Nu 21:1-35. ISRAEL ATTACKED BY THE CANAANITES.
1. King Arad the Canaanite--rather, "the Canaanite king of Arad"--an
ancient town on the southernmost borders of Palestine, not far from
Kadesh. A hill called Tell Arad marks the spot.
heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies--in the way or
manner of spies, stealthily, or from spies sent by himself to ascertain
the designs and motions of the Israelites. The Septuagint and others
consider the Hebrew word "spies" a proper name, and render it: "Came
by the way of Atharim towards Arad" [KENNICOTT].
he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners--This
discomfiture was permitted to teach them to expect the conquest of
Canaan not from their own wisdom and valor, but solely from the favor
and help of God
(De 9:4;
Ps 44:3, 4).
JFB.
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