Arad Defeated
Numbers 21:1-3
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Num.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- הכנעני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ערד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הנגב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- האתרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וילחם: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- שבי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 21:2-3 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Israel vows to devote the Canaanites to destruction, defeats the king of Arad, and names the place Hormah—directly connected to v.1's report of the attack.
- Joshua 12:14 (verbal): Lists the same opponent—'the king of Arad'—among the kings defeated by Israel, echoing the identification of Arad and its king in Num 21:1.
- Exodus 17:8-16 (thematic): An earlier example of a hostile people (Amalek) attacking Israel on the march; parallels the motif of opportunistic attacks on Israel during wilderness travel and the military response that follows.
- Deuteronomy 20:10-18 (thematic): Laws prescribing the complete destruction (herem) of certain Canaanite cities; thematically related to Israel's vow and destruction of Arad's forces described after Num 21:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, heard that Israel had come by the way of Atharim; he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.
- The Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, heard that Israel had come by the way of the spies; and he fought against Israel and carried off some of them as prisoners.
Num.21.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נדר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- בידי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff1s
- והחרמתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עריהם: NOUN,f,pl,cons+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deut.20:16-18 (thematic): Legal command to devote certain cities and peoples to destruction (herem); provides the law/background for Israel’s vow to ‘utterly destroy’ enemy cities.
- Josh.6:17-21 (structural): Narrative of Jericho being devoted to the LORD and destroyed; an enacted example of a city under herem comparable to Israel’s vow in Num 21:2.
- 1 Sam.15:3 (verbal): God’s command to Saul to ‘utterly destroy’ Amalek and devote them to destruction—shares the language and concept of herem found in Num 21:2.
- Judg.11:30-31 (thematic): Jephthah’s vow before battle to devote whatever comes out of his house to the LORD; parallels the motif of making vows to secure victory and consecrate (or destroy) what follows.
- Lev.27:28-29 (verbal): Priestly law concerning things or persons devoted (‘most holy’ or ‘utterly destroyed’); legal/terminological background for vows of devotion and destruction like Num 21:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, "If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction."
- Then Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, saying, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, I will devote their cities to destruction.”
Num.21.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הכנעני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- ויחרם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתהם: PRON,3,m,pl,acc
- ואת: CONJ
- עריהם: NOUN,f,pl,cons+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- המקום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- חרמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 2:34 (verbal): Conquest report using language of total destruction of cities and inhabitants (“utterly destroyed… left none to remain”), paralleling Num 21:3’s report of defeating the Canaanites and the term herem/חרם.
- Joshua 6:21 (verbal): Jericho episode: the city and its people are ‘utterly destroyed’ and devoted to the LORD (herem). Mirrors Num 21:3’s motif of divinely‑wrought victory and the dedication/destruction of the enemy.
- Deuteronomy 7:1–2 (thematic): Instruction to dispossess and ‘utterly destroy’ the nations of Canaan as divine command/strategy for Israel’s conquest. Provides the legal/theological framework for actions described in Num 21:3.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (thematic): Divine command to Saul to ‘utterly destroy’ Amalek (herem). Reflects the recurring biblical theme of divinely mandated total destruction of enemy peoples—language and theology akin to Num 21:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD listened to Israel's voice and gave the Canaanite into their hand; they devoted them and their cities to destruction. The place was called Hormah.
- The LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel and gave the Canaanite into their hand; and Israel devoted them and their towns to destruction. The name of the place was called Hormah.
The Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, heard that Israel had come by the way of the spies; and he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.
Then Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”
The LORD listened to the voice of Israel and gave the Canaanite into their hand; and they devoted them and their towns to destruction. And the place was called Hormah.