The title "King of Hormah" refers to the ruler of the city of Hormah, a location mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. Hormah is noted in several passages, primarily within the context of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and their subsequent conquests.

Biblical References:

1. Numbers 14:45 · Hormah is first mentioned in the context of the Israelites' defeat. After the Israelites disobeyed God's command and attempted to enter the Promised Land without His blessing, they were attacked by the Amalekites and Canaanites, who "came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah" .

2. Numbers 21:3 · Later, the Israelites, under divine guidance, achieved victory over the Canaanites. The Lord listened to Israel's plea and delivered the Canaanites into their hands. They "completely destroyed them and their cities," and the place was called Hormah, meaning "destruction" .

3. Joshua 12:14 · In the list of defeated kings during the conquest of Canaan, the "king of Hormah" is mentioned. This indicates that Hormah was a significant city-state with its own monarchy, which was subdued by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership.

4. Judges 1:17 · The city of Hormah is again mentioned during the period of the Judges. The tribes of Judah and Simeon joined forces to fight against the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and they "devoted the city to destruction," renaming it Hormah .

Historical and Theological Context:

Hormah's significance lies in its representation of both defeat and victory for the Israelites. Initially, it was a site of failure due to disobedience, but later it became a symbol of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The repeated mention of Hormah in the context of destruction underscores the biblical theme of divine judgment against the Canaanites and the establishment of Israel in the land promised to their forefathers.

The "king of Hormah" is not named in the biblical text, which is not uncommon for many of the smaller city-states mentioned in the conquest narratives. The focus of these passages is less on the individual rulers and more on the collective defeat of the Canaanite peoples as a demonstration of God's power and the Israelites' divinely ordained mission.

Archaeological Insights:

While the exact location of ancient Hormah is debated, it is generally associated with the region of the Negev, south of Judah. Some scholars suggest it may be identified with the archaeological site of Tell Masos or another nearby location. The lack of specific archaeological evidence for a distinct "king of Hormah" aligns with the biblical narrative's emphasis on the broader conquest rather than individual monarchs.

Conclusion:

The biblical account of Hormah and its king serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the eventual triumph of God's will. The transformation of Hormah from a place of defeat to a site of victory illustrates the overarching biblical narrative of redemption and divine sovereignty.