במדבר, פרק כ״א, פסוק ג׳

A heartfelt plea in a time of conflict brings a profound response from above. The deep prayer of the Israelites, accompanied by a solemn vow, is answered completely. God weakens the enemy forces and delivers them to the people [העמק דבר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While God orchestrates the victory by handing over the Canaanites, the Israelites themselves carry out the physical act of destruction and consecration [ברכת אשר על התורה].

This act carries a dual meaning depending on the target. At its core, the concept signifies removing something from general use and human benefit. When applied to the enemy people, it means total elimination, fulfilling the specific commandment to leave no soul alive among the Canaanites. However, when applied to their property and cities, it means taking the spoils of war and consecrating them entirely to Heaven [רש״י, מזרחי, גור אריה, משכיל לדוד].

The exact timing and location of this conquest remain a subject of discussion. One perspective suggests that while the Israelites made their vow at this moment, they only fulfilled it and destroyed the cities much later, during the era of the Judges when they entered the Land of Israel [ספורנו, רמב״ן המובא בהעמק דבר]. Conversely, another approach maintains that the destruction occurred immediately but was confined to the Canaanite cities near the active war zone on the eastern side of the Jordan River, leaving the remaining cities to be conquered later by Joshua [שד״ל, ביאור יש״ר]. According to this view, the consecrated destruction took place on the battlefield itself, at a distance from the Israelite camp [העמק דבר].

In the aftermath of the battle, the location is named Hormah, reflecting the total destruction and consecration that occurred there. This name also captures the reality that no permanent settlement was ever rebuilt on that site [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Whether this location is the same Hormah mentioned earlier during the sin of the spies is debated. Some identify it as the exact same battleground where the Israelites suffered a past defeat, allowing them now to avenge that earlier loss [בכור שור, ביאור יש״ר]. Others, however, firmly conclude that this is a completely different location with no connection to the prior tragedy [חזקוני].