles north of the Arnon, and from its ruins it appears to have been a large city.
27-30. Wherefore they that speak in proverbs—Here is given an extract from an Amorite song exultingly anticipating an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amorite bard ends at Nu 21:28. The two following verses appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence of the usurpers.
29. people of Chemosh—the name of the Moabite idol (1Ki 11:7-33; 2Ki 23:13; Jer 48:46).
he—that is, their god, hath surrendered his worshippers to the victorious arms of Sihon.
33. they turned and went up by the way of Bashan—a name given to that district from the richness of the soil—now Batanea or El-Bottein—a hilly region east of the Jordan lying between the mountains of Hermon on the north and those of Gilead on the south.
Og—a giant, an Amoritish prince, who, having opposed the progress of the Israelites, was defeated.
34, 35. The Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not—a necessary encouragement, for Og's gigantic stature (De 3:11) was calculated to inspire terror. He and all his were put to the sword.