Numbers 21:1-3

Arad Destroyed

1 When ¹the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in ²the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

2 ³And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, "If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction."^[a]

3 And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called ⁴Hormah.^[b]

Numbers 21:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 21

This chapter gives an account of the defeat of King Arad, the Canaanite, Nu 21:1-3 of the murmurings of the children of Israel, because of difficulties in travelling round, the land of Edom, for which they were punished with fiery serpents, Nu 21:4-6 and how that upon their repentance a brazen serpent was ordered to be made, and to be erected on a pole, that whoever looked to it might live, Nu 21:7-9 and of the several journeys and stations of the children of Israel, until they came to the land of the Amorites, Nu 21:10-20, when they sent a message to Sihon their king, to desire him to grant them a passage through his country; but he refusing, they fought with him, smote him, and possessed his land, concerning which many proverbial sayings were used, Nu 21:21-32 and the chapter is concluded with the defeat of Og, king of Bashan, Nu 21:33-35.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 33:40; [Judges 1:16]
• 2. See Numbers 13:17
• 3. [Genesis 28:20; Judges 11:30]
• 4. Numbers 14:45; Deuteronomy 1:44; Joshua 19:4; Judges 1:17

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 3
• [b]. Hormah means destruction