Numbers 21:2
New International Version
Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.”

New Living Translation
Then the people of Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy all their towns.”

English Standard Version
And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”

King James Bible
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

New King James Version
So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

New American Standard Bible
So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed hand over this people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

NASB 1995
So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

NASB 1977
So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If Thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Israel made a vow to Yahweh and said, “If You will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”

Amplified Bible
So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Israel made a vow to the LORD, “If you will hand this people over to us, we will completely destroy their cities.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Israel made a vow to the LORD, “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will completely destroy their cities.”

American Standard Version
And Israel vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

Contemporary English Version
The Israelites prayed, "Our LORD, if you will help us defeat these Canaanites, we will completely destroy their towns and everything in them, to show that they belong to you."

English Revised Version
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the Israelites made this vow to the LORD: "If you will hand these people over to us, we'll destroy their cities because you've claimed them."

Good News Translation
Then the Israelites made a vow to the LORD: "If you will let us conquer these people, we will unconditionally dedicate them and their cities to you and will destroy them."

International Standard Version
Then Israel made this vow in the LORD's presence: "If you give these people into our control, we intend to devote their cities to total destruction."

Majority Standard Bible
So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”

NET Bible
So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, "If you will indeed deliver this people into our hand, then we will utterly destroy their cities."

New Heart English Bible
Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, "If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

World English Bible
Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Israel vows a vow to YHWH and says, “If You certainly give this people into my hand, then I have devoted their cities”;

Young's Literal Translation
And Israel voweth a vow to Jehovah, and saith, 'If Thou dost certainly give this people into my hand, then I have devoted their cities;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Israel will vow a vow to Jehovah, and will say, If giving, thou wilt give this people into my hand, and I exterminated their cities.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Israel binding himself by vow to the Lord, said: It thou wilt deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Israel, obliging himself by a vow to the Lord, said: “If you deliver this people into my hand, I will wipe away their cities.”

New American Bible
Israel then made this vow to the LORD: “If you deliver this people into my hand, I will put their cities under the ban.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will indeed give this people into our hands, then we will utterly destroy their towns.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, If thou wilt surely deliver this people into our hands, then we will utterly destroy their cities.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Israel vowed a vow to LORD JEHOVAH and said, “If you will hand over this people into my hands, I shall destroy their towns utterly.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said: 'If Thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord, and said, If thou wilt deliver this people into my power, I will devote it and its cities to thee.

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.” 3And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.…

Cross References
Judges 11:30-31
Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Genesis 28:20-22
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, / so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. / And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Psalm 66:13-14
I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You— / the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Joshua 6:17-19
Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.”

1 Samuel 15:8-9
He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

2 Kings 3:27
So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land.

Leviticus 27:28-29
Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. / No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.

Acts 18:18
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 21:23-24
Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. / Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

Acts 23:12-14
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

vowed

Genesis 28:20
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Judges 11:30
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.

I will

Leviticus 27:28,29
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD…

Deuteronomy 13:15
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

Joshua 6:17,26
And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent…

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Cities Complete Deliver Destroy Destruction Devoted Hand Hands Indeed Oath Totally Utterly Vow Vowed Voweth Wholly Wilt
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














So Israel made a vow
The act of making a vow in ancient Israel was a solemn promise or commitment made to God, often in times of distress or need. The Hebrew word for vow, "נֶדֶר" (neder), signifies a binding promise that must be fulfilled. Vows were not taken lightly, as they were considered sacred and inviolable. This reflects Israel's deep reliance on God and their understanding of the seriousness of their covenant relationship with Him. In the broader biblical context, vows were often made in exchange for divine intervention or favor, highlighting the reciprocal nature of Israel's faith and devotion.

to the LORD
The use of "the LORD" here refers to the covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His personal and relational nature with Israel. This name is a reminder of God's faithfulness and His role as the covenant-keeping God who delivered Israel from Egypt. It underscores the intimate relationship between God and His people, where Israel acknowledges Yahweh as their ultimate authority and source of deliverance. The invocation of God's name in a vow signifies the seriousness and sincerity of Israel's plea.

If You will indeed deliver
This phrase reflects a conditional plea, demonstrating Israel's dependence on God's power and willingness to act on their behalf. The Hebrew root "נָתַן" (natan), meaning "to give" or "to deliver," conveys the idea of God granting victory or success. It highlights the Israelites' recognition that their success in battle is contingent upon divine intervention. This conditional aspect of the vow shows Israel's faith in God's ability to control the outcome of events and their trust in His providence.

this people into our hands
The phrase "into our hands" is a common biblical expression denoting victory or control over an enemy. It signifies the transfer of power and authority from one group to another. In the historical context, the Israelites were often engaged in battles with surrounding nations as they journeyed to the Promised Land. This request for deliverance into their hands reflects the ongoing struggle for survival and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. It also underscores the belief that God is the one who grants victory and establishes His people's dominion.

we will devote their cities to destruction
The term "devote to destruction" comes from the Hebrew word "חֵרֶם" (cherem), which means to consecrate or dedicate something to God, often through complete destruction. This concept is rooted in the idea of holy war, where certain things were set apart for God, either by being destroyed or given as an offering. In this context, it reflects Israel's commitment to obey God's commands regarding the conquest of the land and the removal of idolatrous influences. This act of devotion is both an expression of faithfulness to God and a means of purifying the land for His purposes. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for holiness among God's people.

Verse 2. - And Israel vowed a vow. On these vows, and on things "devoted" or "banned" (חֵרֶם - ἀνάθεμα), see on Leviticus 27:28, and on the moral character of such wholesale slaughters see on chapter 31. If it was right to destroy the Canaanites at all, no fault can be found with the vow; it merely did for that military proceeding what national feeling and discipline does for the far more bloody exigencies of modern warfare, removing it from the sphere of private hatred, revenge, and cupidity, and placing it upon a higher level. The patriot soldier of these days feels himself to be a mere instrument in the hands of the rulers of his people to maintain their rights or avenge their wrongs. The Israelite could not have this feeling, which was foreign to his time and place in history, but he could feel that he was a mere instrument in the hands of God to perform his will upon his enemies. In either case a must important advantage is secured; the soldier does not slay in order to gratify his own hatred, or in order to satisfy his own cupidity. It is quite true that such vows as are here mentioned would certainly in a more advanced stage of civilization be abused to throw a cloak of religion over frightful enormities; but it does not in the least follow that they were not permitted and even encouraged by God in an age to which they were natural, and under circumstances in which they were beneficial.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

made
וַיִּדַּ֨ר (way·yid·dar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

a vow
נֶ֛דֶר (ne·ḏer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised

to the LORD:
לַֽיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

You will deliver
נָתֹ֨ן (nā·ṯōn)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people
הָעָ֤ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

into our hands,
בְּיָדִ֔י (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

we will completely destroy
וְהַֽחֲרַמְתִּ֖י (wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose

their cities.”
עָרֵיהֶֽם׃ (‘ā·rê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement


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OT Law: Numbers 21:2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh (Nu Num.)
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