Keraia
Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:44

The Defeat at Hormah · Deuteronomy 1:41–46
Read Deuteronomy 1

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the Amorite who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you like the bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah.
Latin
Itaque egressus Amorrhæus, qui habitabat in montibus, et obviam veniens, persecutus est vos, sicut solent apes persequi: et cecidit de Seir usque Horma.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Deuteronomy 1:44

Hormah is probably modern Khirbet el-Meshash. This site is eleven kilometers (seven miles) southeast of Beersheba. The ancient name comes from the verb kharam, which means to "devastate" or "annihilate." The Israelites did devastate Hormah (Numbers 14:45; 21:3).

Deuteronomy 1:6–4:40

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Parallels

Numbers 14:40–45

People

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel

Places

Seir: Region inhabited by Edomites, descendants of Esau Zephath: A Canaanite city captured by Judah and Simeon

Glossary

Amorites Anak, Anakim, Anakites Archaeology and the Bible Bee Deuteronomy, Book of Judges, Book of

Topics

Bee in Palestine Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: People Smitten by Amalek for Going up Without the Lord Hormah: A City Southwest of the Dead Sea Israel: Reaction, and Their Purpose to Enter the Land; are Defeated by the Amalekites