^21:1¹ When the Canaanite king of Arad² who lived in the Negev³ heard that Israel was approaching along the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoner.

^21:2So Israel made a vow⁴ to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed deliver⁵ this people into our⁶ hand, then we will utterly destroy⁷ their cities.” ^21:3The Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites,⁸ and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called⁹ Hormah.

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Footnotes

1 This chapter has several events in it: the victory over Arad (vv. 1–3), the plague of serpents (vv. 4–9), the approach to Moab (vv. 10–20), and the victory over Sihon and Og (vv. 21–35). For information, see D. M. Gunn, “The ‘Battle Report’: Oral or Scribal Convention.” 93 (1974): 513–18; and of the extensive literature on the archaeological site, see 1:74–89.
2 The name Arad probably refers to a place a number of miles away from Tel Arad in southern Israel. The name could also refer to the whole region (like Edom).
3 Or “the south”; “Negev” has become a technical name for the southern desert region and is still in use in modern times.
4 The Hebrew text uses a cognate accusative with the verb: They vowed a vow. The Israelites were therefore determined with God’s help to defeat Arad.
5 The Hebrew text has the infinitive absolute and the imperfect tense of נָתַן (natan) to stress the point—if you will surely/indeed give.”
6 Heb “my.”
7 On the surface this does not sound like much of a vow. But the key is in the use of the verb for “utterly destroy”—חָרַם (kharam). Whatever was put to this “ban” or “devotion” belonged to God, either for his use, or for destruction. The oath was in fact saying that they would take nothing from this for themselves. It would simply be the removal of what was alien to the faith, or to God’s program.
8 , Greek, and add “into his hand.”
9 In the Hebrew text the verb has no expressed subject, and so here too is made passive. The name “Hormah” is etymologically connected to the verb “utterly destroy,” forming the popular etymology (or paronomasia, a phonetic wordplay capturing the significance of the event).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed 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.” And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming on the Atharim road, he fought against Israel and captured some prisoners. Then Israel made a vow to the Lord, “If you will hand this people over to us, we will completely destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s request and handed the Canaanites over to them, and Israel completely destroyed them and their cities. So they named the place Hormah.

NLTNew Living Translation

The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching on the road through Atharim. So he attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners. Then the people of Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy all their towns.” The Lord heard the Israelites’ request and gave them victory over the Canaanites. The Israelites completely destroyed them and their towns, and the place has been called Hormah ever since.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The Canaanite king of Arad, who was dwelling in the Negev, heard that Israel came along the way of Atharim; he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. Israel made a vow to Yahweh, and they said, “If you will surely give this people into our hand, then we will destroy their cities.” Yahweh heard the voice of Israel; he gave to them the Canaanites, and they destroyed them and their cities. They called the name of the place Hormah.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

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