King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.
Complete Jewish Bible:
where the Emori living in that hill-country came out against you like bees, defeated you in Se'ir and chased you back all the way to Hormah.
Berean Standard Bible:
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.
American Standard Version:
And the Amorites, that dwelt in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the Amorites{H567}, which dwelt{H3427} in that mountain{H2022}, came out{H3318} against{H7125} you, and chased{H7291} you, as bees{H1682} do{H6213}, and destroyed{H3807} you in Seir{H8165}, even unto Hormah{H2767}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 118:12
- They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
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.
Numbers 21:3
- 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.
Isaiah 7:18
- And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria.
Deuteronomy 32:30
- How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
Deuteronomy 28:25
- The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 1:44
Deuteronomy 1:44 recounts a specific event during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt. The verse is part of Moses' speech to the Israelites as he recalls their past disobedience and the consequences they faced. In this particular instance, the Amorites, who were inhabitants of the mountainous region, attacked the Israelites in response to the Israelite's attempt to enter the land of Canaan.
The historical context of this verse is set during the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness, after they had refused to enter the Promised Land due to fear of the inhabitants, as reported earlier in the book of Numbers (Numbers 13-14). Despite being delivered from Egypt and witnessing numerous miracles, the Israelites' lack of faith led to God's decree that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the unbelieving generation had passed away.
The themes present in Deuteronomy 1:44 include the consequences of disobedience and unbelief, as well as the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations. The Israelites' defeat is likened to being chased away by bees, which emphasizes the speed and relentlessness of the Amorites' attack. The mention of "Seir" and "Hormah" places the event in a geographical context, with Seir being a mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea, traditionally associated with the Edomites, and Hormah being a site in the Negeb, which later became a city of refuge.
This verse serves as a cautionary reminder to the Israelites (and by extension, to readers of the Bible) of the importance of trusting in God's promises and obeying His commands. It also highlights the theme of divine discipline, where God allows His people to experience the outcomes of their choices as part of their learning and growth process. The defeat at the hands of the Amorites was a direct result of the Israelites' failure to trust in God's power to give them victory over their enemies.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H567
There are 715 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱמֹרִי
Transliteration: ʼĔmôrîy
Pronunciation: em-o-ree'
Description: probably a patronymic from an unused name derived from אָמַר in the sense of publicity, i.e. prominence; thus, a mountaineer; an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes; Amorite. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H2022
There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הַר
Transliteration: har
Pronunciation: har
Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H7125
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְאָה
Transliteration: qirʼâh
Pronunciation: keer-aw'
Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way. - Strong's Number: H7291
There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָדַף
Transliteration: râdaph
Pronunciation: raw-daf'
Description: a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). - Strong's Number: H1682
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דְּבוֹרָה
Transliteration: dᵉbôwrâh
Pronunciation: deb-o-raw'
Description: or (shortened) דְּבֹרָה; from דָבַר (in the sense of orderly motion); the bee (from its systematic instincts); bee. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H3807
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּתַת
Transliteration: kâthath
Pronunciation: kaw-thath'
Description: a primitive root; to bruise or violently strike; beat (down, to pieces), break in pieces, crushed, destroy, discomfit, smite, stamp. l - Strong's Number: H8165
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׂעִיר
Transliteration: Sêʻîyr
Pronunciation: say-eer'
Description: formed like שָׂעִיר; rough; Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine; Seir. - Strong's Number: H2767
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חׇרְמָה
Transliteration: Chormâh
Pronunciation: khor-maw'
Description: from חָרַם; devoted; Chormah, a place in Palestine; Hormah.