Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 14:25
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
25. Now the Amalekite were dwelling in the valley ] This is a parenthesis inserted by the narrator or compiler. It is omitted in Deu 1:40 which corresponds to the remainder of the present verse. It cannot be from the same pen as Num 13:29, where the Canaanites are described as living in the lowlands by the Mediterranean and along the Jordan, while the Amalekites live in the Negeb. On the other hand ‘the valley’ is not necessarily at variance with ‘mountain’ (or rather ‘hill country’) in Num 14:45, since it denotes not a broad valley or plain but ‘a deep place’ ( ), a defile or declivity among the mountains.
turn ye ] They were to retrace their steps, moving S.E. towards the eastern arm of the Red Sea.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Render: And now the Amalekites and the Canaanites are dwelling (or abiding) in the valley: wherefore turn you, etc. (that so ye be not smitten before them). The Amalekites were the nomad bands that roved through the open pastures of the plain Num 14:45 : the Canaanites, a term here taken in its wider sense, were the Amorites of the neighboring cities (compare Num 14:45 with Deu 1:44), who probably lived in league with the Amalekites.
Tomorrow – Not necessarily the next day, but an idiom for hereafter, henceforward (compare the marginal reading in Exo 13:14; Jos 4:6).
By the way of the Red sea – That is, apparently, by the eastern or Elanitic gulf.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Num 14:25
The wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.
The rule of the road
Every traveller has heard of the rule of the road, which must be obeyed in order to avoid accidents. There are certain rules of the road also to be observed by the pilgrim band on our journey to the Eternal City.
1. First of all, there is only one road for Christs people to walk in. Walk in the old path, the Kings highway, the way of Gods commandments. And this road of ours is by the way of the Red Sea–the Red Sea of Christs most precious blood! We must always keep in sight of that.
2. Here is another rule of the road; do the duty which is nearest to you. There is an old English parsonage somewhere by the sea which has this sentence carved over its porch, Do the next thing. Let it be our motto. Some of us do nothing, because we do not know where to begin; we are thinking of next week, when to-days duty stands before us. Each day brings its own work; let us try to do it faithfully, prayerfully, cheerfully, trustingly, and then we may be sure we are going forward in the right way.
3. Another rule of the road is: be brave, only be strong and very courageous. Be brave enough to do what is right, no matter at what cost. The world will laugh at you, sneer at you, misjudge you. Trust in God and do the right.
4. Here is another rule of the road: be neighbourly. Never forget that you belong to one family, one army on the march–the Holy Catholic Church. Naturalists tell us that the pine tree is one of the most inhospitable, just as the oak is the most kindly, of trees. Beneath the shadow of the pine tree all is bare and desolate. No primrose opens its bright eyes there, no wild rose clings, no woodbine blossoms. There are some people like the inhospitable pine tree, they live only for themselves, and never offer help, or comfort, or shelter to another. Let us try by Gods grace to make our path of life bright for others, not sad and desolate, like the pine wood.
5. Yet another rule of the road: keep in the sunshine. On the journey through life there is always a sunny side for the Christian. A certain king once asked a famous general if he had seen the eclipse of the sun, and the Duke of Alva answered that he had too much to do on earth to have time to look up to heaven. Ah! if any of us are melancholy, discontented, it is because we are looking too much at the earth, and not lifting up our eyes to heaven. I say to you, come out of the gloom of your own thoughts into the sunshine, and thank God–Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
6. One last rule of the road now: remember the road leads home. In all earthly journeys, however long and tiring, this thought always strengthens the traveller–I shall soon be home. Home, even an earthly home, is the central spot of every mans life. (H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
In the valley; beyond the mountain at the foot whereof they now were, Num 14:40. And this clause is added, either,
1. As an aggravation of Israels misery and punishment, that being now ready to enter and take possession of the land, they are forced to go back into the wilderness; or,
2. As an argument to oblige them more willingly to obey the following command of returning into the wilderness, because their enemies were very near them, and severed from them only by that Idumean mountain, and if they did not speedily depart, their enemies would hear of them and fall upon them, and so the evil which before they causelessly feared would come upon them; they, their wives, and their children would become a prey to the Amalekites and Canaanites, because God had forsaken them, and would not assist nor defend them. The verse may be rendered thus,
And, or But, for the present,
the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley; therefore (which particle is here understood, as it is in other places)
to-morrow turn ye, & c. Though some knit these words to the former, and read the place thus, Caleband his seed shall possess it, to wit, the land near Hebron, and also the land of the Amalekites and of the Canaanites that dwell in the valley.
Quest. But how are the Canaanites said to dwell in the valley here, when they dwelt in the hill, Num 14:45, and by the sea-coasts, Num 21:1?
Answ. 1. Part of them dwelt in one place, and part in other places.
2. The word Canaanite may here be understood more generally of all the inhabitants of Canaan.
By the way of the Red Sea, i.e. that leadeth to the Red Sea, and to Egypt, the place whither you desire to return, Num 14:3,4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. (Now the Amalekites and theCanaanites dwelt in the valley)that is, on the other side ofthe Idumean mountain, at whose base they were then encamped. Thosenomad tribes had at that time occupied it with a determination tooppose the further progress of the Hebrew people. Hence God gave thecommand that they seek a safe and timely retreat into the desert, toescape the pursuit of those resolute enemies, to whom, with theirwives and children, they would fall a helpless prey because they hadforfeited the presence and protection of God. This verse forms animportant part of the narrative and should be freed from theparenthetical form which our English translators have given it.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley,…. By the Canaanites are meant the Amorites, as Aben Ezra, which were a principal people of the land of Canaan, and which may be confirmed by De 1:19; this may seem contrary to what is said
Nu 13:29; where they are said to dwell in the mountain; but it may be reconciled by observing, that indeed their proper settled habitation was in the mountain; but now they went down from thence, and “sat” z in the valley, as it may be rendered, in ambush, there lying in wait for the children of Israel, as in Ps 10:8; and so Aben Ezra interprets it of their sitting there, to lie in wait for them: and now, though these people had so sadly provoked the Lord, yet such was his goodness to them, as to warn them of the design of their enemies, and of the danger by them, to provide for their safety, by giving them the following instruction:
tomorrow turn you; do not go forward, lest ye fall into their ambushment, but turn about, and go the contrary way; return in the way, or towards the parts from whence ye came: this they are bid to do tomorrow, but did not till some time after; for, contrary to the command of God, they went up the mount, where they were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites, after which they stayed in Kadesh some days, De 1:44;
and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea; or in the way towards it; and so they would be in the way to Egypt, where the people were desirous of returning again; but as they were always a rebellious and disobedient people, and acted contrary to God, so in this case; for when he bid them go back towards the Red sea again, then they were for going forward, and entering into the land of Canaan,
Nu 14:40; though when he bid them go up, and possess it, then they were for returning to Egypt, Nu 14:4.
z “sedet”, Drusius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The divine reply to the intercession of Moses terminated with a command to the people to turn on the morrow, and go to the wilderness to the Red Sea, as the Amalekites and Canaanites dwelt in the valley. “ The Amalekites, ” etc.: this clause furnishes the reason for the command which follows. On the Amalekites, see at Gen 36:12, and Exo 17:8. The term Canaanites is a general epithet applied to all the inhabitants of Canaan, instead of the Amorites mentioned in Deu 1:44, who held the southern mountains of Canaan. “The valley” is no doubt the broad Wady Murreh (see at Num 13:21), including a portion of the Negeb, in which the Amalekites led a nomad life, whilst the Canaanites really dwelt upon the mountains (Num 14:45), close up to the Wady Murreh.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
25. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites. Some thus resolve these words; “Although the Amalekites dwell in the valley;” and others thus: “Since the Amalekites abide in the valleys to lay ambuscades.” Others think that their object is to inspire terror, lest the Israelites should remain too long in the enemy’s country, since they would be daily exposed to fresh attacks. I am, however, rather of opinion that they are spoken in reproach. For they had already arrived at the borders of the inhabited land, so that their enemies might be put to the rout at once: whereas God commands them to retire, and thus expels them from the land, which they had actually reached. Still I do not deny that He sets before them the necessity of the case, and thus enforces their obedience; as if He had said, that nothing now remained but to retreat, and again to throw themselves into the desert.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.There is considerable difficulty in regard to the meaning and connection of these words. They may be attached to the words which precede: And his seed shall possess it, and the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelling in the valleyi.e., shall possess the land occupied by them. There are strong objections, however, to this rendering, as well as to the rendering adopted by the Authorised Version, if the latter be understood as an historical statement respecting the geographical position of the Amalekites and Canaanites, of which Moses can scarcely be supposed to have been ignorant, and which may be assigned with greater probability to the hill than to the valley. (Comp. Num. 14:45 and Note; also Deu. 1:44, where one or both of these races are spoken of under the name of Amorites or mountaineers.) The word which is rendered dwelt is often used in reference to a temporary sojourn, as, e.g., in Jos. 8:9 of the ambuscade sent by Joshua, which abode between Bethel and Ai, and in 1Sa. 25:13 of a portion of Davids men who abode by the stuff. It is used also in Num. 14:45 of this chapter in respect to the position of the Amalekites and Canaanites, whether temporary or permanent, in the hill, which appears to be used in contrast with the valley. The passage may be rendered thus: Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites are abiding in the valley, i.e., are lying in ambuscade in the valley, and waiting for an opportunity to attack the Israelites (comp. Num. 14:43). If this interpretation of the words, which is that of Ibn Ezra, be adopted, they afford a strong reason for the command which follows:To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red Seai.e., do not fall into the snare which is laid for you, but turn and go in a contrary direction.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Amalekites See Num 13:29. Canaanites In the wide meaning of the term, including all the inhabitants of Canaan exclusive of the Amorites dwelling in the southern mountains. Deu 1:44. See Num 13:29, note, for the narrow meaning. The valley is identified by Keil with the broad Wady Marreh, including a portion of the Negeb, in which the Amalekites roamed, while the Canaanites really dwelt upon the mountains (Num 14:45) close up to this wady. The statement relative to this valley supplies the reason for the following command. To advance into this valley would be to enter Canaan, from which they have been by solemn oath excluded.
Turn you The probation of adult Israel, so far as Canaan is concerned, is ended. From this hour their corpses must be sown in the wilderness to which they are now remanded.
By the way of the Red sea We find in the itinerary of Israel (Num 33:35) that Ezion-gaber was one of the stations, and in Deu 2:8, Elath is named with this place. They were situated near together at the head of the gulf of Akabah, the eastern arm of the Red sea. Here ends this communication to Moses. Num 14:26 begins the formal sentence of exclusion from Canaan. See Introductory Remarks.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 14:25. Now the Amalekites Instead of this awkward parenthesis, which strangely embarrasses the sense, the passage should be rendered as Houbigant and almost all the ancient versions render it, But now, because the Amalekites and Canaanites dwell in the valley, turn you to-morrow, and get you, &c. To-morrow here signifies hereafter, or at your next encampment; the same word is rendered in time to come, Exo 13:14. The Lord now orders the people not to attempt to face those enemies who lay in wait on the other side of the mountain, and whom they had before shewn themselves afraid to face; and, as their defence was now removed, he advises them, as their wisest measure, to return into that wilderness where they were destined to wander forty years, Num 14:23.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
What an awful going back is here! They were now within a short stage of Canaan, but in consequence of their rebellion, they are to wander yet longer in the wilderness. And is there not in all this a most striking type of the wilderness dispensations of the LORD’S people how, when for backsliding and disobedience JESUS hides his face, and the soul wanders on the mountains of leopards, and among the dens of the lions. Dearest JESUS! call me in those seasons as thou didst the spouse of old, and I shall again run after thee. Song 1-8.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 14:25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
Ver. 25. Now the Amalekites. ] There was but a mountain between: so they were close by the Promised Land, and yet could not enter because of unbelief. Thou art not far from God’s kingdom? the greater is thine unhappiness, that fallest from so high hopes.
By the way of the Red Sea.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Amalekites: Num 13:29
turn you: Num 14:4, Deu 1:40, Psa 81:11-13, Pro 1:31
Reciprocal: Num 14:41 – do ye Num 14:43 – General Num 21:4 – by the way Num 33:35 – Eziongaber Deu 1:46 – General Deu 2:1 – we turned Jdg 11:16 – walked Heb 3:11 – I sware
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 14:25. In the valley Beyond the mountain, at the foot whereof they now were, Num 14:40. And this clause is added, either, 1st, As an aggravation of Israels misery and punishment, that being now ready to enter and take possession of the land, they are forced to go back into the wilderness: or, 2d, As an argument to oblige them more willingly to obey the following command of returning into the wilderness, because their enemies were very near them, and severed from them only by that Idumean mountain, and if they did not speedily depart, their enemies would fall upon them, and so the evil which before they causelessly feared would come upon them; they, their wives, and their children, would become a prey to the Amalekites and Canaanites, because God would not assist nor defend them. By the way of the Red sea That leadeth to the Red sea, and to Egypt, the place whither you desire to return.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:25
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites {l} dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the {m} wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
(l) And lie in wait for you.
(m) For I will not defend you.