Numbers 21

1 king Arad the Canaanite. Rather, “the Canaanite king of Arad” (R.V.). Arad was a city in the south of Palestine (Josh. xii. 14). This conflict probably occurred while the Israelites were at Kadesh, awaiting the return of messengers from Edom.—the spies. The Heb. word, “Atharim,” here rendered “the spies,” is better read as a proper name: “by the way of Atharim.” So R.V.

2 destroy. Or, “devote to destruction”; and so in ver. 3. The conquest now begun was soon pushed further by Joshua (Josh. x. 41; xi. 14), and completed by the tribes of Judah and Simeon (Judg. i. 17). The fulfilment of the vow was probably inserted here, like similar passages elsewhere, to complete the narrative of Moses. “He called,” etc., should rather be rendered “one called,” or, “it was called.”

4 the way of the Red Sea. That is, to Ezion-geber, at the head of the eastern gulf. This road along the Arabah is peculiarly rough and wearisome, lying through a dreary desert, described in Deut. viii. 15 as “that great and terrible wilderness.” Op. Psa. evii. 4-7.

6 fiery serpents. Or, rather, “the fiery serpents”; pointing plainly to some well known in the neighbourhood; perhaps the hydra, or water-snake, described as “fiery” on account of the burning pain and inflammation attending its bite. Possibly the “serpent” was a parasitic worm (Filaria Medinensis). See Sir Risdon Bennett’s Diseases of the Bible, Appendix, p. 133.

7. We have sinned. Op. 1 Sam. xii. 19; Acts viii. 24.

9 a serpent of brass. This owed its efficacy to the Divine appointment, faith in which was expressed by the act of looking at the serpent for deliverance. It is used by our Lord to represent His crucifixion, and illustrates the freeness and accessibleness of the gospel remedy for sin, as well as the simplicity of its application by faith in Christ (John iii. 14, 15). For superstitious use afterwards made of this serpent, and its destruction by Hezekiah, see 2 Kings xviii. 4.

13 the coasts (borders) of the Amorites. The Amorites or “highlanders,” in the time of Abraham, dwelt on the west of the Jordan (Gen. xiv. 7); but afterwards appear to have passed across the river, and to have wrested from the Moabites all that portion of their country which lay north of the Arnon.

14. The book of the wars of the Lord. The passage (14-20) is obscure. If the book is rightly named, it might be a collection of poems celebrating God’s deliverances of Israel from their Egyptian and other enemies, resembling Deut. xxxii. and Psa. lxxviii., cv.; and intended to be learned and sung by the people.

What He did, etc. Rather (taking the first word as a proper name):

“Vaheb in Suphah (did He conquer), And the valleys of Arnon, And the slope of the valleys,” etc.

(See R.V.)

18. By the direction of the law-giver, etc. Rather, “with the sceptre and with the staves” (R.V.). In the fertile districts on the east of the Jordan, on the edge of the desert, water may be found, on turning up the sand, at the depth of a few inches.

20. Jeshimon. Or, the “wilderness,” probably the dreary tract on the north-east of the Dead Sea.

26 the Amorites. This is mentioned to show the right of the Israelites to Heshbon (the Amorites being descendants of Canaan), though they were not allowed by God to take any of the cities then possessed by the Moabites, who were descendants of Lot. See Deut. ii. 18, 19. Respecting the importance of this, see Judges xi. 13-27.

27 proverbs. Heb., “poems.”

29. Chemosh. Chemosh was the idol worshipped by the Moabites and Ammonites. This is quoted in Jer. xlviii. 45, 46.—He hath given, etc. Rather, “He makes his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives,” etc. (see R.V.).

appear respectable, conscientious, honourable, gifted, religious, may be in the sight of God accursed and heirs of perdition." He regards Balaam’s case as a perversion of great gifts and a perversion of conscience. Balaam wanted to please himself without displeasing God.