Numbers 21:1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.

◄ Numbers 21:1 ►

New International Version
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them.

New Living Translation
The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching on the road through Atharim. So he attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners.

English Standard Version
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Berean Standard Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.

New American Standard Bible
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

NASB 1995
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

NASB 1977
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, and he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

Amplified Bible
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim [the route traveled by the spies sent out by Moses], he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

Christian Standard Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming on the Atharim road, he fought against Israel and captured some prisoners.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming on the Atharim road, he fought against Israel and captured some prisoners.

American Standard Version
And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Contemporary English Version
The Canaanite king of Arad lived in the Southern Desert of Canaan, and when he heard that the Israelites were on their way to the village of Atharim, he attacked and took some of them hostage.

English Revised Version
And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, which dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were coming on the road to Atharim, he fought them and took some of them as prisoners.

Good News Translation
When the Canaanite king of Arad in the southern part of Canaan heard that the Israelites were coming by way of Atharim, he attacked them and captured some of them.

International Standard Version
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the Atharim caravan route, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

Majority Standard Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.

NET Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad who lived in the Negev heard that Israel was approaching along the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoner.

New Heart English Bible
When the Canaanite king of Arad who lived in the Negev heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when king Arad the Canaanite, who dwelt in the south, heard that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.

World English Bible
The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the Canaanite, king of Arad, dwelling in the south, hears that Israel has come the way of the Atharim, and he fights against Israel, and takes [some] of them captive.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Canaanite -- king Arad -- dwelling in the south, heareth that Israel hath come the way of the Atharim, and he fighteth against Israel, and taketh some of them captive.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Canaanite, King Arad, dwelling to the south, will hear that Israel came the way of the places, and he will fight against Israel, and he will carry off from him a captivity.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when king Arad the Chanaanite, who dwelt towards the south, had heard this, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, he fought against them, and overcoming them carried off their spoils.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when king Arad the Canaanite, who was living toward the south, had heard this, namely, that Israel had arrived by the way of spies, he fought against them. And proving to be the victor, he led away prey from them.

New American Bible
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who ruled over the Negeb, heard that the Israelites were coming along the way of Atharim, he engaged Israel in battle and took some of them captive.

New Revised Standard Version
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
WHEN the Canaanite, the king of Gadar who dwelled in the south, heard that Israel came by the way of the spies, then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Canaanite King of Gadar who dwelt in the south heard that Israel came on the road of the spies and fought with Israel and he brought some of them captive into captivity.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Arad the Chananitish king who dwelt by the wilderness, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharin; and he made war on Israel, and carried off some of them captives.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Defeat of Arad
1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners. 2So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 12:14
the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Judges 1:16-17
Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people. / Then the men of Judah went with their brothers the Simeonites, attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and devoted the city to destruction. So it was called 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.

Deuteronomy 2:32-33
So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz. / And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army.

Deuteronomy 20:1
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

Exodus 17:8-13
After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. / So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ...

1 Samuel 15:2-3
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. / Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Samuel 30:1-2
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.

2 Kings 18:8
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

Psalm 83:6-8
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, / of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. / Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah

Isaiah 14:29-31
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg. / Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be slain. / Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

Amos 1:6-8
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. / So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels. / I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.

Matthew 4:24-25
News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them. / Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. / And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” / But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” ...

Mark 7:24-30
Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice. / Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet. / Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ...

Treasury of Scripture

And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelled 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.

Arad

Numbers 33:40
And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

Joshua 12:14
The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Judges 1:16
And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

the way of the spies.

Numbers 13:21,22
So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath…

Numbers 14:45
Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

then

Deuteronomy 2:32
Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.

Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

Joshua 11:19,20
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle…

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Numbers 21

1. Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4. The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7. They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10. Various journeys of the Israelites
21. Sihon is overcome
33. And Og

Berean Study Bible

Now when
This phrase sets the stage for a specific event in the narrative of Israel's journey. It indicates a transition and a moment of action. In the Hebrew text, the word "now" (וַיְהִי, vay'hi) often introduces a new scene or development, suggesting that God's providential timing is at work. It reminds us that God is sovereign over history and the unfolding events in the lives of His people.

the Canaanite king of Arad
The Canaanites were a group of ancient people who lived in the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the descendants of Abraham. The "king of Arad" refers to a specific ruler of a city-state in the southern part of Canaan. Archaeological evidence suggests that Arad was a significant city during this period, and its king would have been a formidable opponent. This highlights the real and present danger faced by the Israelites as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.

who lived in the Negev
The Negev is a desert region in the southern part of modern-day Israel. It was a harsh and arid environment, which made it a challenging area for travel and survival. The mention of the Negev emphasizes the difficult conditions the Israelites faced and the strategic location of Arad, which controlled important trade routes and access points in the region.

heard that Israel was coming
The phrase "heard that Israel was coming" indicates that the movements of the Israelites were being closely monitored by the surrounding nations. The reputation of Israel, and more importantly, the power of their God, had preceded them. This hearing implies a sense of fear and anticipation among the Canaanites, as they were aware of the miraculous events that had accompanied Israel's journey.

along the road to Atharim
The "road to Atharim" is a specific route that the Israelites were taking. While the exact location of Atharim is uncertain, it suggests a well-known path or trade route. This detail underscores the strategic nature of Israel's journey and the tactical considerations of their enemies. It also reflects the organized and purposeful movement of God's people toward their divine inheritance.

he attacked Israel
The attack by the king of Arad represents the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the inhabitants of Canaan. This aggression is a direct challenge to God's promise to give the land to Israel. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual warfare that God's people face and the opposition that arises when they move in obedience to His will.

and captured some of them
The capture of some Israelites highlights the real and tangible losses that can occur in the midst of spiritual and physical battles. It serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of following God's path and the need for reliance on His strength and deliverance. This event sets the stage for God's intervention and the eventual victory that He will provide for His people.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXI.

(1) And when king Arad . . . --The verse may be rendered thus: Now the Canaanite, the King of Arad, which dwelt in the south country (or, Negeb) heard (or, had heard) that Israel had come by the way of Atharim (or, of the spies), and he fought . . . The date of this occurrence is uncertain. The district of Arad appears to have extended to the southern frontier of Canaan. (Comp. Numbers 33:40; Joshua 12:14; Judges 1:16-17.) The attack probably took place either in the interval between the departure of the messengers to Edom and their return, or at the time at which the Israelites broke up from Kadesh, and before the direction of their march had been ascertained. The word Atharim, which is rendered in the Authorised Version spies, may be another form of the word which occurs in Numbers 14:6, and which is there rendered them that searched; or, as appears more probable, it may be the name of a place which does not occur elsewhere.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell. Rather, "And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, which dwelt in the Negeb, heard tell." It is possible that Arad was the name of the king (it occurs as the name of a man, 1 Chronicles 8:15), but it was almost certainly the name of his place. The "king of Arad, is mentioned in Joshua 12:14, and "the Negeb of Arad" in Judges 1:16. From the context of these passages it is evident that it was situated in the southernmost district of what was afterwards the territory of Judah. According to Eusebius, it stood twenty Roman miles to the south of Hebron, and its site has been found by modern travelers at Tel-Arad, a low hill in this direction. On the Negeb see note on Numbers 13:17. By the way of the spies. דֶּרֶך הָאַתָרִים. Septuagint, ὀδὸν Αθαρείν. The translation is very uncertain; atharim may be a proper name, as the Septuagint seems to suppose, or it may be an unusual plural formed from תוּר, equivalent to הַתָּרִים, "spies," as the Chaldee, Samaritan, and most of the versions take it; or it may be simply the plural from אַתַר, a place, used with some local meaning which made it practically a proper name. If the rendering of the A.V. be correct, "the way of the spies" must have been the route by which they ascended to Hebron through the Negeb (Numbers 13:17, 22), and the king of Arid must have anticipated an invasion in that direction, and sought to forestall it. And took some of them prisoners. This would seem to show that he fell upon them unawares, and cut off some detached parties. Nothing is said of any disobedience on the part of Israel to account for defeat in battle.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When the Canaanite
הַכְּנַעֲנִ֤י (hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3669: Canaanite -- inhabitant of Canaan

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Arad,
עֲרָד֙ (‘ă·rāḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6166: Arad -- a Canaanite city in the Negev

who lived
יֹשֵׁ֣ב (yō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the Negev,
הַנֶּ֔גֶב (han·ne·ḡeḇ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

heard
וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע (way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

that
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

was coming
בָּ֣א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

along the road
דֶּ֖רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

to Atharim,
הָאֲתָרִ֑ים (hā·’ă·ṯā·rîm)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 871: Atharim -- a caravan route in the Negev

he attacked
וַיִּלָּ֙חֶם֙ (way·yil·lā·ḥem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

Israel
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and captured
וַיִּ֥שְׁבְּ ׀ (way·yišb)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity

some
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

prisoners.
שֶֽׁבִי׃ (še·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7628: Exiled, captured, exile, booty

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OT Law: Numbers 21:1 The Canaanite the king of Arad who (Nu Num.)