擊敗迦南人

21 住在南地的迦南人亞拉得王聽說以色列人取道亞他林而來,就攻打他們,俘虜了一些人。 以色列人向耶和華許願說:「要是你將這些人交在我們手中,我們必徹底摧毀[a]他們的城邑。」 耶和華答應了他們的祈求,把迦南人交在他們手中,使他們徹底毀滅了迦南人及其城邑。從此,那地方叫何珥瑪[b]

銅蛇

以色列人為了繞過以東,便從何珥山出發,沿通往紅海的路行進。途中,民眾心裡煩躁, 埋怨上帝和摩西說:「你們為什麼把我們從埃及帶出來,叫我們死在曠野呢?這裡無糧無水,我們厭惡這難吃的東西!」

於是,耶和華派毒蛇進入以色列人中,咬死了許多人。 他們來找摩西,說:「我們埋怨耶和華和你,犯了罪,求你向耶和華禱告,好叫這些蛇離開我們。」摩西就為他們禱告。 耶和華對摩西說:「你去造一條蛇掛在杆子上,凡被咬的一望這蛇,就可活命。」 摩西就造了一條銅蛇,掛在杆子上。被蛇咬的人一望銅蛇,就保住了性命。

前往摩押

10 以色列人繼續前行,在阿伯安營; 11 又從阿伯動身,走到摩押東邊的曠野,在以耶·亞巴琳安營; 12 又從那裡前行,走到撒烈谷安營; 13 又從那裡出發,走到亞嫩河北岸的曠野安營。那裡毗鄰亞摩利人的邊境,亞嫩河是摩押和亞摩利之間的疆界。 14 因此,耶和華的戰記上說:「蘇法的哇哈伯,亞嫩河谷, 15 以及河谷的斜坡——靠近摩押邊界並延伸到亞珥城。」

16 以色列人又往前走,來到比珥[c]。耶和華曾在那裡對摩西說:「把民眾招聚起來,我要給他們水喝。」 17 當時,以色列人唱了這首歌:

「井啊,湧出水來!
你們要歌頌這口井,
18 它是首領挖的,
是民中的貴族掘的,
用令牌和權杖挖掘的。」

他們從曠野前往瑪他拿, 19 從瑪他拿前往拿哈列,從拿哈列前往巴末, 20 從巴末前往摩押的谷地,從那裡的毗斯迦山頂可以俯視曠野。

擊敗亞摩利王和巴珊王

21 以色列人派使者去見亞摩利王西宏,說: 22 「請允許我們從貴國經過,我們只走大路,不會踏入田地和葡萄園,也不會喝井裡的水,直到走出貴國的土地。」 23 但西宏拒絕了他們的請求,並招聚軍隊到曠野攻擊他們。兩軍在雅雜交鋒。 24 以色列人殺了西宏,佔領了他的土地——從亞嫩河到雅博河,遠至防守嚴密的亞捫人邊界。 25 以色列人攻佔了亞摩利人的所有城邑,包括希實本及其周圍的村莊,住在其中。 26 希實本是亞摩利王西宏的都城。西宏曾與摩押的先王交戰,佔領了他所有的領土,遠至亞嫩河。 27 因此有人作詩說:

「來希實本吧!
重建西宏的城。
28 希實本烈焰熊熊,
西宏的城火光沖天,
燒毀摩押的亞珥,
吞噬亞嫩河的高崗。
29 摩押啊,你大禍臨頭了!
拜基抹神明的人啊,
你們要滅亡了!
基抹任由自己的兒子逃亡、
女兒被亞摩利王西宏擄走。
30 但我們擊潰了亞摩利人,
從希實本一直到底本都被摧毀,
從挪法到米底巴都淪為廢墟。」

31 於是,以色列人住在亞摩利境內。 32 摩西派人去雅謝打探,然後出兵攻佔了雅謝及其周圍的村莊,趕走那裡的亞摩利人。 33 以色列人回師前往巴珊,巴珊王噩率全軍出動,在以得來迎戰以色列人。 34 耶和華對摩西說:「不要怕他,因為我已把他及其眾民和土地交在你手中。你要像從前對付希實本的亞摩利王西宏一樣對付他。」 35 於是,以色列人殺了噩及其兒子和人民,一個不留,並奪取了他的國土。

Footnotes

  1. 21·2 摧毀」希伯來文有「銷毀,以示奉獻給耶和華」之意。
  2. 21·3 何珥瑪」意思是「毀滅」。
  3. 21·16 比珥」意思是「井」。

Canaanites Defeated at Hormah

21 The (A)king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. (B)So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then (C)I will utterly destroy their cities.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called [a]Hormah.

The Bronze Serpent

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to (D)go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very [b]discouraged on the way. And the people (E)spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul [c]loathes this worthless bread.” So (F)the Lord sent (G)fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

(H)Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have (I)sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; (J)pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

Then the Lord said to Moses, (K)“Make a (L)fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So (M)Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

From Mount Hor to Moab

10 Now the children of Israel moved on and (N)camped in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at [d]Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 (O)From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for (P)the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord:

[e]“Waheb in Suphah,
The brooks of the Arnon,
15 And the slope of the brooks
That reaches to the dwelling of (Q)Ar,
And lies on the border of Moab.”

16 From there they went (R)to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 (S)Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well!
All of you sing to it—
18 The well the leaders sank,
Dug by the nation’s nobles,
By the (T)lawgiver, with their staves.”

And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the [f]country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks (U)down on the [g]wasteland.

King Sihon Defeated(V)

21 Then (W)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (X)“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 (Y)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and [h]went out against Israel in the wilderness, (Z)and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then (AA)Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel (AB)dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore those who speak in [i]proverbs say:

“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
Let the city of Sihon be repaired.

28 “For (AC)fire went out from Heshbon,
A flame from the city of Sihon;
It consumed (AD)Ar of Moab,
The lords of the (AE)heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, (AF)Moab!
You have perished, O people of (AG)Chemosh!
He has given his (AH)sons as fugitives,
And his (AI)daughters into captivity,
To Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have shot at them;
Heshbon has perished (AJ)as far as Dibon.
Then we laid waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to (AK)Medeba.”

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 Then Moses sent to [j]spy out (AL)Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

King Og Defeated(AM)

33 (AN)And they turned and went up by the way to (AO)Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle (AP)at Edrei. 34 Then the Lord said to Moses, (AQ)“Do not fear him, for I have [k]delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and (AR)you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” 35 (AS)So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:3 Lit. Utter Destruction
  2. Numbers 21:4 impatient
  3. Numbers 21:5 detests
  4. Numbers 21:11 Lit. The Heaps of Abarim
  5. Numbers 21:14 Ancient unknown places; Vg. What He did in the Red Sea
  6. Numbers 21:20 Lit. field
  7. Numbers 21:20 Heb. Jeshimon
  8. Numbers 21:23 attacked
  9. Numbers 21:27 parables
  10. Numbers 21:32 secretly search
  11. Numbers 21:34 given you victory over him

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. 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.” 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

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) 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)

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes(Q) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.(R) 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.

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.” 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:

“. . . Zahab[d] in Suphah and the ravines,
    the Arnon 15 and[e] the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar(AF)
    and lie along the border of Moab.”

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)

“Spring up, O well!
    Sing about it,
18 about the well that the princes dug,
    that the nobles of the people sank—
    the nobles with scepters and staffs.”

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)

22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.(AM)

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:

“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
    let Sihon’s city be restored.

28 “Fire went out from Heshbon,
    a blaze from the city of Sihon.(BB)
It consumed(BC) Ar(BD) of Moab,
    the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(BE)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(BF)
    You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(BG)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(BH)
    and his daughters as captives(BI)
    to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have overthrown them;
    Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.(BJ)
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
    which extends to Medeba.(BK)

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)

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 3.
  2. Numbers 21:3 Hormah means destruction.
  3. Numbers 21:4 Or the Sea of Reeds
  4. Numbers 21:14 Septuagint; Hebrew Waheb
  5. Numbers 21:15 Or “I have been given from Suphah and the ravines / of the Arnon 15 to

Arad Destroyed

21 When (A)the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in (B)the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. (C)And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”[a] And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called (D)Hormah.[b]

The Bronze Serpent

From Mount Hor (E)they set out by the way to the Red Sea, (F)to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people (G)spoke against God and against Moses, (H)“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and (I)we loathe this worthless food.” (J)Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and (K)they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. (L)And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. (M)Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So (N)Moses made a bronze[c] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The Song of the Well

10 And the people of Israel set out and (O)camped in Oboth. 11 (P)And they set out from Oboth and (Q)camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in (R)the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the (S)Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

“Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15 and the slope of the valleys
that extends to the seat of (T)Ar,
and leans to the border of Moab.”

16 And from there they continued (U)to Beer;[d] that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that (V)I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with (W)the scepter and with their staffs.”

And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah (X)that looks down on the desert.[e]

King Sihon Defeated

21 Then (Y)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (Z)“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 (AA)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and (AB)came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 (AC)And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the (AD)Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the (AE)ballad singers say,

“Come to (AF)Heshbon, let it be built;
    let the city of Sihon be established.
28 For (AG)fire came out from (AH)Heshbon,
    flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured (AI)Ar of Moab,
    and swallowed[f] the heights of the Arnon.
29 (AJ)Woe to you, O Moab!
    You are undone, O people of (AK)Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives,
    and his daughters captives,
    to an Amorite king, Sihon.
30 So we overthrew them;
    Heshbon, as far as (AL)Dibon, perished;
    and we laid waste as far as Nophah;
    fire spread as far as (AM)Medeba.”[g]

King Og Defeated

31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out (AN)Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle (AO)at Edrei. 34 (AP)But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And (AQ)you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:2 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 3
  2. Numbers 21:3 Hormah means destruction
  3. Numbers 21:9 Or copper
  4. Numbers 21:16 Beer means well
  5. Numbers 21:20 Or Jeshimon
  6. Numbers 21:28 Septuagint; Hebrew the lords of
  7. Numbers 21:30 Compare Samaritan and Septuagint; Hebrew and we laid waste as far as Nophah, which is as far as Medeba