Numbers 21: Arad Devoted to Destruction
1 The king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. 2 So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” 3 And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah [Literally Utter Destruction].
The king of Arad, the Canaanite who dwelt in the south, "rather, 'the Canaanite king of Arad'- an ancient town on the southernmost borders of Palestine, not far from Kadesh." (Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown) He heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim... many translate "heard by the way of spies," as "'Aharim' means 'spies' ...Evidently this is the route the Israelite spies had taken in Canaan…" (Constable) when the majority gave the bad report. Now news of Israel's approach took the same route.
"The Canaanites of Arad took the offensive against Israel. Perhaps they did so because 38 years earlier the Israelites had suffered defeat at Hormah... Hormah lay very near Arad. The Israelites had experienced this defeat when they sought to enter the land after God had sentenced them to wander in the wilderness for 38 more years ( Numbers 14:45). 'As being at Kadesh forms a framework for the wilderness wanderings, so does being at Hormah. After this victory at Hormah, where there had once been defeat, the Israelites are victorious regularly (Numbers 21:21-35). [Note: Ashley, pp 398-99.] This was the Israelites' first victory over the Canaanites... It came after the Israelites vowed to obey God completely by exterminating these Canaanites if He would give them victory as He had promised. In this vow the Israelites simply promised to obey God…” (Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable)
Some abhor Yahweh God of Israel, who would promise to give His children a land that belonged to another, purposing to utterly destroy the current inhabitance. But did not He command, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." (Gen 2:16-17) And has He not also made a provision in the Seed of the woman who will utterly destroy the seed of serpent. (Gen 3:15) And has He not revealed Himself to mankind as, “Yahweh, Yahweh God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exo 34:6-7) He gives life and has the prerogative to take it. (Job 1:21) And He will one day destroy this world and anyone who clings to it. So here Yahweh, having determined the wickedness of the inhabitance of Canaan, is about to give the land of Canaan to Israel for a season- the inhabitance dying the first death, which is appointed unto all mankind to die. (Heb 9:27)
Our warfare is spiritual. We are not to fight evil with weapons of material destruction, but with the Word of God and prayer. Let us begin by ceasing from murmurings. Do you not like your provision in this life? Be content with that which you have, for has He not said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." "This narrative is similar to the one that described Israel’s previous victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17). An account of the people’s murmuring due to lack of water introduces both stories (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13). In both cases an enemy attacked the Israelites, but Israel proceeded to defeat each one with the Lord's help brought down by prayer (Exodus 17:8-13; Numbers 21:1-3). Perhaps the writer intended us to learn from this that it was common for unbelieving nations to be hostile toward God's people. They opposed them at the beginning and toward the end of their sojourn in the wilderness (cf. Numbers 21:10-20). Nevertheless God enabled the Israelites to be victorious in answer to prayer despite their unworthiness." (Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable)
Israel made the vow, according to the Word of God, and Lord listens to them... and Israel utterly destroyed them and their cities. The Israelites repented of their murmuring and pledged to obey Yahweh God and He harkened to the voice of Israel, pledging Himself to their cause. But it is certain that these Canaanites of Arad were not utterly destroyed at the time here spoken of, "for this did not take place till after the death of Moses [with Joshua leading]. If, instead of utterly destroyed them, ויחרם vaiyacharem, we translate they devoted them to utter destruction, it will make a good sense, and not repugnant to the Hebrew." (Clarke) He was calling that which was not, as though it were. And likewise those who persist in sin are dead- pitted for the second, the eternal death- at the hands of Israel's Greater Joshua, as we inherit fully that Greater Canaan.
Numbers 21:The Bronze Serpent
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this light bread.” 6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
"The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom…” (Henry)- “for they were forbidden to destroy it, (Deut 2:5)," (The Geneva Study Bible), as Yahweh had given the land of Edom to the children of Esau for a possession. They again had no water and they loathed the light bread. They loathed their provision, along with the longness and roughness of the way; "in the original text, 'their soul or breath was short'; they fetched their breath short, being weary and faint with travelling, or through anger, as angry persons do, when in a great passion: so the people of God travelling through the wilderness of this world are often discouraged, because of the difficulties, trials, and troubles they meet with in the way, from sin, Satan, and the world, and are fretful and impatient; but though they are led about and walk in a round about way, and in a rough way, yet in a right way to the city of their habitation, Psalm 107:7…” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)
And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?"...
"Against God — Against Christ, their chief conductor, whom they tempted, 1 Corinthians 10:19." (Wesley) "And so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, 'and the people thought in their heart, and spake against the Word of the Lord,' the essential Word and Son of God...
And against Moses.. ascribing this equally to God and to Moses; using a strange word, as Aben Ezra calls it, being in a great passion, and not considering well what they said; showing great ingratitude for such a mercy, and representing it in a wrong light, as if the intent of bringing them from thence was to slay them in the wilderness.." (John Gill’s Exposition)
For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this light bread… Their words are full of contradictions. “This light bread - hakkelokel, a word of excessive scorn; as if they had said, This innutritive, unsubstantial, cheat - stomach stuff...” (Adam Clarke), "which in truth had sustained them on the journeys thus far." (Gill's Exposition of the Bible)
So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died… "'fiery serpents'... The Heb. words are both substantives, and both have the article: ‘the serpents, the fiery creatures.’ If ‘fiery’ is the correct rendering, it probably refers to their venomous bite which produced a burning inflammation. The article may imply ‘the serpents so well known to the readers by tradition.’ The punishment by serpents is referred to in 1 Corinthians 10:9 as a warning to Christians." (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)
The people came to Moses and confessed their sins and asked that he intercede for them. The question is about "answering the judgment of God, either final or in the way of chastening...” (John Darby) So Moses prayed for the people and God’s provision for sin was made manifest and looked upon by the children of Israel. Thus our Prophet, like unto Moses, does for us.
God's provision- "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” "All the fitness He requireth, Is to feel your need of Him" (Come Ye Sinners) “Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life, whoever may call it light bread. We see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. It is to be feared that they would not have owned the sin, if they had not felt the smart; but they relent under the rod. And God made a wonderful provision for their relief. The Jews themselves say it was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. There was much gospel in this. Our Saviour declared, John 3:14,15, that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believeth in him, should not perish. Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy and ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, shall not perish. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus, Hebrews 12:2. Whosoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured. The Lord can relieve us from dangers and distresses, by means which human reason never would have devised. Oh that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men's passions, and causing them to commit sins which end in their eternal destruction, were as sensibly felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents, and feared the death which followed! Then none would shut their eyes to Christ, or turn from his gospel. Then a crucified Saviour would be so valued, that all things else would be accounted loss for him; then, without delay, and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to him in the appointed way, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Nor would any abuse the freeness of Christ's salvation, while they reckoned the price which it cost him." (Matthew Henry)
Numbers 21: From Zalmonah to Pisgah
10 Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord: "Waheb in Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon, 15 And the slope of the brooks that reaches to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab.”
"We have here the removes of the children of Israel, till they came to the plains of Moab, from whence they passed over Jordan into Canaan. The end of their pilgrimage was near." (Matthew Henry Commentary) They "set forward--along the eastern frontier of the Edomites, encamping in various stations... They [finally] pitched on the other side of Arnon--now El-Mojib, a deep, broad, and rapid stream, dividing the dominions of the Moabites and Amorites." (Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown)
Therefore it is said in the book with the wars of the Lord: The American Standard Version renders it “the book of the wars of Jehovah,” as does the Darby Bible Translation. The World English Bible translates it as “the book of the wars of Yahweh” and Young’s Literal Translation, “a book, ‘the wars of Jehovah.’” Many see this book as some secular book of antiquity which includes the history of wars, but it just might be the early Jewish records, as Adam Clarke says: “There are endless conjectures about this book, both among ancients and moderns.” Some believe it to be a secular book of the nations, but he goes with Dr. Lightfoot's opinion “This book seems to have been some book of remembrances and directions, written by Moses for Joshua's private instruction for the management of the wars after him. See Exo 17:14-16. It may be that this was the same book which is called the book of Jasher, i. e., the book of the upright, or a directory for Joshua, from Moses, what to do and what to expect in his wars; and in this book it seems as if Moses directed the setting up of archery, see Sam 2 1:18, and warrants Joshua to command the sun, and expect its obedience, Jos 10:13.'" (Adam Clarke)
It is said “Waheb in Supha, the brooks of Arnon…” "This clause is impenetrably obscure." (Clarke) Perhaps The Vulgate reads "What He did in the Red Sea" ... Yahweh God had worked a miracle to deliver them from slavery in Egypt thru the baptism of the Red Sea. And he was about to work a miracle in the brooks of Arnon by providing plentiful water. Before the refreshing, they sang songs. “What though the Amorites, Moabites, and Ammonites are about them; What though the power of Sihon stands in the way; God can open a well for His people and give them a song in spite of all. Oh! what a God is our God! How blessed it is to trace His actings and ways with His people in all these wilderness scenes! May we learn to trust Him more implicitly, and to walk with Him, from day to day, in holy and happy subjection!” (C. H. Mackintosh's Notes on the Pentateuch)
16 From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it— 18 The well the leaders sank, dug by the nation’s nobles, by the lawgiver, with their staves.” And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.
After the refreshing at Beer, they went up to Mattanah, from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah. Here they could look at the wasteland of the desert wandering, but also Canaan- in the other direction. (Deuteronomy 3:27). Beer, as well as “Mattanah, Nahaliel, and Bamoth named here, Numbers 21:19, are not mentioned among those places where they pitched or encamped, Numbers 33:1-49. Probably they did not pitch or encamp in these places, but only pass by or through them…” (Wesley) for refreshing and regeneration of the Spirit, and as thus they are already counted as having entered the land of Canaan.
I will give them water…”This is a remarkable passage coming in at such a moment and in such a connection. The murmurings are hushed — the people are nearing the borders of the promised land — the effects of the serpents' bite have passed away, and now, without any rod, without any smiting, the people are supplied with refreshment.” (Mackintosh) “Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: Spring up — Heb. ascend, that is, let thy waters, which now lie hid below in the earth, ascend for our use. It is either a prediction that it should spring up, or a prayer that it might [representing the need and cry for for the Spirit by spiritual Israel], The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves." (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)... indicating a spiritual meaning, even here.
Spiritual songs are sung by the Spirit. "In every stage of our lives, nay, in every step, we should notice what God has wrought for us; what he did at such a time, and what in such a place, ought to be distinctly remembered. God blessed his people with a supply of water. When we come to heaven, we shall remove to the well of life, the fountain of living waters. They received it with joy and thankfulness, which made the mercy doubly sweet. With joy must we draw water out of the wells of salvation, Isaiah 12:3. As the brazen serpent was a figure of Christ, who is lifted up for our cure, so is this well a figure of the Spirit, who is poured forth for our comfort, and from whom flow to us rivers of living waters, John 7:38,39. Does this well spring up in our souls? If so, we should take the comfort to ourselves, and give the glory to God. God promised to give water, but they must open the ground. God's favours must be expected in the use of such means as are within our power, but still the power is only of God." (Matthew Henry Commentary)
Numbers 21: The Enemies of Yahweh Destroyed
Now full of the Spirit, having first been refreshed at Beer and then having gotten up on Pisgah's height and seen the land of their past, as well as that of their future, the children of Israel are now ready for engagement of God's enemies.
21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”
"And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites,.... Who were one of the nations of the Canaanites, and a principal and powerful one, and who were devoted to destruction, and their land designed for the people of Israel; see Genesis 15:16, at this time Sihon was their king, to whom Moses, in the name of Israel, sent a very peaceable message from the wilderness of Kedemoth, which lay near his country, Deuteronomy 2:26." (John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible)
23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon.
"The beginning of the realization of the promises-- We meet with people with whom we do not wish to have war, but they will not let us pass peaceably. Our warfare is with the possessors of our inheritance beyond Jordan. If we are attacked, we must defend ourselves; but we are not to be aggressors. Israel wishes to pass quietly through the land of the Amorites; but these will not allow it, and they suffer the consequences of the war they had sought against the people of God. Israel takes their cities, and begins already on this side Jordan to realise, as if beforehand, the possession of the promise." (John Darby’s Synopsis)
Sihon and its inhabitants were destroyed and their cities were occupied by the children of Israel. Consider the difference between Edom and Sihon. They both had committed the same offense. But Sihon added to their offense that they fought against Israel... And the former was a descendant of Abraham and Isaac- for whom promises of God pertained, if they were willing; and they were spared. In stark contrast, the latter were Amorites, on whom God's mercy had expired and upon whom His judgement had now come.
God's wrath is against Amorites, whether they live in the land of Canaan, or not. And His mercy is unto "Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile," like Nathaniel- whether they are in the land or not… and whether they are Abraham's brethren, according to the flesh, or not.
27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say: "Come to Heshbon, let it be built;Let the city of Sihon be repaired. 28 For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of the Arnon. 29 Woe to you, Moab! You have perished, O people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives,And his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 But we have shot at them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. Then we laid waste as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”
For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of the Arnon.... The effects of this judgment in battle against Israel will be the same as the effects of the judgment fire of God, directed at His enemies of every generation, at the end of time-- annihilation.
31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.33 And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.
"Og, king of Bashan, instead of being warned by the fate of his neighbours, to make peace with Israel, makes war with them, which proves in like manner his destruction. Wicked men do their utmost to secure themselves and their possessions against the judgments of God; but all in vain, when the day comes on which they must fall." (Matthew Henry Commentary) We, likewise, should be careful to bless the children of Israel- the Church.