Numbers 21:3
“Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.”
What does Numbers 21:3 mean?
When the Israelites cried out to God for help against the Canaanites, He answered by giving them victory in battle. The word "Hormah" actually means "destruction" or "devoted to destruction," so the place was named to remember what happened there, a practice common in ancient times. This passage shows God responding to His people's prayers and taking their situation seriously, even when circumstances seemed desperate. It's a reminder that our prayers matter and that God hears us, though the story also reflects the harsh realities of ancient warfare and territorial conflict that can be difficult for modern readers to understand.