(Numb. 22:3:) WAYYAGOR MO'AV.⁶ What is the meaning of WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR)?⁷ Numb. 7:2, cont.; Numb. R. 20:3. When Israel appeared to the Ammonites, they appeared clothed for peace. To the Moabites they appeared armed for battle. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 2:19): WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR THE FRONTIER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, DO NOT TROUBLE THEM, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM. (Ibid.:) DO NOT TROUBLE THEM] with all kinds of trouble, AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM with any kind of provocation. In regard to Moab, however, he said (in Deut. 2:9): DO NOT TROUBLE MOAB, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM WITH WAR]. Whatever you can seize apart from war, seize. For that reason they appeared armed, and the Moabites gathered themselves (rt.: 'GR) to their cities, as stated (in Numb. 22:3): NOW MOAB YAGOR (i.e., GATHERED). WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR, here understood a form of 'GR) can only be a word for a gathering, just as it says (in Prov. 10:5): A PRUDENT CHILD GATHERS (rt.: 'GR) IN THE SUMMER.

footnotes: ⁶ A traditional translation of these words would be NOW MOAB WAS IN GREAT DREAD, or something similar. ⁷ Tanh.,

Another interpretation (of Numb. 22:3): WAYYAGOR. It is a word for fear, in that they were afraid because of Israel.

(Numb. 22:3, cont:) AND MOAB HAD A HORROR (rt.: QWTs) OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, because they saw themselves as a mere thorn (QWTs) over against them.