Deuteronomy 2:26

Defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon

2:26 Then I sent messengers from the Kedemoth ¹  Desert to King Sihon of Heshbon with an offer of peace:

Deuteronomy 7:20

7:20 Furthermore, the Lord your God will release hornets ²  among them until the very last ones who hide from you ³  perish.

Deuteronomy 19:12

19:12 The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger ⁴  to die.

[2:26]  ¹ sn Kedemoth. This is probably Aleiyan, about 8 mi (13 km) north of the Arnon and between Dibon and Mattanah.

[7:20]  ² tn The meaning of the term translated “hornets” (צִרְעָה, tsir’ah) is debated. Various suggestions are “discouragement” (HALOT 1056-57 s.v.; cf. NEB, TEV, CEV “panic”; NCV “terror”) and “leprosy” (J. H. Tigay, Deuteronomy [JPSTC], 360, n. 33; cf. NRSV “the pestilence”), as well as “hornet” (BDB 864 s.v.; cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT). The latter seems most suitable to the verb שָׁלַח (shalakh, “send”; cf. Exod 23:28; Josh 24:12).

[7:20]  ³ tn Heb “the remnant and those who hide themselves.”

[19:12]  ³ tn The גֹאֵל הַדָּם (go’el haddam, “avenger of blood”) would ordinarily be a member of the victim’s family who, after due process of law, was invited to initiate the process of execution (cf. Num 35:16-28). See R. Hubbard, NIDOTTE 1:789-94.