CHAPTER 21
. 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 (Deuteronomy 9:4;
Psalms 44:3; Psalms 44:4).
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 (Leviticus 27:1-34;
Deuteronomy 13:1-18). This vow of
extermination against Arad [Numbers 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 (Numbers 21:2).
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 (Numbers 33:41; Numbers 33:42).
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 ().
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 (John 3:14;
John 3:15; see also on John 3:15).
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 (Deuteronomy 2:13;
Isaiah 15:7; Amos 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 Judges 9:21],
as it is not mentioned (Judges 9:21).
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 (Deuteronomy 2:34).
26. Heshbon— () —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 . The Numbers 21:29; Numbers 21:30
appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence
of the usurpers.
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 . The Numbers 21:29; Numbers 21:30
appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence
of the usurpers.
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 (Deuteronomy 3:11) was calculated
to inspire terror. He and all his were put to the sword.
CHAPTER 21
. 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 (Deuteronomy 9:4; Psalms 44:3; Psalms 44:4).
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 (Leviticus 27:1-34; Deuteronomy 13:1-18). This vow of extermination against Arad [Numbers 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 (Numbers 21:2).
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 (Numbers 33:41; Numbers 33:42).
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 ().
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 (John 3:14; John 3:15; see also on John 3:15).
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 (Deuteronomy 2:13; Isaiah 15:7; Amos 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 Judges 9:21], as it is not mentioned (Judges 9:21).
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 (Deuteronomy 2:34).
26. Heshbon— () —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 . The Numbers 21:29; Numbers 21:30 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 (1 Kings 11:7-33; 2 Kings 23:13; Jeremiah 48:46).
he—that is, their god, hath surrendered his worshippers to the victorious arms of Sihon.
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 . The Numbers 21:29; Numbers 21:30 appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the impotence of the usurpers.
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 (Deuteronomy 3:11) was calculated to inspire terror. He and all his were put to the sword.