Unknown
Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
21:1-3 First Victory over the Canaanites. The spying mission was followed by the death of the spies and an unauthorized attempt to enter Canaan, which ended in Israel's defeat at Hormah (14:36-45). However, the death of Aaron for his unbelief is followed by victory at Hormah. This marks the turning point: from now on, one victory after another will follow until they reach the Jordan, ready to enter the land of Canaan.
21:1 Notice that this battle was not an Israelite initiative; rather, Israel responded to an attack by the king of Arad. This point is made about other engagements in the Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River): Israel responded to threats; it did not provoke the war (see vv. 21-23, 33-35; 25:17-18). Arad and Hormah were in the northern Negeb, but it is uncertain which archaeological sites these places are to be identified with. It is surprising to find this account set in the Negeb, for when last located, Israel was skirting the eastern frontier of Edom (20:21). Thus it is often suggested that the story of the victory at Hormah was placed here out of chronological sequence in order to highlight the change in Israel's fortunes after the death of Aaron. (Some, however, argue that this episode does fit sequentially into the whole narrative.)
21:2-3 devote their cities to destruction (v. 2). Canaanite cities that resist Israel are to be totally destroyed, according to Deut. 20:16-18 (see note). Hormah was the place this policy was first implemented. Its name, "Destruction," commemorates this (Num. 21:3).
