Numbers · Berean Standard Bible
Numbers 21 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners.
1 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.
2 So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”
2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
3 And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.
3 Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey
4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.
5 and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
5 The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”
6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
6 Yahweh sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.
7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.
7 The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.
8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”
8 Yahweh said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
9 So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.
9 Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.
10 Then the Israelites set out and camped at Oboth.
10 The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in Oboth.
11 They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim in the wilderness opposite Moab to the east.
11 They traveled from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise.
12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered.
12 From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered.
13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite territory. Now the Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.
13 From there they traveled, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
14 Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “Waheb in Suphah and the wadis of the Arnon,
14 Therefore it is said in The Book of the Wars of Yahweh, “Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon,
15 even the slopes of the wadis that extend to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab.”
15 the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, leans on the border of Moab.”
16 From there they went on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people so that I may give them water.”
16 From there they traveled to Beer; that is the well of which Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”
17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well, all of you sing to it!
17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! 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,
18 the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles.” From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah;
19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;
20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.
20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert.
21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
22 “Let us pass through your land. We will not cut through 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.”
22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway, until we have passed your border.”
23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel.
23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz. He fought against Israel.
24 And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.
24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified.
25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages.
25 Israel took all these cities. Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.
26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land as far as the Arnon.
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, even to the Arnon.
27 That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; let the city of Sihon be restored.
27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established;
28 For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.
28 for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.
29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon. We demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”
30 We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”
31 So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.
31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.
32 After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer. They took its villages, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
33 Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”
34 Yahweh said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
35 So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land.
35 So they struck him, with his sons and all his people, until there were no survivors; and they possessed his land.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Moses
Drawn from the Nile, he led Israel out of Egypt and received God's Law.
Cited in the guide: Exodus 2–Deuteronomy 34
Og
The king of Bashan, last of the remnant of the Rephaim, who came out against Israel at Edrei and was struck down with his sons and his whole army.
Cited in the guide: Numbers 21:33–35; Deuteronomy 3:1; Deuteronomy 3:11
Sihon
The Amorite king who reigned in Heshbon, refused to let Israel pass through his land, fought Israel at Jahaz, and lost his territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok.
Cited in the guide: Numbers 21:21; Numbers 21:23–24; Deuteronomy 2:26
Cross references (32)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Numbers 33:40; Judges 1:16; Joshua 12:14; Joshua 7:5; Numbers 14:45
- 2 Judges 11:30; Genesis 28:20; 1 Samuel 1:11; Joshua 6:26; 2 Samuel 15:7–8
- 3 Numbers 14:45; Deuteronomy 1:44; Psalm 91:15; Psalm 102:17; Psalm 10:17
- 4 Exodus 6:9; Judges 11:18; Acts 14:22; Numbers 32:7; Numbers 32:9
- 5 Psalm 78:19; Exodus 17:2–3; Numbers 16:41; Numbers 16:13–14; Exodus 14:11
- 6 1 Corinthians 10:9; Deuteronomy 8:15; Jeremiah 8:17; Amos 9:3–4; Isaiah 30:6
- 7 Acts 8:24; Psalm 78:34; Exodus 8:8; Numbers 11:2; Exodus 8:28
- 8 John 3:14; Psalm 106:43–45; Psalm 145:8
- 9 John 3:14–15; Hebrews 12:2; John 6:40; 2 Kings 18:4; John 12:32
- 10 Numbers 33:43–45
- 12 Deuteronomy 2:13–14
- 13 Judges 11:18; Numbers 22:36; Isaiah 16:2; Numbers 21:14; Jeremiah 48:20
- 14 Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18
- 15 Numbers 21:28; Deuteronomy 2:18; Deuteronomy 2:9; Deuteronomy 2:29; Isaiah 15:1
- 16 Numbers 20:8; Isaiah 41:17–18; Isaiah 12:3; Judges 9:21; Revelation 22:17
- 17 Psalm 105:2; Judges 5:1; Psalm 106:12; James 5:13; Isaiah 12:1–2
- 18 Isaiah 33:22; Deuteronomy 33:4; Deuteronomy 5:31; James 4:12; John 1:17
- 20 Numbers 23:28; Numbers 23:14; Numbers 22:1; Numbers 33:49–50; Numbers 26:63
- 21 Deuteronomy 2:26–28; Judges 11:19–21; Numbers 20:14–19
- 22 Numbers 20:17
- 23 Judges 11:20; Deuteronomy 29:7–8; Jeremiah 48:34; Numbers 20:21; Deuteronomy 2:30–32
- 24 Amos 2:9; Nehemiah 9:22; Genesis 32:22; Joshua 24:8; Psalm 136:19
- 25 Deuteronomy 2:12; Ezekiel 16:53; Jeremiah 48:34; Numbers 21:31; Song of Songs 7:4
- 27 Isaiah 14:4; Habakkuk 2:6; Numbers 21:14
- 28 Numbers 21:15; Jeremiah 48:45–46; Amos 2:2; Numbers 22:41; Amos 1:14
- 29 2 Kings 23:13; Judges 11:24; Jeremiah 48:46; 1 Kings 11:7; 1 Kings 11:33
- 30 Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18; Jeremiah 48:22; Numbers 32:34; Joshua 13:17
- 31 Deuteronomy 3:16–17; Joshua 12:1–6; Numbers 32:33–42; Joshua 13:8–12
- 32 Jeremiah 48:32; Numbers 32:1; Numbers 32:35; Numbers 32:3; Isaiah 16:8–9
- 33 Joshua 13:12; Deuteronomy 1:4; Deuteronomy 29:7; Deuteronomy 3:1–6; Numbers 32:33
- 34 Psalm 135:10–11; Numbers 21:24–25; Joshua 8:7; Deuteronomy 3:2–3; Judges 11:30
- 35 Deuteronomy 3:3–17; Joshua 12:4–6; Joshua 13:12; Psalm 135:10–12; Deuteronomy 29:7–8
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… that Moses, by the inspiration and influence of God, took brass, and made it into the figure of a cross, and set it in the holy tabernacle, and said to the people, "If ye look to this figure, and believe, ye shall be saved thereby." And when this was done, it is recorded that the serpents died, and it is …
This was done: men were bitten; they looked and were healed. What are the biting serpents?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
This was the figure which Moses completed by fixing the serpent to a cross, that whoso had been bitten by the living serpent, and looked to the brasen serpent, might be saved by believing.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)