Bible Commentaries

And [when] king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the ^a way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took [some] of them prisoners.

(a) By that way which their spies, that searched the dangers found to he most safe.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to ^b compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

(b) For they were forbidden to destroy it, (Deuteronomy 2:5).

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light ^c bread.

(c) Meaning manna, which they thought did not nourish.

And the LORD sent ^d fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

(d) For they that were bitten by them were so inflamed by the poison of them, that they died.

Wherefore it is said in the ^e book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,

(e) Which seems to be the book of the Judges, or as some think, a book which is lost.

Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; ^f sing ye unto it:

(f) You that receive the convenience of it, give praise for it.

The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by [the direction of] the ^g lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness [they went] to Mattanah:

(g) Only Moses and Aaron, the heads of the people, struck the rock with the rod or staff, which gave water as a well that was deep digged.

And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto ^h Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon [was] ⁱ strong.

(h) The river.

(i) For the people were tall and strong like giants; (Deuteronomy 2:20).

For ^k Heshbon [was] the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.

(k) For if it had been the Moabites, the Israelites might not have possessed it, (Deuteronomy 2:9).

For there is a ^l fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [and] the lords of the high places of Arnon.

(l) Meaning, wane.

Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of ^m Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.

(m) Chemosh was the idol of the Moabites, (1 Kings 11:33) who was not able to defend his worshippers, who took the idol for their father.