1. When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who ruled over the Negeb, heard that the Israelites were coming along the way of Atharim, he engaged Israel in battle and took some of them captive.
2. Israel then made this vow to the Lord: “If you deliver this people into my hand, I will put their cities under the ban.”
3. The Lord paid attention to Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they put them and their cities under the ban. Hence that place was named Hormah.