Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:14
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,
14. the book of the Wars of Jehovah ] It may be gathered from the title that the songs celebrated the battles which Jehovah ‘the God of hosts’ had helped His people to win against His enemies. A similar collection of songs (which were probably handed down orally and not committed to writing till a later time) was called ‘the book of the Yshr (‘Upright’),’ Jos 10:13, 2Sa 1:18; and Gray compares it with the amasa and similar collections of the Arabs.
Vaheb in Suphah ] The former apparently a town, and the latter a district; both are unknown; but the latter is possibly the same as Suph (Deu 1:1). In the original song Vaheb (as the Heb. shews) must have been governed by a verb, perhaps relating that Israel captured the town. But the writer here begins his quotation in the middle of the sentence, since the point of it for him lay only in the closing words. The rendering of Suphah as a substantive ‘storm’ (R.V. marg.) is improbable. The A.V. follows the Vulg. , which, in turn, is dependent upon the Targum.
the valleys of Arnon ] ‘Valley,’ Heb. naal, is a torrent-ravine or wady; see on Num 21:12. The expression stands for all the streams which unite to form the Arnon. Some of these have been mentioned in Num 21:12-13. Others are the Wady Babr‘a, W. es-Suln, W. Butmeh, W. Themed. ‘The whole plateau up to the desert is thus not only cut across, but up and down, by deep ravines, and a very difficult frontier is formed’ (G. A. Smith, H. G. [Note: . G. Historical Geography of the Holy Land.] 558).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
14, 15. The writer here inserts a fragment of poetry from an ancient collection of songs, the last clause of which supports the above statement that Arnon was the border of Moab.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of the book of the wars of the Lord nothing is known except what may be gathered from the passage before us. It was apparently a collection of sacred odes commemorative of that triumphant progress of Gods people which this chapter records. From it is taken the ensuing fragment of ancient poetry relating to the passage of the Arnon River, and probably also the Song of the Well, and the Ode on the Conquest of the Kingdom of Sihon Num 21:17-18, Num 21:27-30.
What he did … – The words which follow to the end of the next verse are a reference rather than a quotation. Contemporaries who had the Book at hand, could supply the context. We can only conjecture the sense of the words; which in the original are grammatically incomplete. The marg. is adopted by many, and suggests a better sense: supplying some such verb as conquered, the words would run He (i. e. the Lord) conquered Vaheb in Suphah, and the brooks, etc. Suphah would thus be the name of a district remarkable for its reeds and water-flags in which Vaheb was situated.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. The book of the wars of the Lord] There are endless conjectures about this book, both among ancients and moderns. Dr. Lightfoot’s opinion is the most simple, and to me bears the greatest appearance of being the true one. “This book seems to have been some book of remembrances and directions, written by Moses for Joshua’s private instruction for the management of the wars after him. See Ex 17:14-16. It may be that this was the same book which is called the book of Jasher, i. e., the book of the upright, or a directory for Joshua, from Moses, what to do and what to expect in his wars; and in this book it seems as if Moses directed the setting up of archery, see 2Sa 1:18, and warrants Joshua to command the sun, and expect its obedience, Jos 10:13.”
What he did in the Red Sea, and in the brooks of Arnon] This clause is impenetrably obscure. All the versions, all the translators, and all the commentators, have been puzzled with it. Scarcely any two agree. The original is eth vaheb besuphah, which our translators render, what he did in the Red Sea, following here the Chaldee Targum; but not satisfied with this version, they have put the most difficult words in English letters in the margin, Vaheb in Suphah. Calmet’s conjecture here is ingenious, and is adopted by Houbigant; instead of vaheb, he reads zared. Now a zain may be easily mistaken for a vau, and vice versa; and a he for a , resh, if the left limb happened to be a little obliterated, which frequently occurs, not only in MSS., but in printed books; the beth also might be mistaken for a daleth, if the ruled line on which it stood happened in that place to be a little thicker or blacker than usual. Thus then vaheb might be easily formed out of zared, mentioned Nu 21:12; the whole might then be read, They encamped at the brook Zared, and they came to Suphah, and thence to the brook Arnon. Take the passage as we may, it is evidently defective. As I judge the whole clause to have been a common proverb in those days, and Vaheb to be a proper name, I therefore propose the following translation, which I believe to be the best: From Vaheb unto Suph, and unto the streams of Arnon. If we allow it to have been a proverbial expression, used to point out extensive distance, then it was similar to that well known phrase, From Dan even unto Beersheba.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The book of the wars of the Lord seems to have been some poem or narration of the wars and victories of the Lord, either by or relating to the Israelites; which may be asserted without any prejudice to the integrity of the Holy Scripture, because this book doth not appear to have been written by a prophet, or to be designed for a part of the canon, but by some other ingenious person, who intended only to write an historical relation of these matters, which yet Moses might quote, as St. Paul doth some of the heathen poets. And as St. Luke assures us that many did write a history of the things done and said by Christ, Luk 1:1, whose writings were never received as canonical, the like may be justly conceived concerning this and some few other books mentioned in the Old Testament; though the words may be thus rendered, Wherefore it shall be said in the relation, or narration (for so the Hebrew sepher is confessed to signify)
of the wars of the Lord. In the Red Sea; or, at Vaheb in Suphah, or in the land of Suph. Vaheb seems to be the name not of a man, but of a city or place, and Suphah the name of the country where it was; and the Hebrew particle eth is oft rendered at. And whereas the sense seems to be imperfect, it must be noted, that he quotes only a fragment or piece of the book, and that principally to prove the situation of Arnon, which he had asserted Num 21:13, from which end the passage quoted is sufficient. And the sense is easily to be understood, for it is plain enough that this poet or writer is describing the wars and works of God by the several places where they were done; and having begun the sentence before, and mentioned other places, he comes to these here mentioned, at Vaheb in Suphah, and at the brooks of Arnon, &c. And it seems probable that the war here designed was that of Sihon against the Moabites, mentioned below, Num 21:26, which is fitly ascribed to the Lord, because it was undertaken and perfected by the singular direction and assistance of God, and that for the sake of the Israelites, that by this means that country might be invaded and possessed by them, without taking it away from the Moabites, which they were forbidden to meddle with or to disturb, Deu 2:9, and so their title to it might be more just and unquestionable. See Jdg 11:12,13,27.
In the brooks of Arnon, i.e. the brook, the plural number for the singular, as the plural number rivers is used concerning Jordan, Psa 74:15, and concerning Tigris, Nah 2:6, and concerning Euphrates, Psa 137:1, and concerning Thermodoon in Virgil, all which may be so called because of the several little streams into which they were divided.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. book of the wars of the LordAfragment or passage is here quoted from a poem or history of the warsof the Israelites, principally with a view to decide the position ofArnon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord,…. A history of wars in former times, which the Lord had suffered to be in the world; and which, as Aben Ezra thinks, reached from the times of Abraham and so might begin with the battle of the kings in his time, and take in others in later times, and particularly those of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and his conquests of some parts of Moab; and to this book, which might be written by some one of those nations, Moses refers in proof of what he here says:
what he did in the Red sea; that is, what Sihon king of the Amorites did, or the Lord by him, “at Vaheb in Suphah”, as the words may be rendered; either against a king, or rather city, of Moab, whose name was Vaheb, in the borders of the land of Moab, or how he destroyed that city Vaheb with a storm or terrible assault l:
and in the brooks of Arnon: some places situated on the streams of that river, which were taken by the Amorites from the Moabites, as the book quoted plainly testified.
l Vid. L’Empereur. Not. in Mosis Kimchi p. 195.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14, 15) The book of the wars of the Lord.Nothing is known about this book. The last days of Moses, as Baumgarten has observed, may have been a suitable time for the commencement of such a work. The history of the journey from Kadesh to the Arboth Moab was not written by Moses until after the defeat of the two kings of the Amorites, and the subjugation of the land on the east of the Jordan.
What he did in the Red Sea . . . The original is very obscure. It is probable that some such verb as They conquered (or, subdued) is understood, and that the words may be rendered Vaheb in Suphah and the valleys (by) Arnon, and the bed (or, ravine) of the valleys which inclines towards the dwelling of Ar, and leans upon the border of Moab. Vaheb was probably the name of a town, and Suphah the district in which that town was situated, so called from its reeds and rushes. Some, however, think that Suphah here denotes a storm or hurricane, as in other places. Ar is supposed to be the same as Areopolis.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Book of the wars of the Lord This was probably a collection of ballads composed beside the watchfires of the camp in commemoration of the victories of the Israelites over their enemies. From the title we infer that religious inspiration mingled largely with the poetic. In the spirit of true piety the victories are ascribed, not to the prowess of Israel, but to the might of Jehovah. Possibly this book is referred to in Exo 17:14-16. The fragment here quoted is obscure because it is sundered from the context. It is quoted simply to confirm the statement that the Arnon is the boundary of Moab.
What he did This is an erroneous translation of , Vaheb, the name of a place on the border of the Amorite and Moabite territories where Israel conquered in battle.
In the Red Sea This is another erroneous translation of Suphah, mistaken for Suph, the Red Sea. The exact location of Suphah is as little known as is that of Vaheb, both being found in no other place than in the following fragment of the old song:
“Vaheb in Suphah.
And the valleys of Arnon,
And the slope of the valleys
That inclineth toward the dwelling of Ar,
And leaneth upon the border of Moab.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 21:14-15. Wherefore, &c. Wherefore mention is made in the story of the wars of the Lord, in Vaheb in Supha, and of the brooks of Arnon,and of the stream, &c. (Carpz. Introd. part 1: p. 124. Wat.) This version of Dr. Waterland gives us the most intelligible account of the present obscure passage. Le Clerc gives nearly the same sense. By the wars of the Lord, he understands the wars of the Israelites, who fought under the banner and protection of Jehovah; and instead of book, he translates too, with most of the Jewish doctors, the narration; so that, according to him, the whole verse runs thus: wherefore, in the narration of the wars of the Lord, there is [or shall be] mention of Vaheb in Supha, and of the brooks of Arnon; meaning, that these places shall be recorded in the Jewish history, as the beginning of their conquests, which, as to Arnon, is unquestionably true. See Deu 24:22. He thinks Vaheb is mentioned below under another name; see on Num 21:18 and Supha is mentioned, Deu 1:1 as a place near those plains where Moses put forth the Book of Deuteronomy: it is there, as well as here, rendered the Red sea, though unquestionably wrong; for Arnon, and the country thereabouts, is not near the Red sea. The Vulgate gives a very good sense, if it could be made out of the words, as he did in the Red sea, so shall he do in the brooks of Arnon; meaning that these places shall be recorded in the Jewish history, as the beginning of their conquests: which is true as to Arnon. There are some who think that Moses here refers to a book, wherein had been given a more full and particular account of all that had befallen the Israelites before their settlement in Canaan, which he had named the book of the wars of the Lord; and it seems very reasonable to suppose, that the short historical account of things delivered in the Pentateuch was taken from some more extensive annals.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It is probable, that Israel, upheld by the arm of JEHOVAH, accomplished some mighty acts here. But the record of them is not come down to us. See Exo 17:14 . But some have thought, and not without reason, that as the Red Sea is mentioned here, the children of Israel, in the view of the brooks of Arnon, were prompted to sing again the song of triumph, which they had sung near forty years before at the Red Sea. Exo 15:1 , etc. Reader, it is sweet at every renewed instance of mercy, we meet with in our pilgrimage, to look back and rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD. You and I shall find enough, like Jacob, to sing of in the recollection of every stage we have come. The GOD which fed me all my life long unto this day; the angel (JESUS) which redeemed me from all evil. Gen 48:15-16 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 21:14 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,
Ver. 14. In the book of the wars of the Lord. ] This book here cited by Moses, is now either lost, or at least latent. It was not any part of the Canon, – for God hath provided, that not one hair of that sacred head is diminished, – but as the chronicles of England, or some famous poem.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
of the wars of the LORD. This may commence the quotation, thus: “the wars of Jehovah [were with] Eth-Vaheb by the Red sea (or with a whirlwind. Hebrew. Supha. Compare Amo 1:14. Isa 66:15. Nah 1:3. Jer 4:13) and by the brooks of Arnon”. Eth-Vaheb may be the proper name of the king of the Amorites, who took Heshbon, as in Num 21:26.
the Red sea. Hebrew. Suphah, a city situated as described here, and in Deu 1:1. Compare 1Ki 9:26.
the brooks of Arnon = the outpouring of the torrents.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
in the book: Jos 10:13, 2Sa 1:18
What he did: or, Vaheb in Suphah, The following seems to be the sense of this passage: “From Vaheb in Suphah, and the torrents of Arnon, even the effusion of the torrents, which goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth for the boundary of Moab; even from thence to the well; – which is the well of which Jehovah spake unto Moses, Gather the people, and I will give them water. Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O Well! Answer ye to it. The well, princes digged it; even nobles of the people digged it, by a decree, upon their borders and from the wilderness – or the well, as in LXXto Mattanah; and from Mattanah,” etc. The whole of this, from Num 21:14-20, is a fragment from “the book of the wars of Jehovah,” probably a book of remembrances or directions written by Moses for the use of Joshua, and describes the several boundaries of the land of Moab. This rendering removes every obscurity, and obviates every difficulty.
Reciprocal: Num 21:13 – General Num 21:27 – General Num 22:36 – the border Deu 1:1 – Red Sea Psa 44:1 – in the times Jer 48:20 – Arnon
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 21:14. The book of the wars of the Lord This seems to have been some poem or narration of the wars and victories of the Lord, either by, or relating to the Israelites: which may be asserted without any prejudice to the integrity of the holy Scripture, because this book doth not appear to have been written by a prophet, or designed for a part of the canon, but which Moses might quote, as St. Paul doth some of the heathen poets. And, as St. Luke assures us that many did write a history of the things done and said by Christ, (Luk 1:1,) whose writings were never received as canonical, the like may be conceived concerning this and some few other books mentioned in the Old Testament. The brooks The brook, the plural number for the singular, as the plural number, rivers, is used concerning Jordan, (Psa 74:15,) and concerning Tigris, (Nah 2:6,) and concerning Euphrates, (Psa 137:1,) all which may be so called because of the several little streams into which they were divided.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:14 Wherefore it is said in the {e} book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,
(e) Which seems to be the book of the Judges, or as some think, a book which is lost.