Numbers 21:12

12. From thence they journeyed] The last place mentioned in J E was ‘the way to the Red Sea’ (Num_21:4); but it is probable that some stages in the journey have been lost, and that ‘thence’ originally referred to a distinct town or locality.

the wady of Zered] The Heb. naḥal denotes both a small torrent and the depression through which it flows; the German ‘Bachtal’ expresses it well.

The name Zered has not been identified; if, however, the compiler was sufficiently acquainted with the geography of the district to place the names Oboth and Iye-abarim (from P ) in their right position, Zered must lie to the north of the latter town, and may be either the Seil Sa‘îdeh which flows into the Arnon from the S.E., or the Seil Lejjûn a smaller tributary of the Seil Sa‘îdeh or else the Wady-el-Kerak (or the upper course of it named Wady-el-Franji) which runs north-west past Kerak into the Dead Sea.

Num_21:12-20. J E

The Israelites arrived at a spot on the S.E. border of Moab, and then, having travelled northwards along its eastern boundary, penetrated westward till they reached the cliffs which fall to the Dead Sea. Notice that the formula used in the itinerary has changed; in Num_21:10-11 it is ‘and they journeyed from —— and encamped in ——,’ as throughout ch. 33; but here it is ‘from thence they journeyed, and encamped in ——,’ or some shorter expression.

On the whole of this section see G. A. Smith, Hist. Geogr. 557–66, and his article ‘Moab’ in Enc. Bibl. [Note: nc. Bibl. Encyclopaedia Biblica.]

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

pitched in the valley--literally, the "woody brook-valley" of Zared (Deu 2:13; Isa 15:7; Amo 6:14). This torrent rises among the mountains to the east of Moab, and flowing west, empties itself into the Dead Sea. Ije-Abarim is supposed to have been its ford [CALMET].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. They - pitched in the valley of Zared.] נחל זרד nachal zared. This should be translated the brook Zared, as it is in De 2:13-14. This stream has its origin in the mountains eastward of Moab, and runs from east to west, and discharges itself into the Dead Sea.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zered. Or the brook Zered, as in Deu 13:14 that is near it: this seems to be the same station with Dibongad, Num 33:45, and which, according to the above writer, was sixteen miles from Ijeabarim.

, and which, according to the above writer, was sixteen miles from Ijeabarim.

Numbers 21:13

num 21:13

num 21:13

num 21:13From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon,.... A river on the borders of Moab:

which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites; according to Jarchi, they went round the land of Moab, all to the south and east, and came not into the border of Moab, as Jephthah said, Jdg 11:18 but before they came hither they had a station at Almondiblathaim, Num 33:46.

for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites; a river which divided these two countries, and bounded them; and Moses is the more particular in this account, to show that the Israelites took nothing from the Moabites, but what the Amorites had taken from them, they being charged not to distress the Moabites and Ammonites, Deu 2:9, see Jephthah's defence, Jdg 11:15.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The valley of Zared - Rather, the brook or watercourse of Zared “the willow.” It is probably the present Wady Ain Franjy.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Zared. The Israelites passed over this torrent, 38 years after the murmur at Cades-barne, (Deuteronomy ii. 14,) when God ordered Moses not to attack the Moabites.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Or rather, by the torrent or brook of Zared, as we render it, Deu 2:13; which ran into the Dead Sea, and from which the valley also might be so called.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. The valley of Zared — More accurately, Zered. Deu_2:13. Literally, the willow brook. It is a boundary stream between Moab and Edom, flowing into the Dead Sea, supposed to be mentioned in Isa_15:7. It is identified by Robinson, Palmer, and Tristram as the Wady-el-Ahsa, at the very south of the Dead Sea. From this time the trials of wilderness life may be said to have ended. Crossing streams shaded by abundant vegetation, they left Edom and the desert behind them and entered on the rich uplands of Moab. To reach a region of flowing water must have put new life into the host. Memorable, indeed, was the order of the day: “Up and cross the stream Zered.” Deu_2:13. They could now dig wells and dip their pitchers in fountains.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pitched in the valley of Zared. Rather, "in the brook of Zered." drz ljnb Perhaps the upper part of the Wady Kerek, which flows westwards into the Salt Sea. (see on Deu_2:13)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The valley of Zared - Or rather, by the brook of Zared, which ran into the dead sea.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

forms the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites

This means that the two peoples lived on different sides of the river, which was a boundary between them. The Moabite people lived south of the river and the Amorites lived on the north.

translationWords

Amorite

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.