The Meaning of Deuteronomy 1:44 Explained

Deuteronomy 1:44

KJV: And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.

YLT: and the Amorite who is dwelling in that hill-country cometh out to meet you, and they pursue you as the bees do, and smite you in Seir -- unto Hormah.

Darby: And the Amorite that dwelt on that hill came out against you, and chased you, like as bees do, and cut you in pieces in Seir, as far as Hormah.

ASV: And the Amorites, that dwelt in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the Amorites,  which dwelt  in that mountain,  came out  against  you, and chased  you, as bees  do,  and destroyed  you in Seir,  [even] unto Hormah. 

What does Deuteronomy 1:44 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 1:41-46 - Journeying And Dying In The Wilderness
We cannot obtain by our impetuosity and insistence what God offers only as a free gift to our faith. The Land of Promise is not to be obtained by strength of hand, but by the soul that lives in the will of God. Even when we are rebellious and unbelieving, God does not forget nor forsake us, Deuteronomy 2:7. He knows our walking through the great wilderness which we have chosen. Through all the forty years He goes with His people as their fellow-pilgrim. Even under such circumstances they lack nothing that is necessary to a complete and blessed life.
Edom was not to be injured, because of the ancient grant, Genesis 32:3. So with Moab. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. He will remember His Abrahams and His Lots long after they have passed from this mortal sphere, and will care for their children and children's children. See Isaiah 59:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 1

1  Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year
6  briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb
14  of giving them officers
19  of sending the spies to search the land
34  of his anger for their incredulity
41  and disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 1:44 mean?

And came out the Amorites who dwelt in mountain that against you and chased you as do bees and drove back you from Seir to Hormah
וַיֵּצֵ֨א הָאֱמֹרִ֜י הַיֹּשֵׁ֨ב בָּהָ֤ר הַהוּא֙ לִקְרַאתְכֶ֔ם וַיִּרְדְּפ֣וּ אֶתְכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה הַדְּבֹרִ֑ים וַֽיַּכְּת֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֛ם בְּשֵׂעִ֖יר עַד־ חָרְמָֽה

וַיֵּצֵ֨א  And  came  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הָאֱמֹרִ֜י  the  Amorites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱמֹרִי  
Sense: one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt.
הַיֹּשֵׁ֨ב  who  dwelt 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בָּהָ֤ר  in  mountain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
הַהוּא֙  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לִקְרַאתְכֶ֔ם  against  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
וַיִּרְדְּפ֣וּ  and  chased 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
הַדְּבֹרִ֑ים  bees 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: דְּבֹורָה  
Sense: bee.
וַֽיַּכְּת֥וּ  and  drove  back 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּתַת  
Sense: to beat, crush by beating, crush to pieces, crush fine.
בְּשֵׂעִ֖יר  from  Seir 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֵׂעִיר 
Sense: patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites.
חָרְמָֽה  Hormah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרְמָה  
Sense: a town of the Canaanites, conquered by Joshua, allotted to Judah, and located in the south of Judah.