And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The renaming of Zephath to Hormah isn't just a geographical shift, but a powerful testament to fulfilled vows. This act marks the execution of a promise made in the wilderness generations earlier, showing how God's people, even after setbacks, ultimately bring His decrees to pass.
And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After consolidating their own territories, the tribes of Judah and Simeon join forces to conquer remaining Canaanite strongholds within their assigned lands. This particular conquest at Zephath, which is renamed Hormah, fulfills a vow made by Israel generations earlier during their wilderness wanderings after a significant defeat by the king of Arad.
Sometimes, victories aren't immediate. This city's renaming points to a promise made generations earlier. What does that tell us about God's faithfulness and our own journey?
The renaming of Zephath to Hormah is a powerful echo from Israel's past.
The name 'Hormah' isn't just a label; it carries the weight of divine judgment. What does it mean for a place, and by extension, a people, to be 'devoted to destruction'?
The name 'Hormah' is intrinsically linked to the concept of the ban, or cherem in the original language. This wasn't just a military victory; it was a religious act.
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'Devoted to Destruction': The Hebrew word translated as 'utterly destroyed' signifies a complete dedication to God, meaning everything and everyone within the city was set apart for divine judgment and destruction. There was to be no plunder, no mercy, no assimilation.
A Sign of Judgment: This act symbolized the complete removal of the Canaanites from the land, as God had commanded. It was a severe but necessary step to prevent the Israelites from falling into the idolatrous and immoral practices of the surrounding nations. The name Hormah served as a perpetual reminder of God's justice and His people's obedience to His commands.
Consequences of Disobedience: The contrast between the obedience shown here and the disobedience that led to the initial defeat and vow in Numbers highlights the gravity of following God's instructions, even when they are difficult.
Understand the original words
kena'aniy · Hebrew Proper Noun/Gentilic
A Canaanite people who were the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan; biblically, they represent the opposition to God's covenant people and a culture marked by idolatry and divine judgment.
charam · Hebrew Verb
The act of devoting something to God as an offering, or more commonly, placing it under a ban of total destruction because of its wickedness, effectively removing it from common use or existence.
chormah · Hebrew Proper Noun
Derived from the root for 'destruction' (cherem), this name signifies a place that was completely devoted or banned for destruction.
The renaming of Zephath to Hormah signifies the fulfillment of a vow made decades earlier in the wilderness, demonstrating how past promises and divine judgments continued to shape the Israelites' experience in the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Encounter Arad
During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites attempted to enter Canaan from the south but were repelled by the king of Arad, who captured some Israelites. This led to a vow to utterly destroy Zephath (later Hormah) if God granted them victory.
c. 1390 BC
Joshua's Conquest of Canaan
Following the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan. This period saw the division of land among the twelve tribes.
c. 1390 BC— this verse
Judah and Simeon Conquer Zephath
The tribes of Judah and Simeon, in fulfillment of their tribal inheritance and the earlier vow, attacked and utterly destroyed the Canaanite city of Zephath, renaming it Hormah.
c. 1390 BC
Kenites Settle Near Arad
A clan known as the Kenites, who were related to Moses' father-in-law, settled in the region near Arad, and were allowed to remain by the Israelites.
c. 1390 BC
Partial Conquest of the Land
While some cities were conquered, many Canaanite strongholds, particularly those with iron chariots, remained unsubdued, leading to ongoing conflict.
This passage describes Israel's initial defeat by the king of Arad near Hormah, leading to a vow to utterly destroy the city, which is then fulfilled by Judah and Simeon in Judges 1:17.
Joshua 19:4This verse explicitly states that Hormah was allotted to the tribe of Simeon, highlighting the tribal connection and claim to the land mentioned in Judges.
1 Samuel 30:29-30These verses indicate that some of the cities belonging to Simeon, including Hormah, were also inhabited by the Kenites, showing the ongoing presence and interaction of different peoples in the region.
2 Chronicles 14:10This passage records a battle fought by King Asa near Zephath, suggesting a continuity of the location's strategic importance and its association with conflict even centuries later.
wesleyJudges 1:17: "And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah."
1:17 Judah went with Simeon - According to his promise, ver.3, and the laws of justice and gratitude. Hormah - Either, The same place so called, Numb 21:3, and so what was there vowed, is here executed: or, Some other place called by the same name upon the like occasion, which was frequent among the Hebrews. This seems…
bensonJudges 1:17: "And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah."
Jdg 1:17 . Judah went with Simeon — According to their promise, Jdg 1:3 , and the laws of justice and gratitude: having finished, as far as they were able, the conquest of what belonged to the tribe of Judah, they went to assist the Simeonites to acquire the possession of what was comprehended in their lot. The name of…
The renaming of Zephath to Hormah isn't just a geographical shift, but a powerful testament to fulfilled vows. This act marks the execution of a promise made in the wilderness generations earlier, showing how God's people, even after setbacks, ultimately bring His decrees to pass.
After consolidating their own territories, the tribes of Judah and Simeon join forces to conquer remaining Canaanite strongholds within their assigned lands. This particular conquest at Zephath, which is renamed Hormah, fulfills a vow made by Israel generations earlier during their wilderness wanderings after a significant defeat by the king of Arad.
After consolidating their own territories, the tribes of Judah and Simeon join forces to conquer remaining Canaanite strongholds within their assigned lands. This particular conquest at Zephath, which is renamed Hormah, fulfills a vow made by Israel generations earlier during their wilderness wanderings after a significant defeat by the king of Arad.
"And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah." — The renaming of Zephath to Hormah isn't just a geographical shift, but a powerful testament to fulfilled vows. This act marks the execution of a promise made in the wilderness generations earlier, sh…
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Last reviewed October 2026