Numbers 21:1-23 ▼

1 When the Canaanite (merchant) king of Arad (a wild donkey), who lived in the Negev (southland), heard that Israel (he wrestles with God) was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.

2 So Israel (he wrestles with God) made a vow to the LORD {YHWH}: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction {cherem}.

3 And the LORD {YHWH} heard Israel’s (he wrestles with God) plea and delivered up the Canaanites (merchants). Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah (destruction).

4 Then they set out from Mount Hor (mountain) along the route to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds), in order to bypass the land of Edom (red). But the people grew impatient on the journey

5 and spoke against God {Elohim} and against Moses (drawn out): “Why have you⁺ led us up out of Egypt (land of bondage) to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”

6 So the LORD {YHWH} sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites (God prevails) were bitten and died.

7 Then the people came to Moses (drawn out) and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD {YHWH} and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.

8 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”

9 So Moses (drawn out) made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

10 Then the Israelites (God prevails) set out and camped at Oboth (waterskins).

11 They journeyed from Oboth (waterskins) and camped at Iye-abarim (ruins of Abarim) in the wilderness opposite Moab (of his father) to the east.

12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered (osier brook).

13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon (rushing stream), in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite (a sayer) territory. Now the Arnon is the border (of his father) between the Moabites and the Amorites.

14 Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD {YHWH}: “Waheb (now, come on) in Suphah (honeycomb / overflow) and the wadis of the Arnon (rushing stream),

15 even the slopes of the wadis that extend to the site of Ar (a city) and lie along the border of Moab (of his father).”

16 From there they went on to Beer (well), the well where the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Gather the people so that I may give them water.”

17 Then Israel (he wrestles with God) sang this song: “Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it!

18 The princes dug the well; the nobles of the people hollowed it out with their scepters and with their staffs.” From the wilderness the Israelites went on to Mattanah (gift of YHWH),

19 and from Mattanah (gift of YHWH) to Nahaliel (torrents of God), and from Nahaliel to Bamoth (great high place),

20 and from Bamoth (great high place) to the valley in Moab (of his father) where the top of Pisgah (cleft) overlooks the wasteland (Jeshimon).

21 Then Israel (he wrestles with God) sent messengers to Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers), saying,

22 “Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

23 But Sihon (warrior) would not let Israel (he wrestles with God) pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz (Jahzah), he fought against Israel.