Numbers 21

New International Version

Arad Destroyed

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad,^(A) who lived in the Negev,^(B) heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. ² Then Israel made this vow^(C) to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[a](D) their cities.” ³ The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites^(E) over to them. They completely destroyed them^(F) and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[b](G)

The Bronze Snake

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor^(H) along the route to the Red Sea,^[c](I) to go around Edom.^(J) But the people grew impatient on the way;^{(K) 5} they spoke against God^(L) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt^(M) to die in the wilderness?^(N) There is no bread! There is no water!^(O) And we detest this miserable food!”^(P)

⁶ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes^(Q) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.^{(R) 7} The people came to Moses^(S) and said, “We sinned^(T) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord^(U) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed^(V) for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole;^(W) anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake^(X) and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.^(Y)

The Journey to Moab

¹⁰ The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.^{(Z) 11} Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab^(AA) toward the sunrise. ¹² From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.^{(AB) 13} They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon^(AC), which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.^{(AD) 14} That is why the Book of the Wars^(AE) of the Lord says:

¹⁶ From there they continued on to Beer,^(AG) the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

¹⁷ Then Israel sang this song:^(AH)

Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, ¹⁹ from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, ²⁰ and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah^(AI) overlooks the wasteland.

Defeat of Sihon and Og

²¹ Israel sent messengers^(AJ) to say to Sihon^(AK) king of the Amorites:^(AL)

²³ But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.^(AN) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,^(AO) he fought with Israel.^{(AP) 24} Israel, however, put him to the sword^(AQ) and took over his land^(AR) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,^(AS) but only as far as the Ammonites,^(AT) because their border was fortified. ²⁵ Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites^(AU) and occupied them,^(AV) including Heshbon^(AW) and all its surrounding settlements. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon^(AX) king of the Amorites,^(AY) who had fought against the former king of Moab^(AZ) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.^(BA)

²⁷ That is why the poets say:

³¹ So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.^(BL)

³² After Moses had sent spies^(BM) to Jazer,^(BN) the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. ³³ Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan^(BO),^(BP) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.^(BQ)

³⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.^(BR)”

³⁵ So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.^(BS) And they took possession of his land.^(BT)