Numeri 21:1-3

1 OR avendo il Cananeo, re di Arad, che abitava verso il Mezzodì, inteso che Israele se ne veniva per lo cammino delle spie, combattè contro a Israele, e ne menò alcuni prigioni.

2 Allora Israele votò un voto al Signore, e disse: Se pur tu mi dài questo popolo nelle mani, io distruggerò le lor città nella maniera dell’interdetto.

3 E il Signore esaudì la voce d’Israele, e gli diede nelle mani que’ Cananei; ed egli distrusse loro, e le lor città, nella maniera dell’interdetto; perciò pose nome a quel luogo Horma.

Numeri 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.