Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it! Then Israel sang this songThenThe word "then" serves as a temporal marker, indicating a sequence of events. In the context of Numbers 21, it follows a significant victory over the Canaanites. This victory was a direct result of God's intervention and the Israelites' obedience. The use of "then" highlights a moment of transition from struggle to celebration, reminding us that praise often follows deliverance. Israel
"Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel, who was the patriarch of the twelve tribes. This collective term emphasizes the unity and identity of the people as God's chosen nation. Historically, Israel's journey through the wilderness was marked by trials and divine encounters, shaping them into a people set apart for God's purposes. sang
The act of singing in ancient Israel was a powerful expression of worship and communal identity. Singing was often used to commemorate significant events, victories, and divine interventions. The Hebrew root for "sang" is "שִׁיר" (shir), which conveys not just the act of singing but also the joy and celebration inherent in the song. This reflects the deep-seated tradition of using music as a means to remember and proclaim God's faithfulness. this song
The phrase "this song" indicates a specific composition, likely created spontaneously in response to God's deliverance. In the biblical narrative, songs often serve as a means to encapsulate and transmit theological truths and historical events. The content of "this song" would have been a reflection of the Israelites' gratitude and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision. It serves as a reminder of the importance of memorializing God's acts through creative expression. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelThe collective name for the descendants of Jacob, also known as the Israelites. At this point in their journey, they are wandering in the wilderness after being freed from slavery in Egypt. 2. The WellA miraculous provision of water for the Israelites in the desert. This well symbolizes God's provision and faithfulness to His people during their journey. 3. The SongA spontaneous expression of gratitude and praise from the Israelites, acknowledging God's provision and celebrating His faithfulness. Teaching Points God's ProvisionGod provides for our needs, often in unexpected ways. Just as He provided water in the desert, He meets our needs today. The Power of PraisePraise is a powerful response to God's provision. It shifts our focus from our needs to God's faithfulness and goodness. Community WorshipThe Israelites sang together, highlighting the importance of communal worship and shared expressions of faith. Faith in ActionThe Israelites' song was an act of faith, trusting in God's continued provision. We are called to act in faith, even when the outcome is not yet visible. Remembrance and GratitudeRemembering past provisions strengthens our faith and encourages gratitude. Reflect on how God has provided in your life. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Israelites' response to God's provision in Numbers 21:17 inspire you to respond to God's work in your life? 2. In what ways can you incorporate more praise and gratitude into your daily routine, similar to the Israelites' song at the well? 3. How does the concept of "living water" in John 4 deepen your understanding of God's provision in Numbers 21:17? 4. Reflect on a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way. How can this memory strengthen your faith in current challenges? 5. How can you encourage communal worship and shared expressions of faith within your own community or church, following the example of the Israelites? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 15The Song of Moses and Miriam after crossing the Red Sea parallels this event, as both are songs of praise following a miraculous provision from God. John 4Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman about living water, drawing a spiritual parallel to the physical provision of water in the wilderness. Psalm 95This psalm calls for worship and remembrance of God's provision, similar to the Israelites' song at the well. People Ammonites, Amon, Amorites, Arad, Canaanites, Chemosh, Israelites, Moses, Og, SihonPlaces Ar, Arad, Arnon, Bamoth, Bashan, Beer, Dedan, Dibon, Edom, Edrei, Egypt, Heshbon, Hormah, Iye-abarim, Jabbok River, Jahaz, Jazer, King's Highway, Mattanah, Medeba, Moab, Mount Hor, Nahaliel, Negeb, Nophah, Oboth, Pisgah, Red Sea, Suphah, Valley of Zered, WahebTopics O, Rise, Sang, Sing, Singeth, Song, Spring, Sung, Voice, Water-springDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 21:17-18 4512 staff Library The Poison and the Antidote
'And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compare the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7. Therefore …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Ruin and God's Remedy
Man has very many wants, and he should be grateful whenever the least of them is supplied. But he has one want which overtops every other: it is the want of bread. Give him raiment, house him well, decorate and adorn him, yet if you give him not bread, his body faints, he dies of hunger. Hence it is that while the earth when it is tilled is made to bring forth many things that minister unto the comfort and luxury of men, yet man is wise enough to understand that since bread is his chief want, he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 The Disciple, -- Master, in These Days Some Learned Men and their Followers Regard Thy...
The Disciple,--Master, in these days some learned men and their followers regard Thy atonement and the redemption by blood as meaningless and futile, and say that Christ was only a great teacher and example for our spiritual life, and that salvation and eternal happiness depend on our own efforts and good deeds. The Master,--1. Never forget that spiritual and religious ideas are connected less with the head than with the heart, which is the temple of God, and when the heart is filled with the presence …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Nations of the South-East
Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the …
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! G reat and marvellous are the works of the LORD God almighty! We live in the midst of them, and the little impression they make upon us, sufficiently proves our depravity. He is great in the very smallest; and there is not a plant, flower, or insect, but bears the signature of infinite wisdom and power. How sensibly then should we be affected by the consideration of the Whole , if sin had not blinded our understandings, and hardened …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 The Two Classes.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray."--Luke xvii. 10. I now want to speak of two classes: First, those who do not feel their need of a Saviour who have not been convinced of sin by the Spirit; and Second, those who are convinced of sin and cry, "What must I do to be saved?" All inquirers can be ranged under two heads: they have either the spirit of the Pharisee, or the spirit of the publican. If a man having the spirit of the Pharisee comes into an after-meeting, I know of no better portion …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 21:17 NIVNumbers 21:17 NLTNumbers 21:17 ESVNumbers 21:17 NASBNumbers 21:17 KJV
Numbers 21:17 Commentaries
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