Numbers 11:34

11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, ¹  because there they buried the people that craved different food. ² 

Numbers 13:16

13:16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to investigate the land. And Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua. ³ 

Numbers 13:24

13:24 That place was called ⁴  the Eshcol Valley, ⁵  because of the cluster ⁶  of grapes that the Israelites cut from there.

Numbers 21:3

21:3 The Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, ⁷  and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called ⁸  Hormah.

Numbers 22:37

22:37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send again and again ⁹  to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” ¹⁰ 

Numbers 32:38

32:38 Nebo, Baal Meon (with a change of name), and Sibmah. They renamed ¹¹  the cities they built.

[11:34]  ¹ sn The name “the graves of the ones who craved” is again explained by a wordplay, a popular etymology. In Hebrew קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה (qivrot hatta’avah) is the technical name. It is the place that the people craved the meat, longing for the meat of Egypt, and basically rebelled against God. The naming marks another station in the wilderness where the people failed to accept God’s good gifts with grace and to pray for their other needs to be met.

[11:34]  ² tn The words “different food” are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[13:16]  ³ sn The difference in the names is slight, a change from “he saves” to “the Lord saves.” The Greek text of the OT used Iesoun for Hebrew Yeshua.

[13:24]  ⁵ tn The verb is rendered as a passive because there is no expressed subject.

[13:24]  ⁶ tn Or “Wadi Eshcol.” The translation “brook” is too generous; the Hebrew term refers to a river bed, a ravine or valley through which torrents of rain would rush in the rainy season; at other times it might be completely dry.

[13:24]  ⁷ tn The word “Eshcol” is drawn from the Hebrew expression concerning the “cluster of grapes.” The word is probably retained in the name Burj Haskeh, two miles north of Damascus.

[21:3]  ⁷ tc Smr, Greek, and Syriac add “into his hand.”

[21:3]  ⁸ tn In the Hebrew text the verb has no expressed subject, and so here too is made passive. The name “Hormah” is etymologically connected to the verb “utterly destroy,” forming the popular etymology (or paronomasia, a phonetic wordplay capturing the significance of the event).

[22:37]  ⁹ tn The emphatic construction is made of the infinitive absolute and the perfect tense from the verb שָׁלַח (shalakh, “to send”). The idea must be more intense than something like, “Did I not certainly send.” Balak is showing frustration with Balaam for refusing him.

[22:37]  ¹⁰ sn Balak again refers to his ability to “honor” the seer. This certainly meant payment for his service, usually gold ornaments, rings and jewelry, as well as some animals.

[32:38]  ¹¹ tn Heb “called names.”