Numbers 21

1 When the Canaanite [a native of the land of Canaan, a merchant and trader] king of Arad [a city in the southern region], who lived [to dwell, to sit, or to remain] in the Negev [the southern district of Judah, a dry and barren land], heard [to hear and listen, implying attention and obedience] that Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] was coming [to go or come, to approach] along the road [a path or way, a journey] to Atharim [a place near Palestine, possibly a mountain pass or caravan route], he attacked [to fight, to feed on, or to consume] Israel and captured [to take captive, to transport away from home] some prisoners [those taken away, exiled, or held in captivity]. word study 2 So Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] made a vow [a solemn promise, a binding oath] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]: “If [on the condition that, provided that] You will deliver [give, put, or set] this people [a nation, a group of people] into our hands [our power, our control], we will devote [utterly destroy, completely dedicate] their cities [towns, places of human settlement] to destruction [complete ruin, total devastation]. ” word study 3 And the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] heard [listened to and obeyed] Israel’s [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] plea [cry for help, urgent request] and delivered up [gave over, put into their power] the Canaanites [the inhabitants of the land, merchants and traders]. Israel devoted [utterly destroyed, dedicated to God] them and their cities [towns, populated areas] to destruction [devotion, utter ruin]; so they named [called, designated] the place [location, region] Hormah [devotion, a place of utter destruction]. word study 4 Then they set out [to depart, to journey] from Mount Hor [a mountain peak, a boundary mark] along the route [way, path, journey] to the Red Sea [the sea of reeds, a large body of water], in order to bypass [to turn, to surround] the land [earth, territory, region] of Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants]. But the people [nation, community] grew impatient [were much discouraged, became weary] on the journey [way, path, manner of life] word study 5 and spoke [cried out, complained] against God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and against Moses [the Israelite leader]: “Why [what, how] have you led [brought, ascended] us up out of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] to die [perish, come to an end] in the wilderness [a desert, open field]? There is no [nothing, not] bread [food, grain] or water [a liquid, source of refreshment], and we detest [loathe, feel disgusted] this wretched [worthless, insubstantial] food [sustenance, provision]!” word study 6 So the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] sent [dispatched, allowed to come] venomous snakes [fiery serpents, poisonous snakes] among the people [the nation of Israel], and many [a large number, much] of the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob] were bitten [attacked, wounded] and died [perished, came to an end]. word study 7 Then the people [a nation, a community of faith] came to Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] and said, “We have sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong] by speaking [uttering words, expressing thoughts] against the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and against you [Moses, the appointed leader]. Intercede [pray, make petition] with the LORD [the supreme God, the One who forgives] so He will take [remove, turn aside] the snakes [serpents] away from us [remove the danger, the evil].” So Moses [the faithful intercessor] interceded [prayed, made petition] for the people [the nation, the community of faith]. word study 8 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Make [create, bring into being] a fiery [burning, venomous] serpent and mount [set, place] it on a pole [a standard, an ensign]. When anyone who is bitten [struck, wounded] looks [sees, gazes] at it, he will live [have life, be healed, recover].” word study 9 So Moses [the Israelite leader] made a bronze [copper, something made of it] snake [serpent] and mounted it on a pole [standard, ensign]. If anyone who was bitten [by a serpent, attacked] looked at the bronze [copper, base metal] snake [serpent], he would live [have life, be alive, recover]. word study 10 Then the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] set out [journeyed, traveled, to remove] and camped [pitched their tents, encamped, to set up a dwelling place] at Oboth [a place in the Desert, possibly near Moab, meaning waterskins]. word study 11 They journeyed [traveled, set out] from Oboth [a place of waterskins] and camped [pitched their tents, settled] at Iye-abarim [a station in the wilderness, ruins] in the wilderness [desert, open field] opposite [before, in front of] Moab [the land of Lot’s descendants] to the east [toward the sunrise, the direction of the sun]. word study 12 From [thence, that place] there they set out [removed, journeyed] and camped [pitched, encamped] in the Valley [brook, riverbed] of Zered [a river in Moab, east of the Dead Sea]. word study 13 From there [at that point, thence] they moved on [set out, journeyed] and camped [pitched their tents, encamped] on the other side [beyond, across] of the Arnon [a river east of the Jordan], in the wilderness [desert, open field] that extends [comes out, goes out] into the Amorite [Canaanite tribe] territory [land, region]. Now the Arnon [river and surrounding territory] is the border [boundary, dividing line] between [separating, distinguishing] the Moabites [descendants of Lot] and the Amorites [Canaanite tribe]. word study 14 Therefore it is stated [written, recorded] in the Book [scroll, written document] of the Wars [battles, conflicts] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]: “Waheb [a place in Moab] in Suphah [whirlwind, hurricane, Red Sea] and the wadis [brooks, streams, valleys] of the Arnon [river, border of Moab], word study 15 even the slopes [canyon slopes, low-lying areas] of the wadis [brooks, small rivers] that extend [stretch, spread out] to the site [dwelling place, village] of Ar [a city in Moab] and lie [lean, rest] along the border [boundary, edge] of Moab [the land of the Moabites].” word study 16 From [that location, thence] there they went on to Beer [a water source], the well [a spring, a pit] where the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses [the Israelite leader], “Gather [to assemble, bring together] the people [a nation, a community] so that I may give [to put, to set] them water [a liquid, a source of refreshment].” word study 17 Then [at that time, earlier] Israel [the descendants of Jacob] sang [to sing, to make music, to respond] this song [a musical expression of praise and worship]: “Spring up [rise, ascend, come up], O well [a water source, a spring], all of you sing [make music, respond, answer] to it [in praise, in worship]! word study 18 The princes [rulers, leaders] dug the well [a water source, a spring]; the nobles [generous, high-ranking] of the people [a nation, Israel] hollowed it out with their scepters and with their staffs [supports, walking sticks].” From the wilderness [a desert, open field] the Israelites went on to Mattanah [a place of gift, a stopping point], word study 19 and from Mattanah [a stopping place in the desert] to Nahaliel [a campsite, a place of rest], and from Nahaliel to Bamoth [high places, often associated with idol worship], word study 20 and from Bamoth [high places, often associated with idol worship] to the valley [a deep, narrow gorge] in Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son] where the top [head, chief] of Pisgah [a mountain in Moab] overlooks [to look, gaze down upon] the wasteland [wilderness, a desolate place, Jeshimon]. word study 21 Then Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] sent messengers [representatives] to Sihon [the Amorite king, ruler of the Amorites] king [ruler, monarch, sovereign] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan], saying [to speak, command, or proclaim], word study 22 “Let us pass [cross over, transition] through your land [territory, region]. We will not cut through [turn aside into] any field [cultivated area] or vineyard [garden for vines], or drink water [be refreshed] from any well [source of water]. We will stay on the King’s [royal, sovereign] Highway [main road, path] until we have passed [transitioned, gone beyond] through your territory [border, limit].” word study 23 But Sihon [the Amorite king] would not let Israel [Jacob’s descendants] pass through his territory [border, land]. Instead, he gathered [assembled, collected] his whole army [people, nation] and went out to confront [meet, oppose] Israel in the wilderness [desert, open field]. When he came to Jahaz [a place east of the Jordan], he fought [waged war, battled] against Israel. word study 24 And Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] put him to the sword [with the edge of the sword, smote him] and took possession [conquered, occupied] of his land [territory, earth], from the Arnon [a river east of the Jordan] to the Jabbok [a river where Jacob wrestled with God]—but only up to the border [boundary, limit] of the Ammonites [a nation descended from Lot], because it was [strongly] fortified [securely defended, with a strong garrison]. word study 25 Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] captured [took possession of, conquered] all [every single one] the cities [towns, settlements] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, enemies of God’s people] and occupied [lived in, dwelt] them, including [specifically, notably] Heshbon [the capital city of the Amorites, a strategic location] and all [every one of] its villages [small towns, rural areas]. word study 26 Heshbon [the capital city, a place of excitement] was the city of Sihon [a king of great power] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan], who had fought [engaged in battle, made war] against the former [the first, primary] king of Moab [a land and people descended from Lot] and taken [seized, captured] all his land [territory, region] as far as [until, up to] the Arnon [a river and surrounding territory, a border]. word study 27 That is why [for this reason, therefore] the poets [those who speak in proverbs, using similes] say: “Come [enter, approach] to Heshbon [the city east of the Jordan River], let it be rebuilt [restored, established]; let the city [town, settlement] of Sihon [the Amorite king] be restored [repaired, rebuilt]. word study 28 For a fire [gone out, blazing] went out from Heshbon [the capital of the Amorites], a blaze [flame, burning fiercely] from the city of Sihon [the Amorite king]. It consumed [devoured, ate up] Ar of Moab [a city in the land of Moab], the rulers [lords, masters] of Arnon’s heights [high places, elevated areas]. word study 29 Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow] to you, O Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son]! You are destroyed [undone, perished], O people of Chemosh [the national deity of Moab]! He gave up his sons [male descendants, heirs] as refugees [fugitives, survivors], and his daughters [female children, women] into captivity [exile, bondage] to Sihon [the Amorite king] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe]. word study 30 But we have overthrown [defeated, shot at] them; Heshbon [the capital of the Amorites] is destroyed [perished, lost] as far as [till, unto] Dibon [a town in Moab]. We demolished [laid waste, made desolate] them as far as [till, unto] Nophah [a place in Moab, also known as Kenath], which [a conjunction connecting ideas] reaches [stretches out] to Medeba [a town in ancient Moab, meaning water of rest]. ” word study 31 So Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] lived [dwelt, remained, or abided] in the land [country, territory, or region] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan]. word study 32 After Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] had sent [to spy out, to explore] spies to Jazer [a city east of the Jordan River, in the territory of Gad], Israel captured [seized, took control of] its villages [the towns, the surrounding areas] and drove out [expelled, dispossessed] the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan] who were there [in that place, at that time]. word study 33 Then they turned [to face, changed direction] and went up [to ascend, rise] the road [way, path] to Bashan [a fertile region], and Og [a powerful king] king of Bashan [a region east of the Jordan] and his whole army [all his people, entire nation] came out [went out, emerged] to meet them [encounter, befall] in battle [war, conflict] at Edrei [a chief city, goodly pasture]. word study 34 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Do not [absolutely not, in no way] fear [be afraid or revere] him, for I have delivered [given, put] him into your hand [power, authority], along with all [everything, the whole] his people [nation, tribe] and his land [territory, country]. Do [make, act] to him as you did [previously done] to Sihon [the Amorite king] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], who lived [dwelt, resided] in Heshbon [a city east of the Jordan].” word study 35 So they struck down [slew, overcame] Og, along with his sons [descendants, family] and his whole army [people, nation], until no remnant [survivor, one left] was left [remaining, spared]. And they took possession [occupied, inherited] of his land [territory, country]. word study