And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. (Numbers 21:1)
The name may refer to the place, making the verse read, “And when the king of Arad the Canaanite” (see Joshua 12:14; Judges 1:16; 1 Chron. 8:15). Arad is about 50 mi. north of Kadesh and 17 south of Hebron, and is known today as Tell ‘Arâd.
By the way of the spies.
Rather, “by the way of Atharim.” To translate the Hebrew expression by the words “of the spies,” is to assume an unjustified philological identity between two words where none exists. Grammatically, a proper noun is required after the Hebrew word for “way,” and not a designation of certain travelers who had used the road.
Prisoners.
The king apparently cut off a few stragglers in the rear or on the borders of the line of march; for had he attacked the main body in force, there would likely have been some account of battle casualties.