Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 21:14

14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD , what he did in the Red-sea , and in the brooks of Arnon;

This seems to have been some Poem or narration of the wars and victories of the Lord either by, or relating to the Israelites: which may be asserted without any prejudice to the integrity of the Holy Scripture▪ because this book doth not appear to have been written by a Prophet or to be designed for a part of the Canon, but by some other ingenious person who intended onely to write an historical relation of these matters, which yet Moses might quote, as St. Paul doth some of the heathen Poets. And as St. Luk. a[illegible: 1+ letters]sures us, that many did write an history of the things done and said by Christ, Luk. 1. 1. whose writings were never received as Canonical, the like may be justly conceived concerning this and some few other books mentioned in the old Testament. Though the words may be thus rendred, Wherefore it shall be said in the relation or narration (for so the Hebrew Sepher is confessed to signifie) of the wars of the Lord.

Or, At Vaheb in Suphah, or in the land of Suph. Vaheb seems to be the name not of a man, but of a city or place, and Suphah the name of the country where it was; and the Hebrew particle eth is oft rendred at. And whereas the sence seems to be imperfect, it must be noted, that he quotes onely a fragment or piece of the book, and that principally to prove the scituation of Arnon, which he had asserted ver. 13. for which end the passage quoted is sufficient. And the sence is easily to be understood, for it is plain enough that this Poet or writer is describing the wars and works of God by the several places where they were done, and having begun the sentence before and mentioned, other places, he comes to these here mentioned, At Vaheb in Suphah, and at the brooks of Arnon, &c. And it seems probable that the war here designed was that of Sihon against the Moabites mentioned below, ver. 26. which is fitly ascribed to the Lord, because it was undertaken and perfected by the singular direction and assistance of God, and that for the sake of the Israelites, that by this means that country might be invaded and possessed by them, without taking it away from the Moabites, which they were forbidden to meddle with or to disturb, Deut. 2. 9. and so their title to it might be more just and unquestionable. See Iudg. 11. 12, 13.-27.

(i. e.) The brook, the plural number for the singular, as the plural number rivers is used concerning Iordan, Psal. 74. 15. and concerning Tigris, Nah. 2. 6. and concerning Euphrates, Psal. 137. 1. and concerning Thermodoon in Virgil, all which may be so called because of the several little streams into which they were divided.

Marginal references: Or, Vaheb in Suphah.