· Translation: KJV

Numbers 21:3Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Hormah.

The setting

Negev Desert, southern Israel, ~1445 BC. The Israelites have just won their first major victory since leaving Egypt...

The emotion here: recording with amazement at God's faithfulness

The original word

shama (שָׁמַע) — to hear with intent to respond, not just passive listening

Why it matters

Hormah means 'destruction' - they literally named the place after what happened there

Read with care

What most readers miss in Numbers 21:3

This was their FIRST military victory after 40 years of wandering - breakthrough moment

Common misconceptionPeople focus on the violence, but miss that this was Israel's first answered prayer for military help after decades of defeat and wandering.

Bible Genome reading

Numbers 21:3 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
Eraexodus
Primary emotiongrateful
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability30%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance30%
Standalone60%
Themes:answered prayervictory

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Numbers 21

Numbers 21:3 comes from the book of Numbers, written during the exodus period. The setting is the battlefield. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include answered prayer, victory. Notable phrases: Yahweh listened; utterly destroyed.

Your reflection

What does Numbers 21:3 mean to you, today?

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