Tyndale Open Study NotesNumbers 21

• As Israel journeyed to the promised land, they traveled from Mount Hor to the plains of Moab (22:1). The story of Israel's journey emphasizes the Lord's patient plan to lead Israel into Canaan despite their weaknesses.

• The general direction of their travel is clear. However, the exact path they took is not known today. Many of the places mentioned are difficult to identify.

  Archaeological evidence at some sites does not match the time usually connected with the wilderness period. Because of this, there are still serious questions about geography and history in the wilderness journey.

• the Canaanite king of Arad: It is possible that the Canaanite king of Arad felt threatened by many enemies south of his territory (compare 14:44–45). This may explain why he attacked Israel.

• Arad and Hormah (21:3) were far north of Mount Hor (20:22–29; 21:4; see study note on 20:22–23). Ancient Arad is usually identified with Tell Arad. It is west of the modern Israeli town of Arad and about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Kadesh.

  Excavations at Tell Arad have found important remains from the Early Bronze Age (about 3300–2000 BC) and the Iron Age (about 1200–500 BC). However, there is no clear evidence that people lived there during the Late Bronze Age (1500–1200 BC), the time of Israel’s exodus and wilderness journey.

  Scholars have suggested several explanations:

  • Some connect ancient Arad with a different site in the same region.

  • Others argue that these stories were written much later and do not match archaeological discoveries.

  • Still others say the evidence is incomplete and does not allow a final answer.

  Similar questions about geography and archaeology appear in other parts of the Old Testament. In many cases, the available evidence does not give a certain conclusion.

• Atharim is not known from any other source.

• devote … to destruction: This phrase translates the Hebrew word kharam. This word means to devote something fully to God by destroying it. Israel was told to completely destroy their enemies and their property in certain cases (see Leviticus 27:28–29; Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:17; Joshua 6–7; 10:1–11:23).

• This battle also includes wordplay between kharam and Hormah (Hebrew khormah, Numbers 21:3). The similar sounds connect the action of destroying with the name of the place.

  The event marks a turning point in Israel’s dealings with the Canaanites. The Canaanites would continue to be strong and dangerous enemies during the time of the conquest.

The "vow to the LORD" (21:2–3) and the resulting victory did not stop Israel from criticizing God and Moses. The long journey was a punishment for similar complaints (14:26–35).

This entire region has been, and still is, home to very venomous snakes (compare Isaiah 30:6).

• Jesus referred to this event when he explained who he is and why he came (John 3:14–15).

• By the time of King Hezekiah, around 700 BC, the bronze snake had become an object of worship in Jerusalem. The people were burning incense to it, so Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).

The location of Oboth is uncertain.

• The Israelites traveled along the east side of Edom.

• Iye-abarim means "ruins of Abarim" or "ruins of the region beyond." It was probably near the northern bank of Zered Brook (compare Deuteronomy 2:13–14). This brook separated ancient Edom from Moab (Deuteronomy 2:8–25).

• The Israelites traveled east of the Moabite territory, located between the Zered Brook in the south and the Arnon River in the north. The far side of the Arnon River was probably north and east of the main east–west canyon of the Arnon. This huge canyon acted as a natural boundary between Moab and the Amorite territory north of the Arnon (see 21:26).

• The Amorites were a group of nomadic (traveling) peoples. During the Middle Bronze Age (about 2000–1500 BC), they conquered areas from Mesopotamia to Canaan. They even ruled important cities such as Babylon (around 1830 BC) and Assur (around 1750 BC).

  Amorites living in the hill country of Canaan had frightened Israel’s spies (Deuteronomy 1:26–28). Later, they defeated Israel when the people tried to enter Canaan without God’s command (Numbers 14:44–45; see Deuteronomy 1:42–44).

  When Israel arrived east of the Jordan River, the Amorites controlled much of that region. This area is called Transjordan, which means the land east of the Jordan (see study note on Numbers 21:26).

• the Book of the Wars of the LORD: This is similar to The Book of Jashar (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18). The Book of the Wars of the Lord is not known from any other source.

• Waheb, a town, and Suphah, a region, are not known from any other record. Their exact locations are unknown.

  Ar was one of the main settlements of Moab at that time (compare 21:28; Deuteronomy 2:18; Isaiah 15:1).

The location of Beer is unknown (compare Isaiah 15:8). The short poem in this passage describes the digging of a new well. It shows the joy the people felt. In a dry region, a new source of water was a great blessing.

The poem says that princes and leaders dug the well. It also says they used scepters and staffs, which were symbols of authority. This may suggest that the digging of the well was part of a special or joyful ceremony.

After moving north of the Arnon, the Hebrews left the wilderness on the eastern side of Moab and the newly conquered Amorite territory (see study note on 21:21–35). They turned west toward the ridgeline that rises up from the Jordan Rift valley, then traveled north to Pisgah Peak (see also 23:14; Deuteronomy 3:17, 27; 34:1, 5).

Compare 20:14–17.

King Sihon's land was between Moab and Ammon. God would not allow the Israelites to invade Ammon, Edom, or Moab (Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 2:4–9). This was because they were relatives (Genesis 19:30–38; 32:3). Yet, Israel needed to cross Transjordan (the region across the Jordan River) to enter Canaan. Sihon's territory was the natural route.

• The Israelite victories over King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan previewed the Hebrew conquest of Canaan. It came to represent God's promise to help his people when they were in need (see 13:10–12; Deuteronomy 2:24–3:7; Joshua 2:10; 9:10; 12:1–6; Judges 11:19–22; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalms 135:10–12; 136:17–22; Jeremiah 48:45–46).

• Israel had left the wilderness before reaching Pisgah (compare Numbers 21:18, 23; 21:20). So, this story probably indicates an earlier event before the movement in 21:18–20.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh settled in the area conquered at this time (compare chapter 32).

• Sihon king of the Amorites captured the area north of the Arnon from the Moabites, who controlled it earlier. Israel then occupied this region for several hundred years. King Mesha of Moab reclaimed it around 830 BC (see 2 Kings 3:4–27). This came through a campaign detailed on the Mesha Inscription (also known as the Moabite Stone).

• Heshbon is usually considered to be Tell Hesban. No evidence yet has shown that people lived there in the Late Bronze Age (see study note on Numbers 21:1).

This ancient song may have been an old Amorite ballad about the victories of King Sihon. It may have celebrated his power and success.

Other interpreters believe that Israelite singers wrote the song later. In this view, it was a taunt song meant to mock Sihon’s defeat and celebrate Israel’s victory.

The flow of the story from Numbers 21:26 to 21:27 supports the first view. Israel may have taken an older Amorite song and applied it to their own victory. Sihon and the Amorites had once defeated Moab. Now Israel had defeated them. Compare Judges 11:12–28.

King Sihon had destroyed Moab’s towns from his center of operations at Heshbon.

From the ancient point of view, even Moab’s supreme god Chemosh suffered defeat at the hands of the Amorite conquerors, while the people of Moab became refugees and captives.

The area described here is the one Israel had just conquered (21:24). The song celebrating Sihon is a fitting tribute to Israel's victory.

• Ancient Bashan was east of the Sea of Galilee.

• King Og, like Sihon, was an Amorite (see study note on 21:13). Deuteronomy 3:1–11 details the story of Israel defeating Og.

they took possession of his land: See chapter 32.