And the Amorites which dwelt in that mountaine, came out against you, and chased you, as Bees doe, and destroyed you in Seir, euen vnto Hormah. Deuteronomy 1:44 (KJV)
Background Context: The book of Deuteronomy is part of the Torah, which contains the laws and instructions given by God to the Israelites. It is essentially Moses’ farewell address to the new generation who were about to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this particular verse, Moses reminds the Israelites of their encounter with the Amorites while they were still in the wilderness. The Amorites were one of the nations inhabiting the region, and their attack on the Israelites is being recounted here.
Opposition from the Amorites: The verse describes how the Amorites came out against the Israelites. The phrase “chased you, as bees do” portrays the intensity and persistence of the attack. It suggests that the Amorites pursued the Israelites fiercely, just as bees swarm and chase their targets with aggression.
Defeat and Destruction: The verse further states that the Amorites “destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.” Seir refers to the region where the Amorites dwelt, and Hormah is a place located within that region. The mention of destruction implies that the Amorites were successful in their assault and inflicted harm upon the Israelites.
In this verse, Moses is reciting the events that took place during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after they had been delivered from Egypt. It refers to a specific incident when the Amorite inhabitants of the mountain region came out to fight against the Israelites, underscoring the challenges faced before entering the promised land.
