King James Bible
"And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah."
The Amorites, a Canaanite people controlling the hill country, attacked the Israelites who had presumptuously attempted to enter the Promised Land against God's command. This refers to the failed invasion after the negative spy report, when Israel rebelled against waiting for God's timing. The bee simile captures both the relentless pursuit and overwhelming numbers of the attackers—bees swarm aggressively when their territory is threatened. This vivid imagery emphasizes how thoroughly the Israelites were routed in their unauthorized advance. The defeat extended from Seir (Edomite territory) to Hormah in the Negev, indicating a complete rout across a significant geographical distance. Hormah, meaning 'devotion to destruction,' became a memorial to this devastating consequence of disobedience.