Numbers 21:3

And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator reports Yahweh responding to Israel after their initial defeat by the Canaanites. This occurs immediately following Israel’s conditional vow to devote the enemy’s cities to destruction if granted victory.

The words — וַ/יִּתֵּן֙ (va/i.yi.Ten) translates literally as "and he delivered up," while וַ/יַּחֲרֵ֥ם (va/i.ya.cha.Rem) means "and he devoted [to destruction]." These verbs track the exact fulfillment of the conditional vow in the preceding verse.

The thread — The location Hormah recurs as a geographic marker in Numbers 14:45 and Deuteronomy 1:44, and appears again in 1 Samuel 30:30. These references anchor the site as a recurring marker of military defeat and divine judgment.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that conditional vows to God require precise obedience when answered. It leaves the reader to account for how pledged devotion translates into concrete, destructive action.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּשְׁמַ֨עva/i.yish.Ma'and/ he listened יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh בְּק֣וֹלbe./Kolto/ [the] voice of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וַיִּתֵּן֙va/i.yi.Tenand/ he delivered up אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יha./ke.na.'a.Nithe/ Canaanite[s]וַיַּחֲרֵ֥םva/i.ya.cha.Remand/ it totally destroyed אֶתְהֶ֖ם'et./Hem<obj.>/ them וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>עָרֵיהֶ֑ם'a.rei./Hemcities/ their וַיִּקְרָ֥אva/i.yik.Ra'and/ someone called שֵׁם־shem-[the] name of הַמָּק֖וֹםha./ma.Komthe/ place חָרְמָֽה׃ פcha.re.MahHormah

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.
Deuteronomy 1:44 Then the Amorites who lived in the hills came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees. They routed you from Seir all the way to Hormah.
1 Samuel 30:30 to those in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach;
Psalms 10:17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
Psalms 91:15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalms 102:17 He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.

Places named

Hormah