Thorns: In The Old Testament Part 2
Israel and the Thorns
In the Book of Numbers, God warns Israel to drive out all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
Numbers 33 v 55
’But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live
This is a command which has a similar outcome to that which was given to Adam. He failed to keep the command and ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and then came into a land of thorns and thistles.
Similarly, if Israel did not expel all the inhabitants of Canaan, a curse would fall on them. And like Adam, the curse involved thorns.
Thorns and Thorns
The curse first states that barbs (thorns) would be in their eyes. The Hebrew word for thorn here, is unique to this verse. It appears nowhere else in the Old Testament. It has a linguistic root which means ‘to cover’ or ‘to overshadow’. This gives a sense that these thorns will come from above and overshadow the eyes.
The second mention is the more common Hebrew word we find in the Bible for thorns. In this curse, these are thorns which pierce the side.
The thorns mentioned in this command can be interpreted as the inhabitants of the land who do not follow God. And they cause significant problems to the Israelites.
The ‘thorns in the side’, could relate to the Philistines or Sea People. They lived on the western side of Israel, by the coast.
The thorns from above might relate to the Canaanites, who were pushed northwards as the Israelites began to occupy Canaan during the Conquest.
Demons and Thorns
Another interpretation relating to the ‘thorns coming from above’, could be spiritual attacks from demonic principalities and powers which impair the vision. These spiritual attacks blind the Israelites, and then lead them astray to follow other gods. If Israel had removed all Baal worship and idolatry from Canaan, they would not have been tempted and subsequently wandered from God.
The ‘thorn in the side’ could relate to physical attacks. This is where the enemy groups, within the land, rose up and started wars with Israel.
Thorns, Israel and the Cross
When we picture the moments where Christ is on the Cross, we not only see the centurion insert the spear (imagery of a thorn) into His side, but we also see the Crown of Thorns coming down, overshadowing His head and eyes. Jesus takes this curse in Numbers 33 and places it upon himself.
The death and resurrection of Christ is a deeply profound and unfathomable mystery, which goes far beyond covering a Christian’s sin. In this, we can see Christ redeeming Israel from that curse.
The Last Words of David
At the end of the Book of Samuel, we hear the last words of David.
2 Sam 23 v 6-7
But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.
Prior to this verse, David talks about his covenant with God and how He delivers him and fulfils his desires.
When David is talking about those who are like thorns, he means those outside the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7). This is where God promises to establish an eternal kingdom for his ancestor. We see this come to fruition in Jesus.
Sons of Belial
What has been translated in this verse as ‘evil men’, comes from a Hebrew idiom, ‘Sons of Belial’. Belial is a word which means ‘of no profit’. Hence, why ‘evil men’ are sometimes translated as ‘worthless’ in the Bible.
Belial first appears in Deuteronomy 13, where God tells His people to not listen to them. If a town does follow the Sons of Belial, then the town must be destroyed by fire.
David says the ‘Sons of Belial’ are like thorns. They are wild and unproductive.
I interpret the phrase, ‘which are not gathered with the hand.’ as though they cannot be reasoned with or dealt with. They are too unstable and will ensnare and entangle anyone who encounters them.
Paul and Belial
We also see the Sons of Belial mentioned in 2 Corinthians by Paul.
2 Cor 6 v 15
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
In this chapter, Paul is discussing being joined to unbelievers. In the surrounding verses, he is comparing the opposites:
Righteousness / Wickedness
Light / Darkness
Christ / Belial
Believer / Unbeliever
Temple of God / Idols
Looking down the list, Paul is relating Belial (or thorns) to wickedness, darkness, unbelievers and idols.
Thorns in the Fire
King David explains that the Sons of Belial (thorns) will be destroyed with fire. Much like as described in Numbers 13
Num 13 v 16
You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt
Iron and Wood
David also says the only way thorns can be dealt with, is by using ‘tools of iron’ and ‘shaft of a spear’. This reminds me of how Christ died. Iron nails pierced his hands and feet. While a spear was placed in His side. This was the way the fruits of Adam’s curse (thorns) were dealt with.