“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.”
Cross references: : Num. 33:40 By that way which their spies, that searched the dangers found to be most safe.
“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. discouraged: or, grieved: Heb. shortened”
For they were forbidden to destroy it, Deut. 2:5 .
“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”
Meaning, Manna, which they thought did not nourish. Num. 11:6
“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”
For they that were stung therewith, were so inflamed with the heat thereof, that they died. 1 Cor. 10:9
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”
Or, recovered. 2 Kings 18:4 ; Job 3:14
“And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising . Ijeabarim: or, heaps of Abarim”
Or, in the heaps of Abarim, or hills.
“Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, What: or, Vaheb in Suphah”
Which seemeth to be the book of the Judges, or as some think, a book which is lost. Or, (How God destroyed) Waheb (the city) with a whirlwind and the valley of Arnon.
“Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: Spring: Heb. Ascend sing: or, answer”
Ye that receive the commodity thereof, give praise for it. Or, spring.
“The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:”
Moses and Aaron heads of the people only smote the rock with the rod or staff, which gave water as a well that were deep digged.
“And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.”
For the people were tall and strong like giants, Deut. 2:20 . The river. Josh. 12:2 ; Ps. 135:11 ; Amos 2:9
“For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.”
For if it had been the Moabites, the Israelites might not have possessed it, Deut. 2:9 .
“Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.”
Chemosh was the idol of the Moabites, 1 Kings 11:33 , who was not able to defend his worshippers, which took the idol for their father.