The Defeat of Arad
In the march toward the Promised Land, Israel...
- 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.
1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.
completely destroy (Hebrew kharam): Israel was instructed to...
- completely destroy (Hebrew kharam): Israel was instructed to completely destroy their enemies and their enemies’ property (see Lev 27:28–29; Deut 7:2; 20:17; Josh 6–7; 10:1–11:23).
- This battle reflects a play on words between kharam and Hormah (Hebrew khormah, Num 21:3). It marks a turning point in Israel’s interaction with the Canaanites, who remained a formidable enemy throughout the period of the conquest.
2So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”†
3And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.†
The Bronze Serpent
The “vow to the Lord” and consequent victory...
The “vow to the Lord” and consequent victory (21:2–3) did not eliminate Israel’s criticisms against God and Moses, even though the long journey was punishment for the same kind of complaining (14:26–35).
4Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,† in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey 5and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
6So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
Jesus alluded to this incident when discussing his...
- Jesus alluded to this incident when discussing his identity and mission (John 3:14–15).
- By Hezekiah’s day (around 700 BC), this bronze snake had become an object of worship in Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18:4).
7Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.
8Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.
The Journey to Moab
10Then the Israelites set out and camped at Oboth.
The Israelites made their way along the east...
- The Israelites made their way along the east side of Edom.
- Iye-abarim (“ruins of Abarim” or “ruins of the region beyond”) was probably near the northern bank of Zered Brook (cp. Deut 2:13–14) which separated ancient Edom from Moab (Deut 2:8–25).
11They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim in the wilderness opposite Moab to the east. 12From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite territory.
Now the Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.
The Book of the Wars of the Lord,...
- The Book of the Wars of the Lord, analogous to The Book of Jashar (Josh 10:13; 2 Sam 1:18), is otherwise unknown.
- Waheb (a town) and Suphah (a region) are otherwise unknown. Ar was one of the major Moabite settlements of that day (cp. 21:28; Deut 2:18; Isa 15:1).
14Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:
“Waheb in Suphahand the wadis of the Arnon,15even the slopes of the wadisthat extend to the site of Arand lie along the border of Moab.”
The location of Beer is unknown (cp. Isa...
The location of Beer is unknown (cp. Isa 15:8). The poetic fragment describes the excavation of a new well and reflects the joy that this occasioned in a semiarid region. That the laborers were princes and leaders and the tools were scepters and staffs may indicate that digging the well included a festive ceremony.
16From there they went on to Beer,† the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people so that I may give them water.” 17Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well,all of you sing to it!
After moving north of the Arnon, the Hebrews...
After moving north of the Arnon, the Hebrews left the wilderness on the eastern side of Moab and the recently conquered Amorite territory (see study note on 21:21–35). They turned westward toward the ridgeline that rises up from the Jordan Rift Valley, then traveled north to Pisgah Peak (see also 23:14; Deut 3:17, 27; 34:1, 5).
From the wilderness the Israelites went on to Mattanah, 19and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.†
The Defeat of Sihon
Cp. 20:14–17.
Cp. 20:14–17.
The territory of King Sihon was sandwiched between...
The territory of King Sihon was sandwiched between Moab and Ammon. The Israelites were not to invade Ammon (Deut 2:19), Edom, or Moab (Deut 2:4–9) because they were kin (Gen 19:30–38; 32:3), but Israel needed to cross Transjordan to enter Canaan. Sihon’s territory was the natural route.
The Israelite victories over King Sihon of Heshbon...
- The Israelite victories over King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan were previews of the Hebrew conquest of Canaan and came to represent God’s promise to assist his people in their time of need (cp. 13:10–12; Deut 2:24–3:7; Josh 2:10; 9:10; 12:1–6; Judg 11:19–22; Neh 9:22; Pss 135:10–12; 136:17–22; Jer 48:45–46).
- Because Israel had left the wilderness (cp. Num 21:18, 23) before arriving at Pisgah (21:20), this account is probably a flashback of something that took place before the movement described in 21:18–20.
21Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22“Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”
23But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz,† he fought against Israel. 24And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.†
25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages. 26Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land as far as the Arnon.
This ancient ballad was apparently an old Amorite...
This ancient ballad was apparently an old Amorite song focusing on the exploits of King Sihon. Other interpreters assume that Israelite balladeers created it as a taunt song to ridicule Sihon’s defeat and celebrate Israel’s victory. The logical flow of thought from 21:26 to 21:27 would favor the former interpretation, with Israel applying the song to their own victory: Sihon and the Amorites had defeated Moab; now Israel had defeated them! Cp. Judg 11:12–28.
27That is why the poets say:
“Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt;let the city of Sihon be restored.28For a fire went out from Heshbon,a blaze from the city of Sihon.It consumed Ar of Moab,the rulers of Arnon’s heights.29Woe to you, O Moab!You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!He gave up his sons as refugees,and his daughters into captivityto Sihon king of the Amorites.30But we have overthrown them;Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon.We demolished them as far as Nophah,which reaches to Medeba.”†The Defeat of Og
31So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
Ancient Bashan was located east of the Sea...
- Ancient Bashan was located east of the Sea of Galilee.
- King Og, like Sihon, was an Amorite (see study note on 21:13). This brief account of Israel’s defeat of Og is expanded in Deut 3:1–11.
33Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
34But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”
35So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land.