Chapter 21

1 Israel with some loss destroy the Canaanites at Hormah. 4 The people murmuring are plaqued with fiery serpents. 7 They repenting are healed by a brasen serpent. 10 Sundry journeys of the Israelites. 21 Sihon is overcome, 33 and Og.

1. King Arad. The name may refer to the place, making the verse read, “And when the king of Arad the Canaanite” (see Joshua 12:14; Judges 1:16; 1 Chron. 8:15). Arad is about 50 mi. north of Kadesh and 17 south of Hebron, and is known today as Tell ФAraЖd.

By the way of the spies. Rather, “by the way of Atharim.” To translate the Hebrew expression by the words “of the spies,” is to assume an unjustified philological identity between two words where none exists. Grammatically, a proper noun is required after the Hebrew word for “way,” and not a designation of certain travelers who had used the road.

Prisoners. The king apparently cut off a few stragglers in the rear or on the borders of the line of march; for had he attacked the main body in force, there would likely have been some account of battle casualties.

2. Vowed a vow. This is a form of request to Jehovah for help in punishing the king of Arad (see Gen. 28:20; Judges 11:30; 1 Sam. 1:11; 2 Sam. 15:8).

Utterly destroy their cities. Literally, “I will dedicate their cities,” using the verb root of the word translated “devoted” in Lev. 27:29. The import of this is that the spoils of those cities should be devoted to God and His service (see Deut. 7:1, 2; Joshua 6:17, 21). When anything was devoted to God it could not be put to secular use.

3. Delivered up the Canaanites. In harmony with their vow, which the Lord accepted, Joshua effected their destruction upon entering the Holy Land (Joshua 12:14).

Hormah. The word means “destruction,” in the sense of devoted to God, and therefore not redeemable for man’s use. The verb form of the same word is given in v. 2 as “utterly destroy,” that is, offer to God as a sacrifice. The name was apparently applied to the city and its environs (Num. 14:45; Deut. 1:44; Joshua 12:14; 15:30).

4. Way of the Red Sea. A detour was made necessary because they had been denied passage through Edom. They were now on their journey to Ezion-geber (Deut. 2:8), with their backs toward the Holy Land. For encampments between Kadesh and the region of Moab see Num. 33:41–44.

Israel’s route of march led southward through the ФAraba to the southern border of Edom, and thence eastward. Finally, turning northward, they passed to the east of both Edom and Moab (PP 428, 433; see note on p. 577).

Because of the way. Literally, “on the way.” There were a number of discouraging factors. The part of the country through which they were traveling, the Arabah, is a barren plain strewn with stones and sand, and usually hot and dry. In addition, they realized they were marching with their backs turned to Canaan, instead of entering it.

5. Brought us up. The form of the Hebrew verb here used is another sign of their growing impatience, being the causal form: “caused us to go up.”

No bread. They had an abundance of food, but were rebellious about the monotony of their heavenly diet.

Light bread. The Hebrew word translated “light,” which occurs nowhere else in the Bible, is from the root “to be light,” that is, to hold in low esteem. The people were thinking of the varied and spicy foods of Egypt.

6. Fiery serpents. Literally, “the serpents, the fiery ones.” The word translated “fiery” elsewhere appears as “seraphims” (Isa. 6:2, 6). It is from the root “to burn” (Joshua 11:9; Isa. 44:16; Eze. 43:21). The serpents were called fiery on account of the violent inflammation caused by their bite (PP 429).

Much people of Israel died. The deaths were due to the withdrawal of the protecting hand of God. The part of the country through which they were traveling was infested with snakes, scorpions, etc. (Deut. 8:15); hence, every day provided miracles of divine protection. But now the Lord withdrew His protection and allowed the snakes to attack the people.

7. We have sinned. The people became humble before God, knowing that their accusations against Him were false.

Pray unto the Lord. Compare Job’s petition for his friends (Job 42:10).

8. A fiery serpent. A replica of the kind of serpent that was plaguing the people.

Upon a pole. The word translated “pole” is the one used of a military standard. It occurs in Ex. 17:15, Jehovah-nissi, “Jehovah, my standard.” Also as “banner” (Ps. 60:4), “ensign” (Isa. 11:10), and “standard” (Jer. 51:27). Whatever it was, the pole was high enough to be seen throughout the camp.

9. When he beheld the serpent. The people knew that the serpent was a symbol of the coming Saviour. They also realized that it was not sufficient simply to look at the serpent, but that the looking must be accompanied by faith, since there was no healing in the serpent itself. It was possible to gaze at the image without being healed, if there was no exercise of faith in God as the divine Healer. Similarly, offerings unaccompanied by faith were unavailing (see John 3:14, 15; PP 430, 431).

10. Pitched on Oboth. Previous to Oboth (ch. 33:41–43) the Israelites had pitched in two other places that Moses does not mention here. The site of Oboth has not been determined.

11. Ije-abarim. Literally, “the ruins of the Abarim.” The first word is from the same root as Ai, which means “stone heap,” or “ruins.” The second means “the other side,” and is the one from which we get the word “Hebrews,” that is, the ones who passed over from the other side—immigrants from beyond the Euphrates. Accordingly, some would translate Ije-abarim as “the places of the Hebrews” (see on Gen. 10:21).

Which is before Moab. The wilderness of Moab (Deut. 2:8). The Israelites were now going northward.

12. Valley of Zared [Zered]. Literally, the “stream of Zared.” Its bed would be dry in the hot season. This word is in use in the Urdu language of India, derived through the Arabic, and applied to the canals of the Punjab. The “valley of Zared” is now known as the Wadi elРHesa, a stream that enters the Dead Sea at its southeastern corner. Anciently, the Zared divided Edom from Moab.

13. Arnon. The Arnon River flows through the present Wadi el Mojib, which is some 1,700 ft. deep and 2 mi. broad, cut into the plateau of Moab. Its gorge is a miniature Grand Canyon.

In the wilderness. The Israelites were still eastward of Moab, in the wilderness of Kedemoth (Deut. 2:26).

Between Moab and the Amorites. The river Arnon rises in the highlands of Arabia and empties into the Dead Sea. The territory of Moab lay to the south of the river, and that of the Amorites to the north (see on Gen. 10:16). The Moabites had been forced south of the Arnon by Sihon (Num. 21:26; Judges 11:22).

14. The book. Like the book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18), this record has been lost.

What he did in the Red sea. More accurately, by a literal translation of the Hebrew, “Waheb in Suphah.” Waheb was thename of a town. Suphah, literally, “whirlwind” (as in Job 37:9; Prov. 10:25; Isa. 21:1; 66:15; Hosea 8:7; etc.), perhaps a valley or region where whirlwinds were common (see Deut. 1:1, RSV). Whirlwinds generally came from the south (Job 37:9; Isa. 21:1). The other places mentioned in the context (Num. 21:12–16) lend weight to the suggestion that Suph lay to the north of the Arnon. Some have identified it with Khirbet Sufa, some 8 mi. southeast of Mt. Nebo.

15. The border of Moab. The quotations in vs. 14 and 15, from the book of the wars of Jehovah, suggest that the Amorites had forcibly taken these places from the Moabites. The Israelites were probably in Amorite territory and beyond the borders of Moab.

16. Beer. This is the usual Hebrew word for “well” (Gen. 21:19, 25, 30; 26:15; etc.). It has been tentatively suggested that this is the Beer-elim, or the well of Elim (Isa. 15:8).

17. Sing ye unto it. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of a good well in Eastern countries. Wells were the objects of praise in song, and of violent dispute among men Gen. 21:25; 26:15–22; Judges 1:15; cf. John 4:12).

18. The lawgiver. From the same word translated “sceptre” in Gen. 49:10. This suggests a miracle on God’s part. The ground was soft sand. As the 70 elders and the heads of the tribes thrust their staves into the sand, God caused the water to flow abundantly, so as to form a well of living water.

Mattanah. Site unknown. Possibly to be identified with the modern elРMedeiРyineh.

19. From Nahaliel to Bamoth. On the borders of Moab. Nahaliel, “the wadi of God,” which has been tentatively identified with the Wadi Zerga MaФin. Similarly, Bamoth, “heights,” may be the same as BamothРbaal (Joshua 13:17, or “the high places of Baal” (Num. 22:41).

20. The country of Moab. Literally, “the field of Moab,” probably referring to the region claimed by Moab.

Pisgah. Mt. Pisgah offers a magnificent view across the whole of western Palestine. The name comes from a verb meaning “to cut,” “to split”; the related noun means “cliff,” and is applied to the broken, jagged edge of the Moabite plateau where it descends steeply toward the Dead Sea and the valley of the Jordan (Num. 23:14; Deut. 3:27; 34:1). Situated near the northeastern end of the Dead Sea, opposite Jericho, Pisgah is now known as RaЖs esРSiyaЖghah.

Looketh toward Jeshimon. Literally, “which looks toward the face of the desert.” Jeshimon is a noun meaning “waste place,” from the verb “to be desolate,” and is used of deserts through which Israel journeyed (Deut. 32:10; Ps. 68:7), and of the desolate land north of the Dead Sea (1 Sam. 23:19, 24; 26:1, 3).

21. Sihon. The Israelites were in the wilderness of Kedemoth, which lay on the borders of the kingdom of Sihon (Deut. 2:26). The land of the Amorites was included in the territory promised to Israel. The Amorites were not akin to the Israelites as were the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Moabites, but were of Canaanite stock (Gen. 10:16; Deut. 1:7, 19, 27). Sihon is called king of the Amorites, as in this verse, or king of Heshbon (Deut. 2:26, 30), or is identified by a combination of the two names (Deut. 1:4; 3:2). Heshbon was the king’s residence or royal city.

22. Let me pass through. The Israelites sent a message of peace similar to the one previously sent to Edom (ch. 20:14), although orders had been given to conquer Sihon (Deut. 2:26, 24).

23. Jahaz. Perhaps a city in the plain of Moab, later a part of the territory of Reuben. The exact site is unknown (see Deut. 2:32; Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:21).

Fought against Israel. The Israelites had been assured they would be victorious (Deut. 2:31). The Amorite people were destined to destruction (Joshua 3:10), and they themselves now invited disaster by coming out intending to destroy God’s people.

24. Israel smote him. A heartening victory for Israel, new to warfare, over an enemy who had recently been victorious over Moab.

From Arnon unto Jabbock. Arnon formed the southern boundary of Sihon’s territory (v. 13), Jabbok the northern, and the river Jordan the western boundary. On the eastlay the Ammonites. The Jabbok still bears its ancient name in modern Hebrew.

Israel’s Campaign East of the Jordan

Was strong. Preferably, “was Jazer,” a town on the border between the Amorites and the Ammonites.

25. All these cities. That is, the cities of the Amorites mentioned in vs. 25 to 30.

Heshbon. The royal city, the dwelling place of the king and the seat of his government. The mound Tell HesbaЖn, 18 mi. east of the Jordan across from Jericho, preserves the ancient name.

All the villages. Literally, “all her daughters,” referring to the city of Heshbon as the metropolis, or mother city, and to the villages as her offspring, dependent upon her for their economic and social health.

27. Speak in proverbs. Or, “ballad singers” (RSV). The reference is to the song of vs. 27 to 30 referring to the victory of Sihon over the Moabites. The territory now taken by Israel belonged to the Amorites.

28. A fire. This refers to the conquests by Sihon of the territories surrounding Heshbon, the fire and flames being a symbol of war (see Amos 1:7, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, 5).

29. Chemosh. The god of the Moabites (1 Kings 11:7; Jer. 48:7), to whom human sacrifices were offered (2 Kings 3:26, 27), but who did not deliver his devotees in this crisis.

Given his sons. Meaning that Chemosh was displeased with his worshipers and did not save them from their enemies (see Jer. 48:13).

30. Dibon. There is a modern Diban 3 mi. north of the Arnon (see Jer. 48:18, 22), adjacent to the ancient Dibon, which lies in ruins today. It was here that the famous Moabite Stone was found in 1868.

Nophah. See Judges 8:11.

Medeba. Identified with modern Madeba. Its name appears in the Moabite stone as Mehedeba.

31. The land of the Amorites. The territory Israel now occupied on the east side of the Jordan was that of the Amorites, and not of the Moabites, who had been driven from it.

32. Jaazer. The site of Jaazer is not known. Various places have been suggested, but none can be definitely identified. It was not far from Mt. Gilead (2 Sam. 24:5, 6; 1 Chron. 26:31). With the taking of this city Israel completed the conquest of the Amorites.

33. Bashan. Bashan was famous for its fine pasturelands, on which thrived large herds of cattle, and also for its oak forests Deut. 32:14; Ps. 22:12; Eze. 27:6).

Og. A descendant of the mighty Rephaims Gen. 14:5; Joshua 12:4; 13:12).

Edrei. This has been identified with Edrea or DerФa, some 22 mi. northwest of Bosra. It was apparently the second royal city of Bashan (see Deut. 1:4; Joshua 12:4; 13:12), 30 mi. east-southeast of the Sea of Tiberias, and 30 mi. west of the Hauran range on the southern border of Bashan (Deut. 3:1, 10), near a branch of the Jarmuk. The ruins of the city are buried beneath the modern village. Had Og remained behind his fortified towers, Israel could scarcely have touched him. In the divine Providence he left his fortifications and gave battle in open country.

34. Fear him not. Such an assurance from God was needed on account of the giant stature of the men (Deut. 1:28; 3:11), and the fame of their fortifications.

35. They smote him. After defeating the army of Og, Israel occupied the whole country, except for some parts of it that held out awhile longer. The final conquest was accomplished by Jair, the son of Manasseh, who received the region of Argob as his reward (Num. 32:39, 41; Deut. 3:14).

And his sons. Not mentioned in Deut. 3:3.

Possessed his land. This included some 60 fortified cities in addition to a number of smaller towns (Deut. 3:4, 5; Joshua 13:30). This was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, as already stated (Deut. 3:13; Joshua 13:29, 30; 1 Kings 4:13).

Ellen G. White comments

1-35PP 427-437

2-5PP 428

3     PP 434

6, 7 PP 429

6-98T 50

8     FE 198

8, 9 PP 430

9     PP 434; 5T 202

16-18Ed 162

33        PP 435