Numbers 21

1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, ^{a21:1 i.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40} heard that Israel was coming along the Atharim caravan route, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.ISV — Numbers 21:1

2 Then Israel ^{b21:2 i.e. the Israelis personified as a nation} made this vow in the LORD’s presence: “If you give these people into our control, ^{c21:2 Lit. hand} we intend to devote their cities to total destruction.”ISV — Numbers 21:2

3 When the LORD heard what Israel had decided to do, ^{d21:3 Lit. heard the voice of Israel} he delivered the Canaanites to them, and Israel ^{e21:3 Lit. he} exterminated them and their cities. They named the place Hormah. ^{f21:3 The Heb. name Hormah sounds like the Heb. verb devoted}ISV — Numbers 21:3

4 After this, they traveled from Mount Hor along the caravan route by way of the Sea of Reeds and went around the land of Edom. But when the people got impatient because it was a long route,ISV — Numbers 21:4

5 the people complained against the LORD and Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” they asked. “There’s no food ^{g21:5 Lit. bread} and water, and we’re tired of this worthless bread.” ^{h21:5 Or light bread; i.e. the manna}ISV — Numbers 21:5

6 In response, the LORD sent poisonous ^{i21:6 Lit. fiery} serpents among the people to bite them. As a result, many people of Israel died.ISV — Numbers 21:6

7 Then the people approached Moses and admitted, “We’ve sinned by speaking against the LORD and you. Pray to the LORD, that he’ll remove ^{j21:7 Lit. turn away} the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed in behalf of the people.ISV — Numbers 21:7

8 Then the LORD instructed Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent out of brass and fasten it to a pole. Anyone who has been bitten and who looks at it will live.”ISV — Numbers 21:8

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and fastened it to a pole. If a person who had been bitten by a poisonous serpent looked to the serpent, ^{k21:9 Lit. to it} he lived.ISV — Numbers 21:9

10 After this, the Israelis traveled and encamped at Oboth.ISV — Numbers 21:10

11 Then they traveled from Oboth and encamped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is in the vicinity of Moab’s eastern border.ISV — Numbers 21:11

12 From there, they traveled and encamped in the valley of Zered.ISV — Numbers 21:12

13 Then they traveled to the other side of Arnon and camped in the wilderness that borders the territory of the Amorites. (Arnon borders Moab between Moab and the Amorites,ISV — Numbers 21:13

14 which is why the Book of the Wars of the LORD ^{l21:14 i.e. a book chronicling ancient Israel’s history, now lost to history} reads, “Waheb and Suphah and the wadis ^{m21:14 i.e. seasonal rivers that are dry in the summer} of the Arnon,ISV — Numbers 21:14

15 and the slope of the valleys, that extends to the dwelling places of Ar and the borders of Moab.”)ISV — Numbers 21:15

16 From there they traveled ^{n21:16 The Heb. lacks they traveled} to the Well of Beer, where the LORD had instructed Moses, “Gather the people together and I’ll give you water.”ISV — Numbers 21:16

17 That’s also where Israel sang this song: Rise up, well! Sing to it!ISV — Numbers 21:17

18 It’s the well that the leaders dug, the one carved out by the nobles of the people with their scepters and staffs. Then they moved on in the wilderness from there to Mattanah,ISV — Numbers 21:18

19 then from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth,ISV — Numbers 21:19

20 and from Bamoth to the valley of Moab where their fields are, and from there to the top of Mount Pisgah, that looks down toward the open desert.ISV — Numbers 21:20

21 Later, Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who conveyed this request: ^{o21:21 The Heb. lacks who conveyed this request}ISV — Numbers 21:21

22 “Permit us to pass through your land. We won’t trespass in your fields or vineyards. We won’t drink water from any well, and we’ll only travel along the King’s Highway until we’ve passed through your territory.”ISV — Numbers 21:22

23 Instead of letting Israel pass through his territory, Sihon mustered his entire army and marched out to meet them in the wilderness. He arrived at Jahaz and attacked Israel.ISV — Numbers 21:23

24 But Israel defeated ^{p21:24 Lit. smote} him in battle ^{q21:24 Lit. him with the edge of the sword} and took possession of all his lands from Arnon to Jabbok, including the Ammonites, even though the border of the Ammonites was strong.ISV — Numbers 21:24

25 So Israel captured all of those cities, occupied ^{r21:25 Lit. lived} all the Amorite cities in Heshbon, and all its towns. ^{s21:25 Lit. in all its daughters}ISV — Numbers 21:25

26 Heshbon was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who fought against the previous king of Moab and captured all his land from his capital city ^{t21:26 Lit. his hand} to Arnon.ISV — Numbers 21:26

27 Therefore the ones who speak in proverbs say: Come to Heshbon and let it be built! Let the city of Sihon be established!ISV — Numbers 21:27

28 A fire has gone out from Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places who lived in Arnon.ISV — Numbers 21:28

29 Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, you people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters have gone into captivity to Sihon, king of the Amorites.ISV — Numbers 21:29

30 We’ve fired at them. Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We’ve destroyed them as far as Nophah even as far as Medeba.ISV — Numbers 21:30

31 So Israel lived in Amorite territory.ISV — Numbers 21:31

32 Then Moses sent out explorers to scout Jazer. They captured its towns ^{u21:32 Lit. daughters} and drove out the Amorites who were there.ISV — Numbers 21:32

33 Then they turned toward Bashan. However, Og, the king of Bashan, mustered his army and went out to attack them at Edrei.ISV — Numbers 21:33

34 The LORD told Moses, “You are not to fear him, because I’m going to deliver him, his entire army, and his land into your control. Do to him just what you’ve done to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who used to live in Heshbon.”ISV — Numbers 21:34

35 So they attacked him, his sons, and his entire army, until there wasn’t even a single survivor left. Then they took possession of his land.ISV — Numbers 21:35