Numbers 21:1-9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:1-3

Here is, 1. The descent which Arad the Canaanite made upon the camp of Israel, hearing that they came by the way of the spies; for, though the spies which Moses had sent thirty-eight years before then passed and repassed unobserved, yet their coming, and their errand, it is likely, were afterwards known to the Canaanites, gave them an alarm, and induced them to keep an eye upon Israel and get intelligence of all their motions. Now, when they understood that they were facing about towards... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:4-9

Here is, I. The fatigue of Israel by a long march round the land of Edom, because they could not obtain passage through it the nearest way: The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way, Num. 21:4. Perhaps the way was rough and uneven, or foul and dirty; or it fretted them to go far about, and that they were not permitted to force their passage through the Edomites? country. Those that are of a fretful discontented spirit will always find something or other to make them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:1

And when King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south ,.... Arad seems rather to be the name of a place, city, or country, of which the Canaanite was king, than the name of a man, since we read of the king of Arad, Joshua 12:14 see also Judges 1:16 and so the Targums of Onkelos and Jerusalem here render it, the king of Arad; and the Targum of Jonathan says, he changed his seat and reigned in Arad, which might have its name from Arvad, a son of Canaan, Genesis 10:18 and Jerom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:2

And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord ,.... The Israelites made supplication to the Lord for help against their enemies, and that he would give them victory over them, and made promises to him: and said, if thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand ; certainly and entirely deliver them, so as that a complete victory shall be obtained over them: then will I utterly destroy their cities ; or "anathematize", or devote them to utter destruction F15 והחרמתי "et... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:3

And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel ,.... In their prayers and vows; with acceptance heard, and answered them according to their wish: and delivered up the Canaanites : into their hands, gave them victory over them: and they utterly destroyed them and their cities ; that is, "anathematized" them, and devoted them to destruction; for as yet they did not actually destroy them, since we read of Arad afterwards, Joshua 12:14 , but this they did in Joshua's time, when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:4

And they journeyed from Mount Hor ,.... After the battle with the king of Arad, and the defeat of him: by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom ; which lay by it, and from whence it had the name of the Red sea, Edom signifying red; and by the way of that the Israelites must needs go, to go round that country: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way ; because it was going back instead of going forward to Canaan's land, and because of the length... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:5

And the people spake against God ,.... Who went before them in the pillar of cloud and fire, for leading them in such a way; that is, against Christ, as the apostle has taught us to interpret it, 1 Corinthians 10:9 , and is no inconsiderable proof of the deity of Christ; 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 ; his servant, for obeying the orders of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:6

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people ,.... Of which there were great numbers in the deserts of Arabia, and about the Red sea; but hitherto the Israelites were protected from them by the cloud about them, but sinning, the Lord suffered them to come among them, to punish them; these are called fiery, either from their colour, for in Arabia, as there were serpents of a golden colour, as Aelianus F18 De Animal. l. 10. c. 13. relates, to which the brazen serpent, after made,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:7

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, we have sinned ,.... Being bitten with serpents, and some having died, the rest were frightened, and came and made an humble acknowledgment of their sins to Moses: for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee ; murmuring at their being brought out of Egypt, and because they had no better provision in the wilderness; concluding they should die there for want, and never enter into the land of Canaan, of which evils they were now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:8

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... Out of the cloud; or, it may be, Moses went into the sanctuary, and there prayed, and the Lord answered him from between the cherubim: make them a fiery serpent ; not a real one, but the likeness of one, one that should very much resemble the fiery serpents Israel had been bitten with: and set it upon a pole ; a standard, banner, or ensign, as the word signifies; perhaps meaning one of the poles on which their ensigns were carried: the Targum of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 21:4-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:8

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